Racing begins today, after frustrating delays

After a rollercoaster week of highs and lows the first races of TT 2009 should finally take place today.

A practice week of incredible weather and record-breaking lap times was followed by the complete washout of Saturday's race programme, and the delay of MotoGP star Valentino Rossi's appearance.

Then yesterday, it was announced that Cameron Donald, unofficially the fastest man ever round the course, wouldn't be fit for race week, after his crash in Friday night's final practice session.

There are still plenty of others who will be vying for victory and Manx Radio took to the streets of Douglas to ask fans who they would be backing to take the chequered flag in today's Superbike race (play audio file):

The Superbikes are due to get underway at 11am.

The Mountain Road is sheduled to close at 9.30 and the rest of the course half an hour later.

Valentino Rossi's 'Lap of the Gods' with Giacomo Agostini will follow the opening race, after which the Sidecar One race is set to start at 2pm.

A practice session will take up the rest of the afternoon, before roads reopen at 5pm, with the mountain section an hour later.