MANX GRAND PRIX
06 August 2004 - Isle of Man

Two-stroke racing machines have been given a further lease of life on the TT Course!

In contrast to the TT, the
organisers of the Manx Grand Prix have decided against axing the 125cc single cylinder and 250cc twin cylinder twostroke bikes from next year’s event. They have similarly retained 400cc four-stroke four cylinder machines which have
also been dropped by the TT for 2005.

At this week’s committee meeting the 2005 regulations were unanimously approved and mean not only the retention of the pukka 125cc and 250cc racing machines, as well as 400cc fourstrokes,
but confirm that the Manx Motor Cycle Club intends returning the Manx Grand Prix to the clubman’s meeting it was originally established as in 1923, thus ending the recent trend of Production bike classes at the TT being used by some as practice for the MGP.

Just a fortnight now until the Manx Grand Prix gets going, with one of the highest quality entries for years. The only American ever to win a TT, Dave Roper from New York, makes a welcome return to compete in the Senior Classic.

After 11 years away, he is bound to be a little rusty, but he actually reacquainted himself with the Snaefell Mountain Course only last year when he took part in the TT Classic Parade. Dave first rode in the Classic in its inaugural year, 1983, and the following year he won the 500cc Historic TT on a G50 Matchless.

Back for another crack at the Manx is Dave Hughes from Folkestone in Kent. He has a brace of Manx Nortons this time. After winning the 1972 Senior MGP on a Matchless, Dave went on to the TT before coming back to the Manx via the Classic races. He has finished 10th, 11th and 18th in the Senior and 12th in the Junior.

Looking for a Lightweight Classic win is Ewan Hamilton from Aberdeen. He was second in the 1998 250cc and third in 1992 and 2003. As well as his faithful T20 Suzuki, he will run a Seeley BSA Gold Star in the Senior Classic.

Plucking up plenty of courage, Ian Rycroft from Peel, Isle of Man, will again run his Greeves in the Senior Classic. Last year was the first time a two-stroke had taken part in the 500cc event and the overbored Oulton was going well in practice. But in the race a broken swinging arm spindle at the flat-out Ballagarey right hander gave him an exciting few seconds and he was fortunate to stay aboard.

Ian also has a Yamaha for the Lightweight Classic.
Racing round the Mountain should present few problems to Philip Harman from West Sussex. He rides an Aprilia Mille in the Senior and aims to improve on last year’s debut. He has raced sidecars, supermotos, speedway, enduros
and motocross. He has also ridden across the Nevada and Sahara deserts many times!

Steve Kuenne from Crewe will try to win the Lightweight and has an extra goal to aim for. He did 114.14mph on his 250 during last year’s Junior race. This time he hopes to take Dave Sandland’s TSR250 to victory and find the six seconds needed to take over the Lightweight lap record from Richard Quayle who did 114.80mph in his winning ride in 1999. Incidentally, the longest remaining lap record is that of Bob Heath (Matchless) in the 1997 Senior Classic – 106.74mph.

Always guaranteed to be competitive, Chris McGahan from Sevenoaks is down for both Classic races. The former TT solo and sidecar competitor has a Hales Honda twin for the 350 and a Trekdean Seeley for the 500, both entered by Ducati Ashford.

Enniskillen’s Barry Maguire looks a good bet for the 750 Newcomers. The 33-year-old mechanic has an R6 Yamaha and has already established a convincing reputation in the Ulster Grand Prix and North West 200 meetings.

Three-times MGP runner-up Davy Morgan from Saintfield, Co. Down, aims to go one better this time. He again has backing from Isle of Man company Investasure, who will run his R6 Yamaha in the Junior and a 750 GSXR Suzuki in
the Senior.

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