The Lightweight TT is a

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

road race that is a part of the

Isle of Man TT The Isle of Man TT or Tourist Trophy races are an annual motorcycle racing event run on the Isle of Man in May/June of most years since its inaugural race in 1907. The event is often called one of the most dangerous racing events in the world ...

festival - an annual motorcycle event traditionally held over the last week of May and first week of June.

History

The Lightweight class was first present at the 1920 TT races, as a category in the

Junior TT The Junior TT is a motorcycle road race that takes place during the Isle of Man TT festival; an annual event at the end of May and beginning of June. Between 1949 and 1976 this race was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. Engine c ...

. However it was not until

1922 Events January * January 7 – Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic), Dáil Éireann, the parliament of the Irish Republic, ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64–57 votes. * January 10 – Arthur Griffith is elected President of Dáil Éirean ...

that the first time the Lightweight TT took place, won by Geoff S. Davison riding a Levis, at an average speed of 49.89 mph (80.29 km/h) for 5 laps of the

Snaefell Mountain Course The Isle of Man TT Mountain Course or ''TT Course'' is a street and public rural road circuit located in the Isle of Man, used for motorcycle racing. The motorcycle ''TT Course'' is used principally for the Isle of Man TT Races and also the sep ...

. Between 1949 and 1976, the Lightweight race was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. The event was dropped from the 2005 race calendar due to lack of entries. The Lightweight TT and the

Ultra-Lightweight TT The Ultra-Lightweight TT was a motorcycle road race that took place during the Isle of Man TT festival, an annual event at the end of May and beginning of June. Between 1951 and 1974 this race was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season at ...

were later reinstated to the 2008 & 2009 race schedules, but were held on the 4.25 mile

Billown Circuit The Billown Circuit is a motorcycle road-race course used for the Southern 100, the Pre-TT Classic races and the National Road Races meetings near Castletown on the Isle of Man. Racing is held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynw ...

in the south of the

Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...

. For the 2010 races, the Lightweight TT was again dropped from the race schedule on cost grounds. The event was re-introduced for the 2012 races on the Mountain course, with a change to water-cooled four-stroke twin cylinder engines not exceeding 650 cc and complying with the ACU Standing Regulations.

The Lightweight category

There have been several different categories of motorcycle that can compete in this event. In the 1950s and 1960s, the principal TT solo events were the Senior (500 cc), Junior (350 cc), and Lightweight (250 cc, or sometimes 125 cc). The 125 cc class was occasionally called the "Ultra-Lightweight" class. Currently the Lightweight class comprises road-based "Super-Twin" solo machines with liquid-cooled four-stroke engines of up to 650 cc engine capacity.

Eligibility

Entrants

* Entrants must be in possession of a valid National Entrants or FIM Sponsors Licence for Road Racing.

Machines

The

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specification for entries into the Lightweight TT race are defined as;- * Any solo machine complying with the following specifications: ** Machines must comply with general technical rules as per ACU Standing Regulations and 2012 IOM TT regulations. *** Any four-stroke twin cylinder motor-cycle originally sold for road use with a water-cooled engine of up to 650cc. *** Eligible machines must be from models homologated for road use 2005 or later.

Official Qualification Time

* 115% of the time set by the third fastest qualifier in the class.

Speed and lap records

The lap record for the Lightweight TT is held by

Michael Dunlop Michael Dunlop (born 10 April 1989) is a Northern Irish professional motorcycle racer. Part of a motorcycle racing dynasty, Michael is the brother of the late William Dunlop, son of Robert and nephew of former World Champion Joey Dunlop. He ...

in a time of 18 minutes and 26.543 seconds, at an average speed of set during the 2018 race. The race record for the 4 lap (150.73 miles/242.58 km) Lightweight TT is a time of 1 hour, 15 minutes and 05.032 seconds, at an average race speed of , also held by Dunlop during the 2018 race.

List of Lightweight TT Winners

Race winners (riders)

References

{{Isle of Man TT