MOTORCYCLING FROM IRELAND TO THE IOM TT AND OTHER RACES ON THE ISLE OF MAN

Last updated on November 10, 2024

The Isle of Man TT is probably the most famous motorbike race in the world. It is held every year on the Isle of Man.

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Intro

The island belongs to the United Kingdom and lies between northern England and northern Ireland. It is easily accessible by ferry from both sides and is a truly beautiful island, even independent of the races.

So it makes sense to combine a motorbike trip with a detour to the Isle of Man – and for motorsport fans it’s virtually a pilgrimage!

Why then from Ireland to the Isle of Man?

Many of our customers have combined a trip to Ireland with a couple of days on the Isle of Man and were thrilled!

What do you mean clients? We have our second home in Ireland and have (update: had) our own motorbike rental business here for a number of years.

Our customers fly quickly and cheaply to Dublin, rent a motorbike from us (with luggage system and sat nav) and go on a trip in Ireland – usually to the wild west coast or even once around the island. Some of you have taken the motorbike to the Isle of Man and experienced a few days of racing there.

By the way, not only the TT is held on the Isle of Man, but also several other racing events. And I have listed them for you:

The Isle of Man TT

The TT, or Tourist Trophy, is one of the most famous and certainly one of the most dangerous motorbike races in the world. It is held on normal roads and also passes through towns and villages.

Of course, the roads are closed for the race, but if you look at the speed at which the riders are travelling, it is both breathtaking and frightening to watch. The 37-mile or 60km mountain circuit is run over 4 laps and is very demanding, even for professionals.

Thousands of fans stand on the sidelines, in the villages as well as along the country roads. The races will take place end May / early June. You can find more information at www.iomtt.com.

Tickets are usually sold out one to two years in advance. Besides the entry tickets, you also need ferry connections and accommodation – so you’ll have to be very lucky to be able to book everything this year – but maybe it will work out for next year?

To get you in the mood, watch this Youtube film: Between the Hedges – Episode 2: The Mountain Course | Isle of Man TT Races.

The Manx Grand Prix and the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling

Also a major and significant event is the Manx Grand Prix, which this year will be held from 20-28 August 2023.

It also takes place on the TT’s 60km Mountain Circuit and is over 4 laps. It was originally designed as an amateur race for TT aspirants. Today there are different classes and cubic capacity classes. Information can be found at www.manxgrandprix.co.uk.

The Classic TT is the TT for professionals – with classic racing motorbikes. It takes place during the festival. Information is available at www.iomtt.com/classic-tt.

If you are interested in trial riding, this is the place to be! The Manx International Classic and the Manx 2day Trial will also be held as part of the festival. See www.manx2day.co.uk and www.manxtrialsclub.com/events.

Friends of classic cars or vintage bikes will also get their money’s worth at the festival, because that’s when the Vintage Motorcyle Club Rally takes place. See www.vmcciom.org. There are also other races and events with vintage motorbikes on the same page.

The Southern 100 Road Races and the Pre-TT Classic Road Races.

In the southern part of the island there is a short road circuit, the 4.25-mile Billown Course. It is ridden 24 times and so the riders come to 100 miles (approx. 160km).
The Southern 100 Races will take place in July.

There is another race on the same course, the Pre-TT Classic Road Races. They will be held with classic racing machines and will take place in May.

Information on both races can be found at www.southern100.com.

Car rallies on the Isle of Man

The Manx Classic is a car rally with classic cars. It takes place annually in spring and this year in April. You can find more information at www.manxmotorracing.com.

There are probably other car rallies on the island, but I haven’t found any dates for this year yet.

The Isle of Man and the Motor Museum

Are you interested in the Isle of Man but not a fan of the racing hustle and bustle? Welcome to the club! Why not visit the island outside the races, take a short tour of the TT circuit and visit the Isle of Man Motor Museum. The pretty island is worth a visit even without racing. See www.isleofman.com/visitor-guide.

Travel and booking tips

With the ferry company Steam-Packet (www.steam-packet.com), you can take your motorbike from Dublin or Belfast to the Isle of Man.

Good information on how to get there and where to stay can also be found on this IOMTT page. There are plenty of places to stay on the island, as many spectators have to be accommodated for the races.

Motorbike Hire in Ireland

Our own motorbike hire shop is open from April to October. We are located just south of Dublin, at the foot of the beautiful Wicklow Mountains and are easily accessible by coach or taxi from Dublin Airport.

From here you can quickly reach the southern starting point of the Wild Atlantic Way, the wild west coast of Ireland with its spectacularly beautiful coasts. On the way there or back, depending on where you want to go, you can take the ferry to the Isle of Man in Dublin and return your rental motorbike on your return.

Conclusion

There are so many beautiful places to discover in Ireland. But if you’re into motorbike racing, there’s almost no way around a visit to the Isle of Man!

Why not combine both in one trip? I hope I can inspire you and wish you a great trip. And maybe we’ll see you in Ireland!