IOM TT promo video: It's Addictive

PACEMAKER BELFAST 02/06/12: Guy Martin on his Tyco Suzuki at the Nook during the Superbike race at the 2012 Monster Energy Isle of Man TT PHOTO BY SIMON PATTERSON/PACEMAKER

PACEMAKER BELFAST 02/06/12: Guy Martin on his Tyco Suzuki at the Nook during the Superbike race at the 2012 Monster Energy Isle of Man TT PHOTO BY SIMON PATTERSON/PACEMAKER

Published Jan 5, 2015

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Douglas, Isle of Man - There is MotoGP, and there is the World Superbike series - and then there is road racing, the most dangerous discipline of them all.

Far from the manicured run-off areas of the Grand Prix circuits, with the spectators on the other side of a service road and a heavy-duty catch-fence, the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (the world's most prestigious road race) is run on public roads, with no run-off, no catch-fences and no margin for error whatsoever.

The course is 60km long, over a mountain pass and through three towns, so you can never actually learn it the way you can a five-kilometre circuit. In places the spectators are close enough to touch the riders as they howl past at more than 200km/h - and some do.

TWO WEEKS IN JUNE

It is so dangerous that there are only a handful of places in the world where road-racing is legal.

The TT, as it has been known since it was first run in 1907 on this tiny island in the Irish Sea, will be held for the 96th time from 30 May to 12 June 2015 - and already the top riders are preparing their machines, and their minds, for the greatest challenge in motorcycle road racing.

John McGuinness will be back, looking to beat the legendary Joy Dunlop's record of 26 TT wins, as will local rider Connor Cummins and the ever-popular Guy Martin, the fans' favourite but who has yet to win a TT. He says the once he has, he'll retire; we'll believe that when we see it.

Any TT rider will tell you road racing is addictive. Watch the organisers' promo video and you'll see what we mean; then start counting the days until the end of May.

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