Isle of Man Grade 4+

We are on an island between Ireland and England. It is home to 80,000 people called the Manx. Thirty miles long and 10 miles wide, the island is smaller than New York City.

Before us, motorcyclists have been warming up their engines. Everyone is excited to show off their skills. They have been doing practice laps for a whole week. Now, they are ready for the real thing. Everyone is focused and determined to win. As they wait for the signal to start the race, the engines louden as their riders rev up.

The racing official gives the signal. Lights illuminate and flags drop. The riders take off, racing down the track. They lean into turns so much that their knees, which are padded, scrap the roadway. The atmosphere is electric. Sightseers cheer on the racers as they hurtle around the course at breakneck speeds. The racers are fearless – and must be, for the race has been called “the world’s most dangerous sporting event.” Over 250 racers have died.

The race is far too long for any racer to stay in first until the finish line. One lap is 37.73 miles, and races often take six laps. People call it “Mountain Course,” part of the Isle of Man’s TT Races. The Ts stand for Tourist Trophy. One the most exciting and dangerous motorbike races in the world, the TTs take place in the Isle of Man annually, between May and June. The event attracts tens of thousands of motorsport fans from all over the world.

Since they began in 1907, the TT Races have provided a showcase for the Isle of Man. The Mountain Course runs through the island’s roads and around its only mountain, Snaefell. From its top, over 2,000 feet high, you can see Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland.