invitation to the premiere
of TT3D: Closer To The Edge a couple of years back my knowledge of the TT was pretty limited. I was vaguely aware it involved motorcycle racers competing on a closed road course on the Isle Of Man, an opportunity for fans to do the same on Mad Sunday and, sadly, frequent deaths among both groups.
Dunlop looked unstoppable throughout
In just a couple of hours that film opened up the whole world of the TT in a way that I'd never expected and that
ITV4's coverage
is now compulsory viewing for all members of the household each year is a reflection of just how effectively it captured the event. Motorsport on TV is usually grudgingly accepted as part and parcel but Mrs T's attendance of said premiere was enough to turn two non-biking, TT ignorant viewers into avid fans.
As I said at the time, the universal themes in the film transcend the subject matter. The literal life and death struggles portrayed, the sheer madness of seeing bikers scraping walls at 180mph-plus and the down-to-earth charm and fascinating characters of the participants have as much drama as any soap opera. Just played out with a more interesting petrolheady back drop. And with a bit more chat about masturbation than you'd get on Eastenders.
ITV4's coverage each night has my TV schedule sorted for the week too. The team presenting it, made up of anchor Craig Doyle and supported by riders Steve Parrish, Steve Plater and Jamie Whitham, are all clearly genuine in their passion for the event, know their stuff and it really comes across with sincerity and enthusiasm. And the no-BS attitude common to riders, team managers, officials and fans is a refreshing antidote to the carefully choreographed nonsense of most mainstream sports, engine-based or not.
Brookes got his money's worth out of his rental
And, by heck, now the racing has got going it's stunning viewing. I'm no biker but you don't have to be to appreciate the drama and
Michael Dunlop's victory
in yesterday's delayed Superbike race was a lesson in determination and grit. His back story combines more triumph and tragedy than most and his hardman persona and riding style reflect that but his emotional response to winning had me close to welling up too. McGuinness took his first straight defeat since 2003 with typical stoicism too, his podium comeback after a 60-second penalty and record time on his final lap a sign that Dunlop and the rest aren't going to have an easy time of it in the coming days. Good to hear Josh Brookes' rental Fiesta wasn't
(ab)used in vain
either, the Aussie Superbike rider getting that fastest newcomer time he was after.
See you on the sofa at 9pm then. And if the Twitter feed is quiet until then it's because I'm in self-imposed exile to avoid any spoilers!
[Sources: photos from Honda TT Legends team and SuzukiRacing.com]
