The top 20 seeded riders have been confirmed for the 4-lap Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT due to get underway at 15:00 on Saturday, 24th August around the famous 37.73-mile Mountain Course.
Heading the field down the Glencrutchery Road at number one will be Davey Todd for the Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles team, with teammate, and fellow Honda RS250 rider, Bruce Anstey making his return to TT race action starting at his customary number five.
Clive Padgett’s team has won every year since the class – primarily for 250cc 2-stroke race machines – was introduced to the Classic TT presented by Bennetts in 2016, with the returning Bruce Anstey triumphant in 2016 and 2017 and Lee Johnston taking the honours twelve months ago.
Reigning Dunlop Senior TT champion, Dean Harrison lines up at number two on the first of three Laylaw Racing Yamaha TZ250s, with teammate Ian Lougher starting from number three.
Harrison made his debut in the class in 2018 finishing just off the podium in fourth. Meanwhile, Lougher has stood on the rostrum in each running of the Lightweight Classic TT, taking second place in 2016 and 2017 and a third place in 2018. Phil Harvey completes the trio of yellow and white Laylaw machines, lining up at number 12.
Michael Rutter is set to start at number 4, but the seven-time TT winner and two-time Classic TT winner has yet to reveal what machine he will be riding.
Starting at number six is Joey Thompson, the first of a three-man fleet of Honda RS250s for John Chapman Racing, with teammates Dan Sayle and Ryan Kneen starting at numbers 10 and 11 respectively.
2-stroke specialist Gary Vines will start at number seven on one of the three Binch Racing Yamaha TZ250s. With a personal best lap speed just shy of 115mph, the 29-year old could be an outside bet for a podium among the more familiar TT names.
Vines is joined in David Binch’s team by Jamie Coward – enjoying a fruitful 2019 season - starting at number 8, as well as last year’s winner Lee Johnston, who starts at number 13. Johnston will be onboard the same TZ250 that Adam McLean finished second on – behind Johnston – twelve months ago.
The complete top twenty:
- Davey Todd – Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles, 250 Honda
- Dean Harrison – Laylaw Racing, 250 Yamaha
- Ian Lougher – Laylaw Racing, 250 Yamaha
- Michael Rutter – TBC, TBC
- Bruce Anstey – Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles, 250 Honda
- Joey Thompson – John Chapman Racing, 250 Honda
- Gary Vines – Binch Racing, 250 Yamaha
- Jamie Coward – Binch Racing, 250 Yamaha
- David Johnson – TBC, TBC
- Daniel Sayle – John Chapman Racing, 250 Honda
- Ryan Kneen – John Chapman Racing, 250 Honda
- Phil Harvey – Laylaw Racing, 250 Yamaha
- Lee Johnston – Binch Racing, 250 Yamaha
- Chris Moore – Outhwaite Plane/SIlverstar Services/Devitt Racing, 250 Yamaha
- Michael Sweeney – TBC, TBC
- Rob Hodson – JGH Racing, 250 Yamaha
- Davy Morgan – DM71 Racing, 250 Honda
- Charles Rhys Hardisty – Kaymac/Willson and Widling, 250 Yamaha
- John Barton – wemoto.com, 750 Ducati
- Forest Dunn – Cleaver Browne Racing, 250 Honda
Tickets for the 2019 Classic TT are now on sale via the Official iomttraces.com website including Official Grandstand Tickets, VIP Hospitality Experiences, and Official Entertainment Events including the Counterfeit Stones Classic TT Party Performance. You can stay up to date with all the latest Classic TT news by subscribing to the Official Isle of Man TT Races Newsletter.
Don't forget if you're travelling over to the Classic TT this year, that the Isle of Man isn't part of the UK or the EU – it's a self-governing British Crown Dependency with its own parliament, government and laws. This means that you don't get automatic access to free healthcare through your EHIC card, but UK residents can take advantage of a reciprocal emergency healthcare agreement. However, repatriation is not included as part of this agreement, so the Isle of Man government still strongly recommends adequate insurance is in place.
So if you’re travelling to the IoM from the UK or beyond, you still need travel insurance to cover medical emergencies. Your bike insurance will (or should…check your policy) cover damage to your bike or a third party, but your medical needs are not fully covered. Find out more here.
