Manx Grand Prix debut 'like being in a movie'

Blake Kelly said he understood the risks of the contest

Setting off from the start line of the Manx Grand Prix for the first time "felt like being in a movie", a rider who grew up on the Isle of Man has said.

Blake Kelly, from Douglas, said he had "put everything" into securing a place in the competition taking on the Mountain Course had been "magic".

"It's somehow nothing like I imagined and also everything I thought it would be," the 30-year-old said.

A total of 29 newcomers, including six Manx riders, have taken to the the 37.7-mile (61 km) course as part of qualifying ahead of the start of racing on Saturday.

Kelly said his earliest memory of spectating on the island was standing at Coronation Park in Ramsey where he grew up in the late 1990s looking out for TT legend Joey Dunlop's yellow helmet.

He described the circuit as "the pinnacle, the peak and best" so it had been "properly magical" to ride on closed roads.

He said taking part in the event was "achieving a dream that most people don't get to" and he was "loving every second" of it.

Blake Kelly is one of six local newcomers competing at the Manx Grand Prix

A fulltime firefighter and blue light driving instructor, Kelly decided to commit to road racing in his mid-20s.

"You have to put everything into it - your money, your time - but I'm fortunate enough to have people that help me out too," he said.

Being from the island "gives us an extra leg up [because] the course is really familiar, but you're looking at it from a totally new angle", he said.

"I know there are risks, but it's risk taking in a highly calculated way," he added.

Newcomers Grant Thomson and Blake Kelly both hail from the Isle of Man

Praising the efforts of the privateers in the contest, Kelly said "95% of the paddock is pure passion" and it had "just felt right" to be in among it.

It had also been "humbling" to see the support he has received by followers of his Unrestricted Isle vlogging channel, who identify him in the crowd by spotting his hot pink bike and leathers.

"It does put the pressure on, but it also spurs you on... it's a massive motivator," he said.

Fellow newcomer Grant Thomson, from Port St Mary, has also relished the opportunity to tackle the iconic event held on closed public road son his home island for the first time.

"My heart was about to come out of my leathers because you're going into the unknown, but that first lap on your own is like 'wow', this is absolutely brilliant," he said.

"I was smiling the whole way round."

Grant Thomson said it was special to be local and ride in the Manx Grand Prix

Having has his first taste of motorsport on a mini quad bike at the age of two, the 28-year-old car mechanic has gone on to secure wins and convincing finishes locally in the Southern 100 Road Races and Andreas Racing Association Championship.

He said he had "always loved riding bikes" but taking on the mountain circuit had been a "total new experience".

Thomson said: "You can have a perfect bike, but the course will rattle it. It's a hard game but it's the best thing you'll ever do."

Seeing the fans "hanging over the walls and waving" in support was "mega", he said.

"To be Manx and race the Manx is special," he added.