Out and About at the Isle of Man TT 2025

The 2025 Isle of Man TT wrapped up after two weeks of electrifying racing, record-breaking performances, and a dramatic, weather-driven cancellation of the marquee Senior TT. It was my sixteenth trip to this storied event and this magnificent place, and while each TT has a different vibe, this one was all about resilience against unpredictable conditions. And patience. Lots of patience. For riders, teams, marshals, medical staff, visitors, pub bouncers, and the many citizens who must go about their regular business while the roads they use to drive to school, work, and the grocery store are repurposed for the world’s most remarkable motorbike race. Just picture 37¾ miles of two-lane roads around wherever you live and insert the TT there, and you’ll get the idea.

All of this was under the shadow of misfortune for 14-time TT winner Peter Hickman, who was forced to withdraw from the event following a serious crash during Friday evening qualifying. The incident occurred at the high-speed Kerrowmoar section – taken at around 140 mph – just minutes into the third session, prompting an immediate red flag. Hickman was airlifted to Noble’s Hospital and spent two nights in intensive care with injuries to his chest, back, shoulder, and face.

The crash not only ended his 2025 campaign but also shook the paddock, with fellow racers expressing relief that the outcome wasn’t worse. Teammate Davey Todd described it as “a tough 24 hours,” emphasizing how fortunate Hickman was to escape life-threatening harm. While his absence shifted the competitive landscape for the week, Hickman has expressed gratitude to medical staff and fans, vowing to recover fully and return for the 2026 TT.

The Milwaukee Senior TT, scheduled for Saturday was set to feature a climactic showdown between Todd, Dunlop and Harrison. However, high and unpredictable winds, especially across the treacherous Mountain section, forced organizers into uncharted territory. Poor weather had already made mincemeat of the practice and race schedules over the fortnight, and with a rolling eight hour delayed start caused by showers and wet roads earlier in the day, and a proposed shortened four-lap race scheduled for 7:00 PM, Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson, in consultation with the riders and race teams, made the call: the Senior TT was cancelled for only the second time in the event's history.

“It was absolutely the right decision,” said Dean Harrison. “Conditions on the Mountain were simply too dangerous. No win is worth that risk.”

The decision was widely supported by riders and teams, with Davey Todd emphasizing the importance of “rider safety and respect for the marshals,” many of whom would have been exposed to extreme wind and unstable conditions in vulnerable course locations.

Notably, for the second year in a row, 2025 recorded no race fatalities, a significant achievement given the TT’s dangerous reputation, and a far cry from 2022 when six solo and sidecar competitors perished. Organizers credited marshals, medical staff, rider services, and upgraded digital flag and communications systems for this outcome. But really, much of it is pure happenstance on this unforgiving course.

I met up with top Northern Ireland rider Paul Jordan’s Jackson Racing lead mechanics Kevin Meredew and Rob Alton at Parc Ferme, who were waiting for the next ‘Attention Paddock’ announcement which in this moment, led to another delay, and when I asked how this affects them, Meredew said “We must be prepared no matter what. Cancelations, changes in start times, we have the bikes ready to go every day.” Alton added “ The new schedule is tough. Little rest, few breaks for two weeks, harder shakedowns for the machines and riders, and we really feel for the Marshals. But these bikes are ready for Paul every day.” Jordan landed a Supertwin podium spot a few days later on the Aprilia RS660.

About the TT Marshals. They are indispensable. The "Orange Army." Over 500 volunteers are required to man the 37.73-mile Mountain Course for each qualifying and race session, and while anyone can sign up and serve, many undertake comprehensive training to prepare for various scenarios they might encounter. Traveling Marshals have been the SWAT team of the organization since 1935, experienced riders on BMW S1000RR and M1000RRs these days. Many are former TT racers, and undergo rigorous training, including trauma management and firefighting course. They respond rapidly to incidents, manage scenes, and assist in course inspections. They’re fast AF.

Back at the paddock and grandstand area, I again sat down with Paul Phillips, Head of Motorsport at the Isle of Man Department for Enterprise. The Manxman and his small but very capable team have been running the TT for 18 years, and since the return of racing after the pandemic in 2021, has overseen some of the most important changes, and greatest growth, of the event in its history.

“The pandemic was like an earthquake in terms of what we had to do for the TT’s survival, with enormous levels of change and ambition to make it sustainable. And we're still in the aftershock phase of that” he told me, as bikes were blasting past the media office at 185 MPH as if to underscore the feeling.

“Behind the scenes, invisible to most fans and viewers, we’re working with our race organizer (Auto-Cycle Union Events Ltd, ACUE, has been the race organizer since 2008), our medical providers, the TT Marshals, and all the facilities to ensure that the riders and teams are presented with the best support possible in today’s racing environment, rather than that of decades past. The TT remains extraordinarily vulnerable in terms of cost, safety, and events beyond our control, so we are focusing on things we absolutely can and must do to provide a strong platform for the event to thrive,” Phillips added.

An example of this work is the Manx Roadracing Medical Services (MRMS) wide ranging research study, launched to measure the physiological, biomechanical, and cognitive demands placed on riders, with the goal to better understand the physical and mental toll of racing the TT. They’ll use this data to inform future medical standards and safety protocols at the event.

We talked about the commercial viability of the TT, and Paul emphasized the growing need for multiple revenue points. “This is a big sporting event on a small island, so there will always be limitations in terms of real-life visitors. We’re close to 50,000 attendees now, and we expect to crest where we were before the pandemic.” (Points of reference, the Isle Of Man has approximately 86,000 residents, and only around 2000 hotel rooms). “And to watch racing is free, so we absolutely need to grow our media revenues, sponsorships, premium experiences, merchandise, IP exploitation, and we are on that.”

They are, indeed. As I noted last year, the TT+ live streaming service is a superb product, free during the year, and around $30USD during the TT, covering every live session with superb action, live timing, podcasts, talk shows and commentary…world class. You should absolutely download the app, and watch TT programming all year long. The TT’s broadcast TV, social media, and video views numbers have skyrocketed, driving more ad revenue. And Paul’s team, including long- time PR and media maven Simon Crellin, is working on bringing in what us former Mad Men call ‘non- endemic’ brands. Remember the days of cigarette company sponsors? The TT, along with all motorsports series, must attract sponsorship revenue from companies outside of the sport to grow the revenue pie.

With the news that Amazon MGM Studios has officially picked up the TT feature film and docuseries being produced by Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt and other notables to be released later this year, I have no doubt we will see the TT reach new levels of interest. And not unlike what Drive to Survive did with F1, attention from new audiences. Interpret that as you see fit but expect to see more influencers grazing the VIP buffets.

Ah, but the TT…it can’t go all corporate and influencer-y, right? It won’t, and you can still do it 1975-style. Go lean on a hedge around the course for free and feel the bikes assault your senses like no other race. Pubs like the Crosby and Ginger Hall Hotel are just waiting for you to watch and quaff. Or you can pay a few quid to some of the private viewing spots at churches, pubs, farms, and parking lots scattered about.

My crew this year, nine strong, greatly enjoyed the viewing and hospitality at the Union Mills Methodist Church, where a small donation gets you a chair, and the altar has the races projected on a screen (AMEN!). And, a mere muddy path walk away, The Union Mills Memorial Hall, where Mel Kermeen, who grew up in a 500 year old home up the road in Ballacraine, and her partner Juan (that’s Ju-an in Manx, not ‘Huan’) welcomed us with comfy seating, fine sandwiches and cakes, and a stunning view of the racing for around 20 pounds. Well worth it.

While the TT remains somewhat under- commercialized versus other sporting events, they are upping their game, and Charlotte Kavanagh, Global Events & Partnerships Manager of the TT’s licensing partner Sourcelab UK gave me some insights on how the new look and more modern branding has evolved, after a few hiccups with prior vendors. The merch was flying off the shelves and was sparse by the end of the meet. I did meet the great John McGuinness in the merch tent, where his new line of signature shirts and hats was on display. We talked about the importance of it and his point was well taken. “This is still a workingman’s sport, and we need to keep it as affordable as possible, but if they buy one of my shirts, I’m appreciative and it helps me pay for my racing.” I bought a shirt.

Oh, remember the Classic TT? Held each August, it disappeared a few years back, and the concurrent Manx Grand Prix (a separate event, run by the Manx Motor Cycle Club, not the TT organizers) has struggled for years, shrunken to a shorter schedule, with little fanfare and devoid of Big Bike Energy. Well, good news! The Classic TT returns this August, and along with the Manx Grand Prix, will present a full two-week program of classic and modern motorbike racing, with some pomp and circumstance around it.

Phillips was excited about the return of the Classic TT, while recognizing it needs to be rebuilt and restored to sustainability, saying “We're going to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Joey Dunlop’s final TT. And we recognize there is a nostalgia sweet spot of 80s and 90s bikes and the TT’s of that era. So for some of the longtime fans that may feel a bit disenfranchised with the way the TT has changed, or for enthusiasts around the globe who want something less intense and more accessible than the TT, but on the same course with memorable bikes, riders, and the sounds and smells of the good old days mixed with modern racing, the Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix might be the answer.”