Learn about the Isle of Man TT – the oldest motorcycle race held on public roads with over 100 years of history

The 2025 Isle of Man TT Races took place from May 26th to June 7th on the Isle of Man’s TT Mountain Course.

What is the Isle of Man TT Race? What is the Isle of Man?

Let me introduce the 2025 Isle of Man TT Races along with my own experiences and photos.

What is the Isle of Man TT Race?

The Isle of Man TT Races is the oldest motorcycle race still held today, dating back to 1907. It is a public road race held on closed public roads. It is a so-called time trial race, where competitors start one lap at a time on the TT Mountain Course, which is approximately 60 km long, and compete for the fastest time. In 2025, the race was held over two to four laps depending on the class. Originally, it was planned to be four to six laps, but the number of laps was reduced due to a schedule change, which will be described later.

Classes to be held at the 2025 Isle of Man TT Races

The 2025 Isle of Man TT races were held in the following classes:

・Superbike TT and Senior TT races:
In principle, four-stroke, four-cylinder or three-cylinder bikes over 750cc and up to 1000cc, and four-stroke, two-cylinder bikes over 850cc and up to 1200cc.

Examples: Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, BMW M1000RR, etc.

・Sidecar TT Race:

In principle, the race must be based on a 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, maximum 600cc production bike, a 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, maximum 675cc production bike, or a 4-stroke, in-line, 2-cylinder, maximum 900cc production bike.

– Supersport TT race:

4-stroke 4-cylinder motorcycles over 400cc up to 600cc, 4-stroke 3-cylinder motorcycles over 600cc up to 675cc, 4-stroke 2-cylinder motorcycles over 600cc up to 750cc.

Also, motorcycles listed on the FIM “Supersport Next Generation” Phase 2 Homologation List.

Examples: Ducati Panigale V2 955cc, Honda CBR600RR, etc.

Superstock TT Race:

4-stroke, 4-cylinder, over 600cc, up to 1000cc; 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, over 750cc, up to 1000cc; 4-stroke, 2-cylinder, over 850cc, up to 1200cc.

*Motorcycle modifications are limited.

Examples: Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, BMW M1000RR, etc.

– Super Twin TT Race:

4-stroke, 2-cylinder, 500cc or larger, but not exceeding 700cc.

Examples: Paton S1-R, Aprilia RS 660, etc.

About the Isle of Man TT Race Course

The TT Mountain Course at the Isle of Man TT Race is normally a public road used by local residents for their cars and motorcycles. It is closed and becomes a course only during the Isle of Man TT Race sessions and races. The current TT Mountain Course is a layout that has been in place since 1911, with one lap being approximately 60km. The course is diverse, with over 200 corners, including the main straight at the start and finish, urban areas, and mountain areas.

Because the total length of one lap is long, even if it is sunny at the start, the race may be delayed due to rain in the mountain area.

Lap times vary from 16 to 18 minutes, depending on the class, and the current overall lap record is set by Peter Hickman at an average speed of 136.358 mph (approximately 219.45 km/h), so you can imagine just how fast the riders are going.

During the Isle of Man TT Race Week, the roads are “open” after the races, and local residents and spectators travel along the “roads (courses)” that the riders have just ridden (or have just ridden) in their own cars or motorbikes, and public transport such as buses also use the roads.

What was the 2025 Isle of Man TT like?

In short, the 2025 race was one in which schedule delays were repeated due to weather. The weather on the Isle of Man is changeable, so it is not at all unusual for the schedule to not go as originally planned, and in fact it is rare for the weather to be sunny for the race week to proceed as scheduled. However, even for the Isle of Man, this was a rare race with bad weather and repeated schedule changes.

Ultimately, the Senior TT race, scheduled for the final day, June 7th, was cancelled. Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson explained that this was due to “strong winds and a wind direction different to that experienced during the previous race weeks.” The Senior TT race is the final and most prestigious race of the Isle of Man TT, and this was only the second time it had been cancelled since 2012.

The rider who won the 2025 Isle of Man TT race

BMW’s Davey Todd won the Superbike TT race, while Honda’s Dean Harrison won Race 1 and Race 2 of the Superstock TT. There was no doubt that these two were the favorites in the large-displacement class, given their team structure and bikes, and it can be said that each of them was sure to win.

Michael Dunlop, who specializes in the mid-displacement class and holds the record for the most wins in history, won Supersport TT Race 1, making it his 30th victory. Michael Dunlop, nephew of legendary TT rider Joey Dunlop, also won Supertwin TT Race 1, Supersport TT Race 2 and Supertwin TT Race 2, extending his record for the most wins in history to 33.

Masayuki Yamanaka was the only Japanese to compete in the Isle of Man TT. This year marked Yamanaka’s seventh time competing in the Isle of Man TT Races, and he competed in the Super Twin TT. He finished Race 1 (2 laps) in 41 minutes 20.867 seconds, with an average speed of 109.5 mph (approximately 176.22 km/h), placing 31st, and Race 2 (3 laps) in 1 hour 2 minutes 24.672 seconds, with an average speed of 108.817 mph (approximately 175.12 km/h), placing 25th, completing both races.

At the Isle of Man TT Races, all finishers are awarded prizes. On June 4th, after Race 1 for all classes had finished, a prize presentation ceremony was held, with all finishers in each class of Race 1 receiving their awards on stage. Yamanaka, who completed Race 1 on the Super Twin TT, also received his medal on stage. This way of awarding and showing respect to riders is also part of what makes the Isle of Man TT Race so special.

Where is the Isle of Man? What is it like?

The Isle of Man TT Race is held on the Isle of Man, an independent British Crown dependency between Great Britain and Ireland. From Great Britain, it is northwest of Manchester and Liverpool, and further north than Cape Soya, the northernmost point of Japan. Even in late May and early June, when the Isle of Man TT Race is held, the temperature drops below 10°C in the mornings and evenings, and even during the daytime, if there is no sunlight, it can feel quite cold.

How to access from Japan?

If you are coming from Japan, you can fly via London, England, and then fly to Ronaldsway Airport on the Isle of Man, or you can travel by boat from Liverpool to Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man. You can also travel via Dublin, Ireland.

In my case, after covering the British MotoGP Grand Prix, I traveled from Milton Keynes and flew from London’s Gatwick Airport to Ronaldsway Airport on the Isle of Man by easyJet. Since it was during the Isle of Man TT Races, many people on the plane were wearing Isle of Man TT hoodies.

What about the Isle of Man during the Isle of Man TT race week?

Many spectators come to the Isle of Man for the Isle of Man TT race week. Many of them travel across the sea from Europe to the Isle of Man with their bikes. When you’re on the course, you’ll often hear French, Italian, and other languages ​​spoken, rather than the typical Manx English.

On the other hand, some Manx residents leave the island during this time because travel costs are cheaper (many people come to the island but few leave), and some Manx residents rent out their empty houses to spectators who come to the island.

There are many bikes lined up in front of Victory Cafe in Bangalow in the mountain area and in the area lined with hotels along the coast. Of course, there are also a lot of bikes on the road.

In terms of vehicle types, there are many sports bikes and adventure bikes, but on the other hand, scooters are hardly ever seen. I have visited Italy and Spain many times to cover MotoGP, and there are many scooters on public roads, and although there are a few, I have seen scooters in the MotoGP parking lots. However, in the Isle of Man, at least during the Isle of Man TT race, I see almost no scooters at all. Another notable feature of 2025 was the large number of mini bikes, such as Honda’s GROM, on the road. When I visited in 2023, I remember there were hardly any mini bikes on the road.

We reported on the events of the long-running Isle of Man TT race in 2025.