THE SUPERBIKE RACE:

The first race of the TT week offered a hint of an unheralded dominance at a TT by one Team. Ian Hutchinson, Padgett's Racing and Honda delivered the first of a string of successes never achieved before at a TT.

Unfortunately it was also the first indicator of some teams lack of success this year, particularly HM Plant and Relentless Suzuki.

The 'clickable' image opposite depicts Ian Hutchinson landing 'on the front' at Ballaugh Bridge.

THE SIDECAR RACES:

A compilation of Races 1 & 2 are covered here, both won by the 2001 World Sidecar Championship team of Klaus Klaffenbock and Dan Sayle.

I expected the IOM team of Dave 'Moly' Molyneux and Patrick Farrance to be more dominant for Kawasaki, their overall result was tarnished by a dnf in Race 2.

The 'clickable' image opposite depicts the Klaffenbock/Sayle 600cc LCR Honda outfit 'flying' at Ballaugh Bridge.

THE ZEV/TT ZERO RACE:

Once again I was vitally interested in this evolutionary form of motor sport, again it is worth noting the TT heralded the first ever sanctioned ZEV race in the world in 2009.

This years event certainly had its troubles due to politics and a lack of international overall direction and planning for ZEV racing. The FIM need to take a bold step here and replace the MotoGP 125cc series with ZEV racing!!

The 'clickable' image opposite depicts Mark Miller tucked in on the Motoczysz E1pc ZEV motorcycle on his way to winning the TT Zero event at record speed.

THE SENIOR RACE:

So much history was weighing on the Senior, the opportunity for Ian Hutchinson to win five ICE TT solo events in the one year and overtake Phillip McCallen's record of four TT wins in 1996. Originally scheduled as a six lapper the Senior was red flagged during the third lap following a horrific fiery crash involving Guy Martin. The subsequent four lapper which included another bad crash involving IOM rider Conor Cummins was won by Ian Hutchinson, setting a record that is not likely to be equalled for some years!

The 'clickable' image opposite depicts Dainese Special Guest and MotoGP star 'Jorge Lorenzo' congratulating Ian on his Senior TT win and five ICE TT wins in one week.

PIT WALKS:

A huge interest of mine, the TT pit area is fully accessible to spectators and offers the opportunity to meet all the riders, view their race machinery, purchase memorabilia, 'eat' and just soak up the atmosphere that is so unique to the TT. One only needs to compare the restrictions imposed at MotoGP and to a lesser extent WSBK events to realise how fortunate TT spectators are to have an 'open pits policy'.

The 'clickable' image opposite depicts a BMW S1000RR race engine, BMW returned to the Isle of Man in 2010, rekindling thoughts of their Sidecar achievements and Helmut Dahne's solo production bike entries of long ago.

THE 'DAINESE' PARADE LAP:

The Dainese parade lap preceded the Senior TT and whilst Ago did not attend this year there were some very interesting riders and machines circulating.

Whilst it was marvellous to see Luigi Taveri make another TT appearance, a certain Mugen Motorcycle captured my attention, a very rare and reportedly expensive motorcycle built by Soichiro Honda's son, Hirotoshi.

The 'clickable' image is a close up of the 'MRV1000 MUGEN' Motorcycle.

SUZUKI'S 50th TT CELEBRATIONS:

Suzuki organised and clearly detailed their intentions to celebrate the 50th year of Suzuki competing at the Isle of Man, specifically a Suzuki Memorabilia display at the Manx Museum, a Suzuki Parade Lap, an appearance by Suzuki MotoGP Star 'Loris Capirossi' and his 300th GP Suzuki GSV-R800 and a lap of the TT course after the Senior TT by Suzuki's Cam Donald on the GSV-R800, the first MotoGP bike to lap the TT course.

The 'clickable' image is the engine of a Suzuki Scrambler X6, built circa 1967, on display in the pits, the meticulous detail of this motorcycle was amazing.

RAMSEY SPRINT & CONCOURSE:

Suzuki had a Sprint planned, the official Ramsey Sprint was gazetted, unfortunately the weather intervened and most of the sprint racing was either cancelled or decidedly subdued. One item I did find somewhat peculiar was that the contingent of beautiful Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycles from the 2009 event were not in attendance in 2010.

The 'clickable' image is a 'Henderson 4' four cylinder in line motorcycle, displayed adjacent the Sprint raceway.

JOEY DUNLOP HOUSE:

The Joey Dunlop Foundation, patron Linda Dunlop and family, John McGuinness, John Harris and a host of fans. It was all happening at the Mad Sunday opening of Braddan Bridge House, apparently politely known as Joey's Holiday Home. After a ten year battle by the Foundation, finally they have opened a house bearing the Joey Dunlop Foundation name, it includes three self contained apartments designed for disabled persons.

The 'clickable' image depicts Joey's Honda RC45 from Joey's Pub with perpetual TT Trophies in the background.

ATMOSPHERE:

The TT, it absolutely exudes atmosphere, my travels around the TT course and environs uncovered a wide variety of events, displays and typical Isle of Man 'happenings'.

The 'clickable' image depicts the amazingly practical and resilient TT Scoreboard, no Plasma or fancy LED's here!

PRIVATELY OWNED MOTORCYCLES:

My walks around the pits and Glencrutchery Road unearthed a few beautiful and unusual privately owned motorcycles, I have recorded my 'pick of the bunch' here.

The 'clickable' image depicts the tank of an MV Agusta 750cc, probably the most beautiful looking motorcycle ever.