Meet Tommy Robb at the show!

Ever-smiling Tommy Robb’s TT career began in 1958 aboard a NSU in the 250cc race on the Clypse Course, having already achieved success in his native Ulster. He finished a creditable eighth.

On his Mountain Course debut the following year aboard a 350cc Manx Norton, he finished 22nd. Back on the Clypse Course riding Geoff Monty’s GMS, he showed the promise of what was to come by claiming fourth place in the 250cc race and ninth on a Ducati in the 125cc race.

After a nasty spill at Windy Corner in the 1960 TT, which resulted in a broken neck, Tommy understandably took time out to recover. All that changed, however, when he was drafted into the Honda Team in 1962 alongside Bob McIntyre, Jim Redman, Luigi Taveri, Tom Phillis and Kunimitsu Takahashi.

Tommy immediately took to the Japanese machinery, finishing second in the 125cc race and a third in the 50cc TT. The following season saw him equipped with 125, 250 and 350cc Hondas. After a split with Honda, Tommy raced a factory Yamaha to seventh place in the TT, and also rode works Bultaco machinery. The Irish ace was also a long-time Continental Circus rider, with an impressive list of results.

Riding for Dublin sponsor, Danny Keaney, Tommy planned for 1973 to be his last season of TT racing, and entered five races. Race week started well, with a third in the Production Race, followed by mid-field finishes in the 250 and 350cc classes, although it was the 125cc race, which gave the popular Ulsterman the victory he had always dreamed of.