TT 2022: Speed control lap for newcomers

Seven solo competitors joining TT for first time

Newcomers to the TT will experience the closed roads of the Mountain Course for the first time today.

They’re due to head out for a speed control lap at 1.30pm.

Seven solo competitors are joining the TT for the first time.

Glen Irwin is one of them - the Northern Irishman has six consecutive Superbike race wins at the North West 200 between 2017 and 2022.

He’s also won at the Macau Grand Prix and taken podiums at the Ulster GP and is also a British Superbike Championship race winner.

Irwin’s fellow newcomers include Dutchman Ilja Caljouw and England’s Milo Ward who will join him in the Superbike, Superstock and Senior races.

Joseph Loughlin and Jamie Cringle will be focussing on the Supersport and Lightweight races.

Irishman Loughlin has considerable road racing pedigree on his CV taking a Supertwin race win at the recent North West 200 as well as two top ten finishes in the Supersport races.

He’s also finished on the podium at the Ulster Grand Prix.

He’ll be riding for 10-time TT winner Ian Lougher this June whilst Cringle is the dominant performer, and man to beat, in both the 600cc and 1000cc Isle of Man Championships. 

Australian Rennie Scaysbrook and England’s Craig Szczypek complete the solo newcomers with the duo competing in the Supersport and Supertwin races respectively. 

The Sidecar class also sees a good mix of newcomers with reigning British F2 Champion Lee Crawford leading the way.

Partnered by experienced TT passenger Scott Hardie the duo have dominated in recent years at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough, and only narrowly missed out on a 100mph lap in just their second year at the Southern 100 in 2019.

Harry Payne, a TT newcomer as a passenger in 2018, returns in the driver’s seat and does so on the back of taking victory in the World Championship last year.

Former Senior Manx Grand Prix winner Michael Russell makes his TT debut on three wheels this year with the Kings Lynn man set for a busy fortnight as he’s also contesting all of the solo races.

British Championship front runner Craig Currie is also on the sidecar entry for the first time.

You can listen to the live coverage of today’s TT session on Manx Radio’s AM 1368 frequency or by clicking HERE.