RACING AT THE TT: AN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR
The Isle of Man TT Races is known for attracting spectators from around the globe, and it’s no different within the racing paddock itself.
There were 18 separate nationalities on the entry list this year, reaching as far away as Japan, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Of course, no trip to the Isle of Man is easy, with teams often spending close to a month on the island itself, and that’s before you begin to consider the months of preparation to get here - often starting the moment they pack their bikes up at the end of the previous race week. But for those coming from further afield, that challenge is made that little bit harder just by the increase in mileage required before they arrive at Douglas on the ferry.
You just have to take one look at result lists to see that success is rarely enjoyed by those entries coming from afar, which shows that the desire to be here stems entirely from a desire to compete around the greatest motor racing circuit in the world and the challenges that only it can provide.
Australian ‘Davo’ Johnson continues his long-standing TT challenge.
Leading the international charge this year is Australian Josh Brookes, who has been a strong top five contender all week. There are some that may argue that Brookes is almost an honorary Briton, given his near 20 year career in the British Superbike Championship that has yielded a pair of championship crowns in 2015 and 2020.
If you were to look for the next best international entrant, you’ll be treated to an outstanding battle for bragging rights across most classes between the likes of Australian David Johnson, Austrian Julian Trummer, Finn Erno Kostamo, Kiwi Mitch Rees and Frenchman Pierre-Yves Bian.
Pierre-Yves Bian leads the French charge.
So how much actually goes into bringing a team across the world to compete at the TT? We spoke to last year’s TT newcomer and former Manx Grand Prix winner Italian Andrea Majola from the Majo Road Racing team to find out what it takes to come across Europe to compete on the Isle of Man.
“It’s difficult to manage a team to come here, for sure,” explained Majola. “Especially with limited planes and ferries, and you also have to bring up the bike. So this year we came over with Wayne Bourgeais from France, who was also competing. We took the bike from Italy to France by van and then brought it over to the UK, which Wayne took to the North West 200 before coming here.”
Frenchman Wayne Bourgeais plays a key role in Majolas journey to the TT.
Coming over with Bourgeais is not the only evidence of international collaboration for Majola, as riding for his own team in the Sportbike category, he is also lining up for the Spanish Basomba Racing stable in the Supersport category.
“Our Majo Road Racing team is all Italian, from Bologna, and there’s four of us including myself. We’re staying in the truck with Wayne, but we’re also with another Spanish team, Basomba Racing, and they’re working on the R6 in the Supersport class, so it’s a big mix of culture every time we’re together. You need to have the perfect condition, and to have all the people working inside to be happy and that’s the real key to do well.
Italian Andrea Majola aboard his Yamaha R6 on the TT Mountain Course.
“Having an Italian team is important for me because my mechanic is first my friend and this is what’s best for me - I trust him totally. If my mechanic says to me “my bike is ready”, I don’t think about it, I go.”
The dedication of Majola shows just how much of an appeal this event has on a global scale, and for him, it’s the only event he’s ever wanted to compete in.
“I found the TT mainly from recordings from when I was a child. I watched video cassettes of the TT, and grew up thinking “I want to be a part of this when I grow up”. When I eventually became a rider, which was later in life as you’d normally start at an early age in Italy. I started racing when I was 16, so rather late for the tracks, but for me the focus was always this.”
