Press — southern 100

For most racers, crashing is simply part of the job. It comes with the territory when you're asking a motorcycle to do extraordinary things at extraordinary speeds.

For John McGuinness, though, crashing has become something of a rarity.

Motorbike Mad spent the week at Billown, watching the action unfold from around the circuit, chatting with riders and fans, and soaking up the atmosphere that makes this event so different from any other on the road racing calendar

The Isle of Man TT has always lived in a unique space within motorsport.

It is simultaneously one of the greatest sporting spectacles on earth and one of the most dangerous. Every year riders, teams, officials and fans accept that reality as part of the event's DNA.

The Isle of Man TT has always lived in a place where admiration and discomfort sit side by side. For some, it is motorcycling in its purest and most courageous form. For others, it represents a sport that still asks questions modern motorsport no longer dares to ask.

The Isle of Man TT has always lived with risk. That is neither criticism nor celebration. It is simply the truth of racing on public roads bordered by walls, trees and unforgiving kerbs.