The Okells 350cc and 250cc Races at the inaugural Classic TT presented by Bennetts are set to be thrilling affairs with strength in both quality and quantity and, as with the 500cc class, some of the finest road racing talent on the planet lined up to compete.
Almost 60 entries have been received for the 350cc category, up by a third on last years corresponding Manx Grand Prix race and heading the entry is Roy Richardson. The Blackpool rider has almost made the class his own in recent times with ten Manx GP victories already to his name.
He will be looking to take a first Classic TT Race win and he again lines up on the rapid FCL Racing/Martin Bullock Manxsport Aermacchi. Hell find it tougher than ever though with a mixture of TT and MGP regulars on the entry, riding a variety of machinery including Honda, Norton and AJS.
Honda have strength in depth with their riders including multiple MGP winner Chris Palmer on the Ripley Land Racing machine, Olie Linsdell, on the Team Winfield bike previously taken to MGP victory by Ryan Farquhar, and Alan Oversby and William Dunlop on the Davies Motorsport machines. James Hillier will compete on the CSC Racing Honda with Nigel Moore, Paul Coward, Davy Morgan, Bruno Leroy, Dave Madsen-Mygdal and Jamie Hamilton just some of the other top quality riders contesting the race for the Japanese manufacturer.
AJS may not have the numerical advantage but they certainly have two great chances of success with two very differing riders. TT star Cameron Donald goes on another Ripley Land machine and Mark Herbertson, one of the most consistent performers at the Manx GP in recent years will ride for Gilbert Brown and Son Transport Ltd. MGP regulars Keith Dixon and Meredydd Owen will also be AJS-mounted.
Norton, as expected, will have strong representation with TT stars Conor Cummins and Daniel Cooper on the Dunnell and Molnar Manx prepared machines respectively. Other prominent riders have opted for the Italian marque Aermacchisi including last years MGP runner-up Chris Swallow and regular top-five finisher Allan Brew. All four riders have a great chance of making it onto the podium, which further emphasises the competitiveness of the field.
