Lightweight TT

Motorcycle race on the Isle of Man

After a weather delay of 24 hours, Ryan Farquhar (2), the winner of the Lightweight TT on his KMR Kawasaki ER-6 650 cc ready at the TT Grandstand startline, 9 June 2012

The Supertwin TT is a motorcycle road race that is a part of the Isle of Man TT festival - an annual motorcycle event traditionally held over the last week of May and first week of June. Prior to the 2022 edition of the TT, the race was known as the Lightweight TT.

## History

[edit]

The Lightweight class, as it was then known, was first present at the 1920 TT races, as a category in the Junior TT. However it was not until 1922 that the first time the Lightweight TT took place, won by motorcycle journalist Geoff S. Davison riding a Levis, at an average speed of 49.89 mph (80.29 km/h) for 5 laps of the Snaefell Mountain Course. Between 1949 and 1976, the Lightweight race was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season.

In the changes following the loss of FIM World Championship status after the 1976 event, the Lightweight TT event was dropped with the 250 cc machines running for the Junior TT in place of the now defunct 350 cc formula. The Lightweight TT returned in 1995 before being split into two distinct events from 1999, dropping from the schedule again after 2004.

The Lightweight TT and the Ultra-Lightweight TT were later reinstated to the 2008 & 2009 race schedules, but were held on the 4.25 mile Billown Circuit in the south of the Isle of Man.[1] For the 2010 races, the Lightweight TT was again dropped from the race schedule on cost grounds.

The event was re-introduced for the 2012 races on the Mountain course, with a change to water-cooled four-stroke twin cylinder engines not exceeding 650 cc and complying with the ACU Standing Regulations.[2]

The event was renamed Supertwin TT in 2022.[3]

## The Lightweight category

[edit]

There have been several different categories of motorcycle that can compete in this event. In the 1950s and 1960s, the principal TT solo events were the Senior (500 cc), Junior (350 cc), and Lightweight (250 cc, or sometimes 125 cc). The 125 cc class was occasionally called the "Ultra-Lightweight" class.

Currently the Lightweight class comprises road-based "SuperTwin" solo machines with liquid-cooled four-stroke engines of up to 500 cc for Four-Cylinder and 800 cc Twin-Cylinder engine capacity.

## Overview

[edit]

* 1924–1948: For motorcycles not exceeding 250 cc engine capacity.
* 1949–1953: FIM World Championship event for motorcycles not exceeding 250 cc engine capacity, held on the Snaefell mountain course.
* 1954–1959: FIM World Championship event for motorcycles not exceeding 250 cc engine capacity, held on the Clypse Course.
* 1960–1976: FIM World Championship event for motorcycles not exceeding 250 cc engine capacity, held on the Mountain Course.
* 1977–1994: event not run (250 cc formula run as Junior TT).
* 1995–1998: For 2-stroke motorcycles not exceeding 250 cc engine capacity and 4-stroke motorcycles not exceeding 400 cc, held on the Mountain Course.
* 1999–2003: Lightweight 400 TT for 4-stroke motorcycles not exceeding 400 cc engine capacity, held on the Mountain Course.
* 1999–2002: Lightweight 250 TT for 2-stroke motorcycles not exceeding 250 cc engine capacity, held on the Mountain Course (the category running within Junior TT in 2003).
* 2008–2009: For motorcycles not exceeding 250 cc engine capacity, held on the Billown Circuit.
* 2012–2019: For water-cooled four-stroke twin cylinder not exceeding an engine capacity of 650 cc and complying with the ACU Standing Regulations.[4]

## Speed and lap records

[edit]

The lap record for the Lightweight TT is held by Michael Dunlop in a time of 18 minutes and 26.543 seconds, at an average speed of 122.750 mph (197.547 km/h) set during the 2018 race. The race record for the 4 lap (150.73 miles/242.58 km) Lightweight TT is a time of 1 hour, 15 minutes and 05.032 seconds, at an average race speed of 120.601 mph (194.088 km/h), also held by Dunlop during the 2018 race.[5][6]

## List of Lightweight TT Winners

[edit]

[7][8]

Year  | Rider  | Manufacturer  | Average Race Speed

|
|
|

1922 |  Geoff S. Davison | Levis | 49.49 mph
1923 |  Jock Porter | New Gerrard | 51.93 mph
1924 |  Edwin Twemlow | New Imperial | 55.44 mph
1925 |  Edwin Twemlow | New Imperial | 57.74 mph
1926 |  C. W. Johnston | Cotton | 57.74 mph
1927 |  Wal Handley | Rex-Acme | 63.3 mph
1928 |  Frank Longman | OK-Supreme | 62.9 mph
1929 |  Syd Crabtree | Excelsior | 63.87 mph
1930 |  Jimmie Guthrie | AJS | 64.71 mph
1931 |  Graham Walker | Rudge | 68.98 mph
1932 |  Leo Davenport | New Imperial | 70.48 mph
1933 |  Syd Gleave | Excelsior | 71.59 mph
1934 |  Jimmy Simpson | Rudge | 70.81 mph
1935 |  Stanley Woods | Moto Guzzi | 71.56 mph
1936 |  Bob Foster | New Imperial | 74.28 mph
1937 |  Omobono Tenni | Moto Guzzi | 74.72 mph
1938 |  Ewald Kluge | DKW | 78.48 mph
1939 |  Ted Mellors | Benelli | 74.26 mph
1940-1946  | Not held
1947 |  Manliffe Barrington | Moto Guzzi | 73.22 mph
1948 |  Maurice Cann | Moto Guzzi | 75.12 mph
1949 |  Manliffe Barrington | Moto Guzzi | 77.99 mph
1950 |  Dario Ambrosini | Benelli | 78.08 mph
1951 |  Tommy Wood | Moto Guzzi | 81.39 mph
1952 |  Fergus Anderson | Moto Guzzi | 83.82 mph
1953 |  Fergus Anderson | Moto Guzzi | 84.73 mph
1954 |  Werner Haas | NSU | 90.88 mph
1955 |  Bill Lomas | MV Agusta | 71.37 mph
1956 |  Carlo Ubbiali | MV Agusta | 67.05 mph
1957 |  Cecil Sandford | Mondial | 75.80 mph
1958 |  Tarquinio Provini | MV Agusta | 76.89 mph
1959 |  Tarquinio Provini | MV Agusta | 77.77 mph
1960 |  Gary Hocking | MV Agusta | 93.64 mph
1961 |  Mike Hailwood | Honda | 98.38 mph
1962 |  Derek Minter | Honda | 96.68 mph
1963 |  Jim Redman | Honda | 94.85 mph
1964 |  Jim Redman | Honda | 97.45 mph
1965 |  Jim Redman | Honda | 97.19 mph
1966 |  Mike Hailwood | Honda | 101.79 mph
1967 |  Mike Hailwood | Honda | 103.07 mph
1968 |  Bill Ivy | Yamaha | 99.58 mph
1969 |  Kel Carruthers | Benelli | 95.95 mph
1970 |  Kel Carruthers | Yamaha | 96.13 mph
1971 |  Phil Read | Yamaha | 98.02 mph
1972 |  Phil Read | Yamaha | 99.68 mph
1973 |  Charlie Williams | Yamaha | 100.05 mph
1974 |  Charlie Williams | Yamaha | 94.16 mph
1975 |  Chas Mortimer | Yamaha | 101.78 mph
1976 |  Tom Herron | Yamaha | 103.55 mph
1977-1994  | Not held
1995 |  Joey Dunlop | Honda | 115.68 mph
1996 |  Joey Dunlop | Honda | 115.31 mph
1997 |  Joey Dunlop | Honda | 115.59 mph
1998 |  Joey Dunlop | Honda | 96.61 mph
1999 |  John McGuinness | Honda | 116.79 mph
Paul Williams | Honda | 109.01 mph
2000 |  Joey Dunlop | Honda | 116.01 mph
Brett Richmond | Honda | 104.00 mph
2001 | Not held
2002 |  Bruce Anstey | Yamaha | 115.32 mph
Richard Quayle | Honda | 109.27 mph
2003 |  John McGuinness | Honda | 109.52 mph
2004 |  John McGuinness | Honda | 110.28 mph
2005-2007  | Not Held
2008 |  Ian Lougher | Honda | 100.741 mph
2009 |  Ian Lougher | Honda | 101.168 mph
Ian Lougher | Honda | 100.273 mph
2010-2011  | Not Held
2012 |  Ryan Farquhar | Kawasaki | 114.155 mph
2013 |  James Hillier | Kawasaki | 117.694 mph
2014 |  Dean Harrison | Kawasaki | 117.460 mph
2015 |  Ivan Lintin | Kawasaki | 118.936 mph
2016 |  Ivan Lintin | Kawasaki | 118.454 mph
2017 |  Michael Rutter | Paton | 118.645 mph
2018 |  Michael Dunlop | Paton | 120.601 mph
2019 |  Michael Dunlop | Paton | 121.646 mph
2022 |  Peter Hickman | Paton | 120.006 mph
2023 (Race 1) |  Michael Dunlop | Paton | 120.505 mph
2023 (Race 2) |  Peter Hickman | Yamaha | 119.318 mph

### Race winners (riders)

[edit]

Rider | Wins

|

Joey Dunlop | 6
Charlie Williams | 5
Mike Hailwood, Jim Redman | 3
Fergus Anderson, Manliff Barrington, Kel Carruthers, Michael Dunlop, Ivan Lintin, Ian Lougher, Phil Read, Tarquinio Provini, Eric Twemlow | 2
Dario Ambrosini, Bruce Anstey, Maurice Cann, Syd Crabtree, Ryan Farquhar, Gary Hocking, Jimmie Guthrie, Wal Handley, Werner Haas, Dean Harrison, Tom Herron, James Hillier, Bill Ivy, Ewald Kluge, John McGuinness, Ted Mellors, Derek Minter, Jack A. Porter, Richard Quayle, Jimmie Simpson, Omobono Tenni, Carlo Ubbiali, Graham Walker, Stanley Woods | 1

## See also

[edit]

* TT Zero
* Ultra-Lightweight TT
* Sidecar TT
* Junior TT
* Senior TT

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Manx Independent pp44 dated 22 November 2007
2. ^ International Isle of Man TT Regulations 2012 page 41-42 Appendix-E ACU Events (Isle of Man) Ltd (2012) Isle of Man Department of Economic Development
3. ^ Miller, David (11 June 2021). "Lightweight TT becomes Supertwin TT in 2022". BikeSport News. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
4. ^ International Isle of Man TT Regulations 2012 page 41-42 Appendix-E ACU Events (Isle of Man) Ltd (2012) Isle of Man Department of Economic Development
5. ^ "Dunlop proves a heavy hitter in thrilling Bennetts Lightweight TT Race". Isle of Man TT. Duke Marketing Ltd. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
6. ^ "Bennetts Lightweight TT - Result Sheet" (PDF). Isle of Man TT. Duke Marketing Ltd. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
7. ^ "TT Fact Zone". Duke Marketing Ltd.
8. ^ "TT & Manx Grand Prix - iMuseum". iMuseum.

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