Manx Grand Prix

Motorsport Event
the course

The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course (or 'Mountain Circuit') annually, usually at the end of August and early September. Traditionally the event has been staged over a two week period but this was reduced in 2022 to nine days. 2023 saw the 100th Anniversary of the event. The MGP or Manx (as it is more commonly known) is considered to be the amateur rider's alternative and a learning experience for the Isle of Man TT races held in May/June. The event differs from the TT in that it does not cater for sidecars. A 'Classic TT' race category for historic racing machines was added in 2013 as part of the Manx Government Department of Economic Development's expansion to create what is termed Festival of Motorcycling to breathe new life into the event. These new races also allowed for professional and experienced riders to compete. The event consists of six three or four lap races of the circuit which begins at the TT Grandstand in Douglas, the island's capital. The separate classes have varied year to year. The proposed schedule for 2024 consists of the Lightweight, Classic, Classic Junior, Junior, Senior and Classic Superbike races.

The MGP began in 1923 as the 'Manx Amateur Road Races' or MARC. The MARC continued until 1930 when renamed as the Manx Grand Prix. Problems were encountered initially over the definition of an 'Amateur' and the first rules were extensive and open to various interpretations. Nowadays, many riders who have achieved success in the MGP move on to race in the TT but regulations prevent them from re entering 'The Manx' unless they wish to do so on Classic machinery. Chris Palmer (former British 125cc champion) and the late Richard Britton both followed this route in 2005 aboard Manx Nortons. In 1989 Gloria Clark became the first woman to race in the MGP. In 1991 she gained an entry into the Guinness Book Of Records for being the fastest lady on the TT Circuit. Carolynn Sells was entered into the Guinness World Records as the first female winner on the Snaefell Mountain Course of the Ultra Lightweight event at the 2009 Manx Grand Prix. The MGP is organised by the Manx Motor Cycle Club (MMCC) based on the rules and regulations of the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) which governs most British motorcycle events.

The Manx Grand Prix has been the stepping stone for many great riders who have gone on to become internationally famous. The likes of Martin Finnegan, Davy Morgan, Ray Porter and Kenneth McCrea are now well established TT stars who also compete in road racing events elsewhere in the British Isles, especially the Irish road racing circuit. Other famous names from bygone decades include Freddie Frith, Phil Read and the great Geoff Duke and the great Mike Casey winner of 1995, all of whom raced at the TT – Duke and Read went on to become multiple world champions. 'King of the Mountain' Joey Dunlop, the most successful TT rider of all time with 26 victories, also tried his hand at the MGP on a Classic Aermacchi and achieved a podium finish.

Various awards are given at the MGP each year. The Manx Motorcycle Club relies exclusively on entry fees and donations to fund the awards. Many trophies and cups have been donated in the past and range from 'Fastest Lap of the meeting' to "Most meritorious performance by a newcomer." The winner of the Junior Manx Grand Prix receives the Douglas Pirie Trophy whilst the victor of the Senior Manx Grand Prix is awarded the A. B. Crookall Trophy. Convention however dictates that the A. B. Crookall Trophy can only be won once, as the winner of the Senior Manx Grand Prix is then obliged to enter the TT Races. All riders completing a race receive a Finisher's Medal, and any who finish a race within a certain percentage of the winner's overall time are given a 'Replica.' Replicas are awarded to those finishing within 110% of the winners time. Team awards are also raced for although they are not always awarded every year. Such awards are not only aimed at riders competing for the same sponsor but also riders from the same motorcycle club. In total there are about 42 separate awards and the list will doubtless continue to grow.

The MGP is popular with many motorcycle fans and is viewed as having a more relaxed atmosphere to that of the TT. Throughout the duration of the races there are various club meetings (particularly of classic machines) and there is also a Classic Parade on closed roads. Unlike the TT there is no funfair on Douglas Promenade but various entertainments include visiting and local music acts and the Manx 3 day Trial.

RiderWinsBob Heath11 Ryan Farquhar, Roy Richardson10 Bill Swallow9Denis Parkinson, Richard Swallow, Bob Jackson5 Michael Dunlop, Austin Munks, Ewan Hamilton, Alan 'Bud' Jackson, Chris McGahan4Ken Bills, James Courtney, Michael Evans, Jason Griffiths, Dan Kneen, Ricky Mitchell, Chris Palmer, Doug Pirie, Dave Pither, Richard Quayle3Craig Atkinson, Gordon Blackley, Andrew Brady, Eric Briggs, Jimmy Buchan, Maurice Cann, James Courtney, Don Crossley, Barry Davidson, Tony Duncan, Chris Fargher, Jack Findlay, Alan Holmes, Tim Hunt, Tom Knight, Norman Kneen, Eric Lea, George Lindsay, Oliver Linsdell, Phillip McCallen, Dave Milling, Bernard Murray, Len Randles, Michael Russell, Craig Ryding, Dan Sayle, Martin Sharpe, Michael Sweeney, Geoff Tanner, Malcolm Uphill, Brian Venables, Clive Watts, Barry Wood, Buddy Yeardsley, Nathan Harrison2Rex Adams, Dave Arnold, Mark Baldwin, Brian Ball, Adam Barclay, Nigel Barton, Nigel Beattie, Simon Beck, Gavin Bell, George Bell, Peter Bell, Alan Bennallick, Dave Bennett, Alan Bennie, Gordon Blackley, Ellis Boyce, Colin Breeze, Derek Brien, Dave Broadhead, Clive Brown, George Buchan, Graham Cannell, Phil Carpenter, John Carr, Gary Carswell, Mike Casey, Alan Cooper, Paul Corrin, George Costain, Dennis Craine, Eddie Crooks, Dickie Dale, Harold Daniell, Gordon Daniels, Peter Darvill, Snuffy Davies, Nigel Davies, Robin Dawson, Tom Dickie, Wayne Dinham, Tommy Diver, H. G. Dobbs, Chris Dowling, Paul Duckett, Robin Duffy, Geoff Duke, Robert Dunlop, Samuel Dunlop, Joe Dunphy, Derek Ennett, Dave East, Michael (Miggy) Evans, Bob Farmer, Gordon Farmer, Derek Farrant, John Findlay, Frank Fox, Freddie Frith, Elwyn Fryer, Simon Fulton, Alex George, Phil Gilder, Norman Gledhill, Grant Goodings, Seamus Green, Selwyn Griffiths, Billy Guthrie, Rod Harris, Phil Haslam, Paul Harbinson, Bob Hayes, Steve Hazlett, Russ Henley, Dave Hickman, Jamie Hodson, Rob Hodson, Chris Hook, Ken Huggett, Dave Hughes, Paul Hunt, Alan Jackson, Bud Jackson, Nick Jefferies, Griff Jenkins, Geoff Johnson, Ross Johnson, Dave Johnston, Gordon Keith, Neil Kent, Wayne Kirwan, Mike Kneen, Tom Knight, Steve Kuenne, Con Law, Gavin Lee, George Linder, Darran Lindsay, Joe Lindsay, Gary Linham, Ernie Lyons, Dave Madsen Mygdal, Tim Maher, Cromie McCandless, Bob McIntyre, Sam McClements, Philip McGurk, Stephen McIlvenna, Sean McStay, Harry Meageen, Ernie Merrill, Peter Middleton, Ned Minihan, Donald Mitchell, Dave Moffitt, Dave Montgomery, Nigel Moore, Davy Morgan, Ian Morris, Steve Moynihan, J. M. Muir, Ian Newton, Dave O'Leary, Alan Oversby, Mark Parrett, Len Parsons, Cliff Patterson, Ian Patterson, Dave Pither, Gary Radcliffe, Steve Rae, Brian Raynor, Phil Read, Paddy Reid, Frank Reynolds, Peter Richardson, Roy Richardson, Kevin Riley, Eddie Roberts, Nigel Rollason, Peter Romaine, Andrew Soar, Carolynn Sells, Martin Sharpe, Alan Shepherd, Robin Sherry, Danny Shimmin, Dave Silvester, John Simpson, Mick Skene, Billy Smith, Stephen Smith, Alan Steele, Matt Stevenson, Keith Stewart, Steve Sturrock, Ralph Sutcliffe, Roger Sutcliffe, James Kelly Swanston, Chris Collard, Peter Symes, Keith Taylor, Keith Townsend, Les Trotter, Peter Turnball, Nick Turner, Steve Ward, Ernie Washer, Tom Weeden, John Wetherall, Charlie Williams, David Williams, Steve Williams, J H 'Crasher' White, Frank Whiteway 1

Category Rider Machine Year Time Average speed Outright Manx Grand Prix Michael Evans Suzuki 750 cc 2017 18 mins 25.495 secs 122.866 mph Outright Classic TT Bruce Anstey Yamaha YZR500 2017 17 mins 45.348 secs 127.496 mph Newcomers Race 'A' Brad Vicars Honda CBR600RR 2017 19 mins 03.471 secs 118.786 mph Newcomers Race 'B' Marc Ironside Kawasaki 650 cc 2016 20 mins 22.56 secs 111.101 mph Superbike Classic TT Bruce Anstey Yamaha YZR500 2017 17 mins 45.348 secs 127.496 mph Lightweight Classic TT Bruce Anstey Honda 250 cc 2017 18 mins 47.438 secs 120.475 mph Senior Classic TT John McGuinness Paton 500 cc 2016 19 mins 58.39 secs 113.342 mph Junior Classic TT Lee Johnston MV Agusta 350 cc 2014 21 mins 30.66 secs 105.239 mph Junior Manx Grand Prix Michael Evans Honda CBR600RR 2017 18 mins 46.088 secs 120.619 mph Lightweight Race Nigel Beattie Honda 250 cc 2002 19 mins 53.8 secs 113.770 mph Supertwin Race Rob Hodson Kawasaki 650 cc 2015 19 mins 45.75 secs 114.550 mph Senior Manx Grand Prix Michael Evans Suzuki 750 cc 2017 18 mins 25.495 secs 122.866 mph

Race Trophy Rider Machine Year Average speed Senior Manx Grand Prix A. B. Crookall Trophy Stephen Smith Kawasaki 600cc 2022 121.796 mph Junior Manx Grand Prix Douglas Pirie Trophy Nathan Harrison Honda 600cc 2019 120.818 mph Lightweight Race The Motor Cycle Trophy James Hind Yamaha 250 cc 2019 115.200 mph Lightweight Race Albert Moule Trophy James Hind Yamaha 250 cc 2019 115.200 mph 500cc Classic TT Race Francis Beart Trophy Ian Lougher Paton 499 cc 2014 104.481 mph 350cc Junior Classic TT Race Harold Rowell Trophy Lee Johnson MV Agusta 350 cc 2014 104.134 mph 250cc Classic TT Lightweight Race Phil Read Cup Tom Jackson Suzuki 249 cc 2014 93.062  mph Newcomers Race 'A' Aitcheson Trophy Peter Wilkinson Yamaha 600 cc 2015 111.552 mph Newcomers Race 'B' Braddan Bridge Trophy Gary Vines Yamaha 250 cc 2015 104.563 mph Newcomers Race 'C' Wayne Hamilton Memorial Trophy Elwyn Fryer Kawasaki 400 cc 2015 101.051 mph Formula 1 Classic TT Phink Trophy Bruce Anstey Yamaha 500 cc 2014 121.957 mph Formula 2 Classic TT Ewan Hamilton Trophy Ian Lougher Yamaha 250 cc 2014 107.993 mph