Manx Grand Prix fans excited for 'noise and speed'

Mark Scott from Glasgow said watching motorcycle racing on the island was special

Fans visiting the Manx Grand Prix have said they are looking forward to "the adrenaline, the noise and the speed" of the first races of the 2025 meeting.

After a week of qualifying sessions, competitors are set to compete on the the 37.7-mile (61 km) Mountain Course in the Supertwin and Superport contests later.

In a bid to increase visitor numbers, the August event has seen the reintroduction of the Classic TT and an extension of the festival from nine to 13 days.

John Eastham from Bolton said he had returned to see the event for the second year in a row because of the "thrill of watching racing like no other in the world".

Motorcycle fan John Eastham praised the return of the extended August festival

Also a regular visitor to the TT races held in June each year, Mr Eastham said the Manx Grand Prix (MGP) was a "bit more chilled" and gave him a second opportunity to make the journey in a year.

He said it was "really good" to see the island's second larges annual motorcycling event expanded, which would "attract a few more people".

His partner Dorothy Grainger, who was on her first visit to the festival, said although she would not describe herself as a bike fan, she was keen to explore the island and watch the races.

"It seems mad how fast they go round the course," she said.

Dorothy Grainger is attending the festival for the first time

Mark Scott from Glasgow said he got "a special feeling" being on the Isle of Man for the motorcycle racing.

"It's not the same when you watch on the TV, it's the adrenaline, the noise, the speed and how close you get.

"It's also the fact that you can walk around the paddock and speak to the riders."

He said he "loved motorbikes" and would use "any excuse to come to the Isle of Man" to spectate.

Stefan Hahn from Stuttgart has brought his own bike to ride the Mountain Course

Stefan Hahn from Stuttgart, who first attended the TT Races in 2019, said he was "enjoying more the older bikes" being ridden in the Classic TT.

He and his friends had heard "lovely stories from the mechanics and riders in the paddock" and picked up tips for their own motorcycles.

"Especially when building bikes yourself, it's cool to see the older guys and how they do it," he said.

Having travelled on his own machine, he highlighted the shift between riding the track, which sees public roads become a closed race circuit, among "everyday traffic" and then watching the classic bikes face off them.

Commending the bravery of competitors, he said they "go at speeds you won't go on a modern bike yourself".

Dave Lewis from Essex first visited the island to watch the bikes in the 1960s

First run in 2013, the Classic TT brand was scrapped when racing returned following the coronavirus pandemic in 2022.

Dave Lewis from Essex, who has being been coming to island for the motorcycle festivals since 1960s, said he was looking forward to "racing, seeing friends, and having a good time" during his visit.

Staying until the end of the event on 29 August, he said he was "really pleased it had reverted to the full two weeks" and that the Classic TT had been brought back.

Having the classic racing "separate entity" meant the set up of the event was "far better", he added.

James Yeo said the extended festival would allow visitors to 'enjoy more' outside of the racing

James Yeo from London said he was visiting to immerse himself in the older machinery on display.

"The newer bikes don't do it so much for me, but certainly the classics do," he said.

"I used to prefer the TT in the past but now these are the bikes that were in the TT 25 years go, so I've kind of carried on with the same love of those machines."

He said he preferred the "slightly stretched format" so he could attend events such as the vintage rallies and so people could "enjoy more" outside of the racing.

Saturday sees the first day of MGP racing, with further races scheduled for Monday.

Classic racing is set to take place throughout the day on 27 and 29 August.