Extended Manx Grand Prix offers more 'flexibility'

Clerk of the Course, Gary Thompson, will oversee racing in both the MGP and Classic TT classes

An extended schedule for the Manx Grand Prix, heralding the return of the Classic TT, gives organisers greater "flexibility", the clerk of the course has said.

Qualification events and racing, set to run concurrently from Sunday until 29 August, will get under way on the 37.2mile (60km) Mountain Course later.

The government announced the Classic TT would be re-introduced for 2025 at the end of last year, with the MGP programme expanded from nine to 13 days in an effort to attract more motorsport fans to the island.

Gary Thompson said the weather forecast for the race period was "really good, after a dismal few years" but a longer event meant there was "lots of room to use contingency plans" if needed.

The revised schedule will see the racing will be split into two tranches, with the Supertwin, Supersport, Junior and Senior MGP races, on contemporary vehicles, set to take place first, on 23 and 25 August.

They will be followed by the Formula 1, Lightweight, Historic Junior, Historic Senior and Classic Senior TT races on 27 and 29 August.

Qualifying for the MGP is set to start proceedings, followed by sessions for the Classic classes, with Thompson saying "if we do lose sessions for whatever reason" there was "plenty of contingency for qualifying towards the bank holiday weekend, and [on] Tuesday and Thursday during the race schedule".

The MGP and Classic TT racing runs until 29 August

First held alongside the MGP in 2013, the Classic TT brand was scrapped by the government after a review following the coronavirus pandemic.

The clerk said he was pleased to see its return, adding race organisers had "listened to feedback" after the August festival was shortened to nine days in 2022.

Mr Thompson said the revamped schedule would give riders and spectators "plenty of downtime and more chance to explore the island", as well as enjoying the event.

"Each event complements each other," he explained.

"You have four races on modern bikes in the MGP, and then, for the Classic, you have iconic machines being ridden by some of the best riders in the world, like Michael Dunlop, Davy Todd, John McGuinness and Conor Cummins.

"For the pure bike enthusiast, to come to the Isle of Man and see their TT heroes on machines from the past – it's sights and sounds you can't describe," he said.

Roads around the course are due to close at 12:45 BST on Sunday and reopen no later than 18:00 BST.