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Welcome
Introduction by Mac McDiarmid

6 MEN TO WATCH
Island Racer’s guide to the top contenders, how they went in ’05, what they’re riding and how they’re likely to go this year.

14 THE SIXTIES
Some of you might remember the most staggering decade in racing history. For those who don’t, Tom Laxey marvels at the time when the factories threw billions of yen at TT success.

24 TWO WHEELS TOUGH, THREE WHEELS TOUGHER
The unadulterated truth - every rev, every twist of the throttle - of full-tilt laps of theTT course, told to Mac McDiarmid by the engines themselves (including Moly’s Missile, lapping at over 115mph).

30 TT COURSE MAP
It’s a map. With the course on it. Just tape it to your tank, Moly, and you’ll know the way round.

32 THE NEW GUYS
Finnegan, Martin, Porter, Hutchinson, Donald, Shand emerged last year as the young bloods with the hottest prospects. Mac McDiarmid looks back to last year and forward to their continued learning curves.

38 PHOTO: ANTSY ANSTEY
Bruce Anstey looking sharp as a blade at Braddan in last year’s Superstock TT, even though he didn’t feel it. The tough Kiwi got off his sick bed to win.

40 30 YEARS ON
Mick Grant, the last man to take a Kawasaki to victory in a premier TT race, test rides Ryan Farquhar’s Junior winning 2005 ZX-6R. My, how things have changed.

46 RYAN FARQUHAR
Farquhar emerged last year as a major, mature TT talent, signing for TAS Suzuki in the Autumn. Mac McDiarmid asked him he got there, and how he planned to capitalise. Then came Cookstown and a broken arm...

51 PRIZE MONEY AND TROPHIES
What they race for (other than the sheer buzz): the TT trophies and prize money.

52 ROBY’S ISLAND
GP and WSB star Roby Rolfo makes no secret of his love for the TT. He might even race in it one day. Dave Moore met the man.

54 ACES’ HIGH AND LOW
They all have favourite bits of the circuit, sectors where they feel they fly.. and other bits that scare them so much they’d like demolished. Mac McDiarmid asks the stars their favourite - and least favourite - bits.

62 IT HAPPENED LAST YEAR
McGuinness’ sublime double.. mass culling of Supersport 600s.. Suzuki Gixer top Superstock dog.. and above all Moly’s blistering sidecar pace. Stephen Quirk looks back on the action.

72 MAKE WAY FOR THE MUSCLEMEN
With hot new machinery from Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha, and the ‘old’ GSX-R1000 still a potent force, this year’s Superbike and Superstock battles will be mammoth. Tom Laxey checks out their biceps.

80 IF IT’S REVS YOU WANT, WE GOT ’EM
And then there were five..Triumph’s 675 joins other new middleweight screamers from Suzuki andYamaha, ready to battle against the established Hondas and Kawasakis. Stephen Quirks examines this year’s Supersports hardware.

84 TTplc - AN INTERIM REPORT
New classes, new Mountain Licences, new ambitions. Mac McDiarmid asks how’s the future looking for TTplc.

86 TUNED TO THE MANX
Profiling Dave Hagen and Slick Bass, two Isle of Man-based tuners who certainly know how to make fast TT engines last the distance.

92 TT SCENE
Mad and moody moments from TT ’05, captured by the Island Racer camera.

96 ROAD RACING - THE FUTURE
If theTT is to have a future, then it must be in the context of the wider world of pure road racing. Stephen Davison assesses the patient’s health.

104 IN APPRECIATION
This year’s races will be missing not only two of their finest riders, but two men whose agreeable characters graced the racing world. Mac McDiarmid pays tribute to Richard Britton and Gus Scott.

110 75-50-25-10 YEARS AGO
It started with a unique double and ended with McCallen’s glorious foursome. Along the way, we saw the emergence of MV’s 500 and descent into black farce. Island Racer looks back on four typically momentous TTs.

118 TT WHAT’S ON
Island Racer’s comprehensive guide to what’s on at the TT festival, the where, the why and the how. Even if the TT lasted a month, you wouldn’t fit it all in, we promise.

122 TT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Every winner, every record, every winning machine since the TT started 99 years ago. And lots of other information to confound your mates.

136 2005 DUKE RANKINGS
The official measure of who was top dog in road racing last year. A Welsh Irishman, as it happens. Just lucky, we guess.

138 THE 38th MILESTONE
The final page, at least if you don’t include the back cover. But this one’s got breaking TT news, rather than an ad.

ALL THIS AND MORE IN ISLAND RACER TT06
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