IOM TT RACES REVAMPED
Radical racing changes for 2022
‘There’s a real appreciation of the TT’s value to the island’
When it was announced two weeks ago that TT 2021 was cancelled it sent shockwaves through the racing community. For many, two years without a TT represented a nail in the coffin for one of the oldest, most prestigious and controversial events in the world. But according to TT Business Development Manager Paul Phillips the two year sabbatical is an opportunity of a lifetime to take the spectacular event to the next level.
In an exclusive interview with MCN, Phillips explains how the forced cancelation has given time to properly assess every area of the event in a bid to make it all world class – not just the racing.
“It’s one of the most spectacular sporting events you can witness, but it remains behind the curve in many other ways.” explained Phillips. “While the success we’ve enjoyed has been fantastic, the opportunity of two years of no TT to properly evaluate the past and what we can do in the future is a real once in a generation opportunity. I believe people think that the TT has been going through something of a renaissance over the last 10 years and in many ways it has. However my personal belief is that it remains a sleeping giant. “We’ve done a level of research that we’ve never done before so the level of intelligence we have is unprecedented. This will help us understand our audience better and give them more of what they want in the future.”
While there’s understanding as to why the 2021 event has been cancelled the doomsayers maintain that some Islanders and government members don’t want it to return – something Phillips is keen to quash.
“I think people are jumping to that conclusion which is why we want to counter that with news and initiatives around scheduling, broadcasts, content, technical regulations, infrastructure etc.
“Everything I’m seeing from within government is the real disappointment of cancelling for a second year and a desire to support it going forward with a real appreciation of its value to the Island as a whole.”
The most effective way of dispelling the rumours of the event’s demise is through outlining plans for the future. One of those is the change in technical regulations, which Phillips revealed exclusively to MCN and will mean a change to the classes of racing.
“We currently have five classes - Superbike, Superstock, Supersport, Lightweight and sidecar. Three of those classes will almost certainly be rebooted for 2022 when we come back with a host of new bikes and manufacturers. Lightweight will become Supertwin with a new set of technical regulations which will allow bigger bikes up to 700cc so the Yamaha, and new Aprilia will be on the grid.
“With the sidecars we will follow something akin to what they are doing in British Supersport in 2021 allowing different power plants to be used.
“And while this isn’t confirmed 100%, we’ll fall in line with the changes that are happening in the World Supersport championship in 2022 (where new FIM rules will allow for the introduction of different engine configurations meaning Ducati can race with the 959 V2, Triumph will race the 765cc triple against the traditional 600cc fours). It would mean a lot more different looking and sounding bikes on the grid and would have the effect of taking away some of the TT form guide.”