Isle of Man TT: New medical standards to be introduced for 2025

Volunteers will trial the new medical assessment in 2024

New medical checks for riders at the Isle of Man TT are set to be introduced in 2025, organisers have said.

The move means competitors will have a thorough medical assessment on island before the first qualifying session.

Working with the Manx Roadracing Medical Services (MRMS), the scheme aims to "raise the physical and mental health" of riders, ACU Events Ltd said.

Chief medical officer Gareth Davies said the project would further work aimed at "removing avoidable risks".

"The TT is unique in almost every aspect and it's only right that we work to help prepare competitors for that unique challenge," he said.

Currently, all competitors must file a medical report from their doctor to organisers as part of their application for a Mountain Course license, to gain permission to race in the competition.

The new rules would require riders to have an "on-event medical assessment by the TT medical officers prior to first qualifying".

MRMS, the organisation that provides medical support for the TT, would also then provide competitors with pre-event guidance to help with physical and mental preparation.

'Risk management'

A number of volunteer competitors from across the entry list are set to go through a range of physiological, mechanical and biochemical assessments at this year's races as part of the project.

Assessments before and after qualifying and race sessions will gather data on a range of factors such as lactate levels, blood glucose, heart rate, and grip strength.

The research will inform future medical standards and help organisers to understand the physicality of racing on the TT course, a spokesman said.

The data, paired with information from incidents to analyse trends and an "ongoing systematic approach to risk management... will continue to provide clarity between the TT's inherent risks and the unnecessary risks," he said.

Clerk of the course Gary Thompson said "the work on medical standards and the investment into the facilities at the TT are all being done to look after our competitors and with their best interests at heart".