Yahoo Autos Isle Of Man TT Onboard Video Shows You Have To Be Completely Unhinged To Compete In The Race
Qualifying for the Isle of Man TT is currently underway on the legendary 37.7-mile public road course. The event’s official YouTube channel posted a visor cam footage of a lap with Davey Todd, the fastest rider so far this year. While watching the vivid streaking visuals of the roadside, the onboard illustrates why this is the deadliest race in the world.
Todd’s fastest lap was 17 minutes, 10.398 seconds, set on Wednesday. That’s an average speed of 131.821 miles per hour on his Milwaukee BMW M1000RR. In the video, you can catch glimpses of his dash display showing inches over 300 kilometers per hour (186 mph) at the course’s fastest points. The speeds feel even faster because of how narrow the field of vision is.
Todd’s heading to his 23rd TT start as the favorite despite never winning before and only finishing the podium once. He told MCN:
“One of my strengths has always been on the brakes and I feel I can do that on the BMW. It’s probably a bit more stop and go. But I can already see how many of the characteristics are going to suit road racing. It’s incredibly stable, which promotes confidence because there are so many corners that are 150, 160, 170mph and if your bike’s not stable, it’s scary. The bike is also a missile. My team have done a great job because the power is soft, so it doesn’t feel fast… but it is!”
Alongside the two-lane ribbon of asphalt, everything looks like a blur: stone walls, houses, parked cars in driveways, hedges, trees and fans. The spectators are so close to the road that they could reach out and touch Todd as he blasts past. While competitors embrace the daunting challenge, no room for error means that your first mistake at speed is typically your last.
The Isle of Man isn’t for the faint of heart, and I strongly recommend against watching the TT Races live. Through a digital streaming platform, live TV coverage was launched in 2022, the first time in the motorcycle race’s over 100-year history. It’s not a surprise that it took this long. Based on the statistics, at least one rider will be killed in the Isle of Man TT every year. The 1982 edition of the event has been the only one without a fatality. It makes putting the effort into clearing the logistical challenges of broadcasting an event around a 37.7-mile-long course difficult to swallow.
