2015 Race Results
Ahead of the 2015 Isle of Man TT – the 104th edition to be held on the iconic 37.73-mile Mountain Course first used at the 1911 TT – all eyes were on one man – John McGuinness.
The 43-year old Brit, nicknamed the “Morecambe Missile” due to his hometown and dedication to TT speed, entered this year’s two-week IOM TT festival with 21 TT wins. McGuinness was clearly on a mission, looking to match or break the late Joey Dunlop’s record of 26 TT wins – something many skeptics say will never happen.
McGuinness had further incentive this season, considering his previous outright lap record was broken by Bruce Anstey (Valvoline Honda CBR1000RR) during the 2014 Senior TT.
Though he didn’t match or break Joey Dunlop’s record, McGuinness is now two TTs closer. He left the 2015 TT with 23 TT wins after dominating the Senior TT aboard the Team Honda CBR1000RR SP, and the SES TT Zero race aboard a Team Mugen electric motorcycle nicknamed “Shinden Yon.”
John McGuinness on Mugen eBike
And there’s more; McGuinness also reclaimed the outright Mountain Course lap record on the final lap of the Senior TT when the CBR pilot posted a 132.701mph. This creates extra anticipation for the 2016 Isle of Man TT, where McGuinness has another opportunity to break Joey Dunlop’s impressive TT record.
The other main story of the 2015 Isle of Man TT was the one of Ian Hutchinson – known as “Bingley Bullet.” Before this year’s TT, Hutchy had some complications.
Following the 2010 Isle of Man TT – where Hutchy become the only rider in history to sweep all the solo races – the 35-year old suffered a nasty crash during the 2010 Silverstone British Supersport race. During the wreck, he was run over, and sustained some serious leg damage.
He struggled for the next few years, racing off and on, but was finally up to full health for the 2015 Isle of Man TT. And his comeback story was glorious; Hutchinson added three more TTs to his rooster for a total of 11. He won both Monster Energy Supersport TT races (Team Traction Control YZF-R6) and the Royal London 360 Superstock TT (PBM Kawasaki).
As for the other two solo races, Valvoline Padgetts Honda’s Bruce Anstey earned the RST Superbike win – his 10th TT victory – and Ivan Lintin the Lightweight TT, which was the Lincolnshire natives debut TT win.
In the 2015 Isle of Man TT Sidecar TT races, Ben and Tom Birchall doubled, setting a record race time in the Sidecar 2 TT.
2015 Isle of Man TT Deaths
Unfortunately, the 2015 Isle of Man TT was struck by tragedy when newcomer Franck Petricola, 32, of France, was killed during qualifying.
Petricola became the 243rd rider to perish in both TT and Manx Grand Prix races since the events begin on the Isle of Man in 1911.
Petricola was also the third rider to perish at the Isle of Man TT since 2014. At the 2014 Isle of Man TT, two racers perished in single-motorcycle crashes on the Isle of Man – Bob Price and three-time World Supersport Champion Karl Harris.
