The Isle Of Man Tourist Trophy ( Isle of Man TT ) is the most prestigious and the oldest bike race in the world. It truly is beyond reproach in its sheer magnitude, excitement and respect. Its a bike racing carnival that takes place every year on the most chilling, dangerous and exciting roads in the world. The oldest motor-cycle racing circuit still in use is the Snaefell Mountain Course over which the Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) races are run. Starting at the town of Douglas on the south-east coast, the course takes a wide sweep to the west and north to enter the town of Ramsey on the north-east coast and thence return to the starting point, each lap measuring 37 3/4 miles (60.7 km) and taking in over 200 bends while climbing from sea level to an altitude of over 1,300 ft (396 m). This circuit is the epitome of the natural road course, all the roads used being ordinary public highways closed for the racing and practice sessions.
The race is run in a time-trial format on public roads closed for racing by the provisions of an Act of Tynwald (the parliament of the Isle of Man). The first race was held on Tuesday 28 May 1907 and was called the International Auto-Cycle Tourist Trophy. The event was organised by the Auto-Cycle Club over 10 laps of the St John’s Short Course of 15 miles 1,470 yards for road-legal touring motorcycles with exhaust silencers, saddles, pedals and mud-guards.
The future of the TT is always in doubt with regards to the safety, especially “Mad Sunday” when any member of the public can ride the mountain section of the course which is open one way from Ramsey to Douglas. The Isle Of Man TT races are extremely dangerous because of the high speeds on very narrow, twisting streets, roads and lanes flanked by stone walls and even buildings. Between 1907 and 2009 (at the end of 2009 Isle Of Man TT races period) there have been 237 deaths during official practices or races on the Snaefell Mountain Course (this number includes the riders killed during Manx Grand Prix and the Clubman TT races).