2022 Isle of Man TT schedule | Don't miss a moment as TT roars back into action

It been a long (loooong) wait but road racing returns to its most hallowed grounds this week as the 2022 Isle of Man TT kicks off with almost two weeks of high-octane, high-speed action.

The historic event - now in its 125th year - has been sorely missing from the racing calendar since 2019 when the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic forced organisers to cancel it two years running in order to protect residents from any dangers brought by the annual influx of fans.

The hiatus has only served to ramp up anticipation for this year’s TT with those two years seeing an overhaul in terms of machinery and welcoming fresh faces alongside many familiar faces.

Each of the key manufacturers - BMW, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki - are back with plenty of support and refreshed rider line-ups in the Superbike ranks, while the supporting Supersport, Superstock, Supertwins and Sidecar races also have the potential to steal the show.

Lap record holder Peter Hickman is back to finish what he started when technical issues in the 2019 Senior TT saw him lose victory to Dean Harrison. The BSB front runner will this time get the upgraded BMW M 1000 RR run by the Gas Monkey-backed FHO Racing team for the Superbike and Superstock races, before jumping on a new 765cc Triumph for the Supersport class and a Paton in Supertwins.

Defending Senior TT winner Harrison remains with DAO Racing on Kawasaki machinery, while Honda have upped the ante with its new Honda CBR1000RR-R and lured TT legend John McGuinness back to its fold. He will be paired by TT newcomer Glenn Irwin, the North West 200 winner no doubt hoping his familiarity with the bike will negate his lack of island knowledge.

Having originally planned to contest the TT on a Paul Bird Motorsport-run Ducati Panigale V4 R, Michael Dunlop has instead chosen a return to the ageing but proven Suzuki GSX-R1000R, run by Hawk Racing, while Yamaha’s hopes will be headed up by OMG Racing’s James HIllier and David Johnson.

Others to watch out for in the Superbike class include Davy Todd and Connor Cummins on the Padgetts Honda, Ian Hutchinson on the Milwaukee BMW, Gary Johnson on the Specsavers BMW and Michael Rutter on the Bathams BMW.

In the meantime, get that diary out and make sure you jot down the schedule for the next fortnight:

2022 Isle of Man TT - Schedule