TT Yanks

Considering that the first Isle of Man Tourist Trophy in 1907 was almost won by American Billy Wells, not many racers from the USA have followed Wells’ lead to the start/finish line on The Island. Using official records, the list below contains the names of those who actually started a TT race, even if the racers didn’t finish (DNF). More Yanks entered TT races, practiced and qualified but did not start (DNS); their names, however, are not included, following the standards set for the TT Riders Association, which requires that a racer must at least start a TT race to qualify for membership in what once billed itself as the most exclusive club in the world.

Twenty-five years ago, Team Cycle World put me in the saddle of a new …

Circa 1994: After I had done a few hundred laps of the 37.73-mile Isle of Man …

If you visit the Motorsport …

There are many reasons why so few Americans have participated in TT races on The Island, but the biggest difficulties for would-be TT riders until very recently have been logistical and bureaucratic; although the Island is nearby territory for British and European riders, before jumbo jets transformed travel in the 1970s, getting oneself, one's team and one's equipment to The Island was expensive and complicated. It's less difficult nowadays, but as even a cursory reading of the licensing requirements online shows, preparation for racing in the Isle of Man TT must begin long before you get to The Island.

American Riders in the Isle of Man TT Races, 1907—2011/ Riders Who Started a TT Race

(Alphabetically arranged)

|Black, Byron|1966/Senior|Matchless|28|82.06| |Blasquez, Timothy|1993/Supersport 600|Yamaha|43|95.96| |Blunck, Christine|2004/Passenger, Sidecar A|Yamaha|51|87.34| | |2004/Passenger, Sidecar B|Yamaha|DNF|--| |Boyd, Wade|1992/Supersport 600|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |1993/F1|Suzuki|unknown| | | |1993/Supersport 600|Honda|32|--| | |1993/Senior Honda|38|--| | |1994/F1|Honda 34|107.39| | |1994/Supersport 600|Honda|31|107.36| | |1994/Supersport 400|Suzuki|25|94.23| | |1995/F1|Kawasaki|DNF|--| | |1995/Lightweight|Suzuki|29|100.43| | |1995/Senior|Suzuki|37|105.52| | |1996/Senior|Kawasaki|40|102.57| | |1997/Lightweight|Suzuki|DNF|--| | |1999/Lightweight|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |1999/Production|Kawasaki|DNF|--| | |2000/F1|Yamaha|42|103.18| | |2002/Senior|Kawasaki|28|106.36| | |2002/Prod. 1000|Kawasaki|45|106.96| | |2002/F1|Kawasaki|47|101.8| | |2003/Senior|Kawasaki|34|108.07| | |2003/Prod. 1000|Kawasaki|36|108.21| | |2003/F1|Kawasaki|36|104.62| | |2004/Senior|Kawasaki|54|109.25| | |2004/Prod. 1000|Kawasaki|53|108.35| | |2004/Lightweight|Honda|38|93.39| | |2004/F1|Kawasaki|43|108.42| | |2005/Senior|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |2005/Supersport Junior A|Suzuki|59|108.2| | |2005/Superstock|Kawasaki|41|107.764| | |2005/Superbike|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |2006/Supersport|Yamaha|54|107.57| | |2006/Superstock|Kawasaki|54|98.676| | |2006/Superbike|Kawasaki|56|107.965| | |2007/Supersport|Kawasaki|57|106.539| |Boyd, William|1966/Lightweight|Yamaha|DNF|--| |Brassey, S.G.|1963/Junior|Norton|43|73.97| | |1963/Senior|Norton|38|83.04| | |1964 Junior|Norton|41|81.57| | |1964/Senior|Norton|DNF|--| |1965/Junior|Norton|DNF|--| |1965/Senior|Norton|DNF|--| |Breese, Vance|1982/Classic|Harley-Davidson|38|83| |Candy, Maurice|1959/Driver, Sidecar|Norton|DNF|--| | |1963/Sidecar|C&D Special|12|73.73| |1965/Sidecar|MJC|12|75.59| |1967/Sidecar|MJC|DNF|--| |1969/Sidecar 500|MJC|19|66.71| |1969/Sidecar 750|BSA|DNF|--| |1971/Sidecar 500|MJC|12|79.4| |1973/sidecar 750|BSA|13|--| |1973/sidecar 500|BSA|10|--| |1980/Sidecar, 1st leg|Yamaha|DNF|--| |1980/sidecar 2nd leg|Yamaha|26|79.92| |Cernicky, Mark|1994/Supersport 400|Suzuki|DNF|--| |Chase, F.|1961/Senior|Norton|DNF|--| |Cretu, Brandon|2010/TT1|Suzuki|47|109.29| | |2010/TT Supersport 2|Suzuki|48|109.31| | |2011/Monster Energy Supersport|Yamaha|40|114.463| | |2011/Monster Energy Supersport Race 2|Yamaha|DNF|--| |Crew, Chris|1989/Production 750|Suzuki|30|95.58| | |1990/F1|Honda|DNF|--| | |1990/Senior|Honda|28|96.10| | |1991/Senior|Yamaha|24|101.17| |Derkum, Paul|1914/Senior|Indian|DNF|--| |DuPont, R. J. T.|1963/Lightweight|Aermacchi|11|79.19| | |1964/Lightweight|Ducati|DNF|--| | |1965/Lightweight|Yamaha|DNF|--| |1965/Sidecar Passenger|Norton|12|75.59| |1966/Sidecar Passenger|MJC|15|74.24| |1967/Lightweight|Kawasaki|29|74.05| |1967/Sidecar Passenger|MJC|DNF|--| |1968/Sidecar Passenger|MJC|DNF|--| |1968/Lightweight|Kawasaki|DNF|--| |Elbon, James Jr.|1982/F1|Honda|33|89.8| | |1982/Classic|Honda|DNF|--| | |1982/F2|Honda|24|89.26| | |1983/F2|Honda|35|unknown| | |1983/Senior Classic|Honda|DNF|--| |Epstein, Steve|1982/Classic|Yamaha|DNF|--| |Forbes, Jock W.|1934/Junior|OK Supreme|DNF|--| | |1934/Senior|OK Supreme|DNF|--| | |1936/Senior|Vincent HRD|DNF|--| | |1937/Junior|Norton|13|73.05| | |1937/Senior|Norton|DNF|--| | |1938/Lightweight|Excelsior|6|70.98| | |1938/Junior|Norton|11|75.54| |Fox, R.E.|1959/350cc F1 500|AJS|12|80.95| | |1959/Junior|AJS|45|81.44| | |1959/Senior|AJS|DNF|--| |Gittere, C.R.|2009/Superbike TT|Honda|50|106.12| | |2009/Superstock TT|Honda|52|110.331| | |2009/Senior TT|Honda|37|107.569| | |2010/Senior TT|Suzuki|40|110.428| | |2010/Supersport 1|Suzuki|48|108.316| | |2010/Supersport 2|Suzuki|47|109.322| | |2010/Superstock|Suzuki|44|112.434| |Harding, Will|1984/Historic TT 350cc|Honda|DNF|--| |Hennen, Pat|1977/Senior|Suzuki|5|102.93| | |1977/Classic|Suzuki|DNF|--| | |1978/Senior|Suzuki|DNF|--| |Hunt, W.J.|1959/Lightweight 125|Honda|DNF|--| |John, Stephen|1998/Lightweight 125|Honda|31|94.17| | |1999/Lightweight 250|Yamaha|29|101.86| | |1999/Junior 600|Honda|52|102.78| | |2000/Ultra Lightweight|Honda|DNF|--| | |2000/Lightweight|Kawasaki|19|96.05| | |2002/Lightweight|Kawasaki|21|98.02| | |2003/Ultra Lightweight|Honda|16|95.78| |King, Garrett|1999/Junior 600 Honda|51|102.98| |Kunitsugu, Kent|1997/Lightweight|unknown|35|102.57| | |1998/Lightweight|Yamaha|28|81.28| | |1998/Junior|Kawasaki|DNF|--| |Knott, R.H.|1963/Senior|Norton|39|82.69| |Krupa, Allen R.|1960/Senior|Norton|34|85.05| |LaBelle, Edward F.|1959/F1 500|BMW|15|84.52| | |1959/Senior|BMW|20|70.9| | |1959/Junior|Norton|DNF|--| |Long, John|1975/350 Junior|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |1979/Senior|Yamaha|24|98.56| | |1979/Junior 250|Yamaha|18|99.08| | |1979/Classic|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |1980/Senior|Yamaha|18|103.22| | |1980/Classic|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |1981/Senior|Yamaha|21|98.53| | |1981/Classic|Yamaha|DNF|--| |Lunde, Marty|1967/Junior|AJS|DNF|--| | |1967/Senior|Norton|DNF|--| |McLean, Craig|1955/Clubmans Junior|BSA|5|64.56| | |1956/Clubmans Junior|BSA|14|76.67| |McLean, Craig|1993/Supersport 600|Honda|33|101.98| | |1994/Singles|Rotax|DNF|--| | |1994/F1|Honda|24|107.40| | |1994/Supersport 600|Honda|24|108.41| | |1994/Senior|Honda|32|108.69| | |1995/Junior|Honda|33|107.15| | |1995/Senior|Honda|DNF|--| | |1996/Singles|Ducati|5|103.12| | |1998/Lightweight|Honda|35|78.24| | |1998/Singles|Ducati|DNF|--| | |2002/Lightweight|Yamaha|16|99.48| | |2003/Lightweight|Yamaha|7|103.02| | |2004/Prod.|600|DNF|--| | |2004/Lightweight|Honda|26|101.34| | |2005/Supersport Junior|Honda|26|112.827| | |2005/Supersport Junior A|Honda|33|111.701| |McDaniels, Duane|1969/Lightweight class|125 Yamaha|DNF|--| |McKechnie, Ewan|1975/Production 750|250 Yamaha|37|--| | |1977/F1|Honda|DNF|--| | |1977/Senior|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |1977/Jubilee Race|Yamaha|DNF|--| |McCrea, Kevin|1993/Supersport 600|Yamaha|48|91.37| | |1993/Supersport 400|Suzuki|unknown|--| | |1994/Supersport 600|Honda|67|91.92| | |1994/Supersport 400|Suzuki|DNS|--| | |1994/Passenger, Sidecar Race A|Honda|DNF|--| | |1994/Passenger, Sidecar Race B|Honda|38|--| |Marcotte, J.R|1958/Junior|AJS|46|77.93| | |1958/Senior|AJS|40|83.71| |Mast, Christopher|1995/Junior|Honda|45|102.76| |Miller, Mark |2006/2e2 Senior|Suzuki|25|116.262| | |2006/Superstock|Suzuki|26|115.67| | |2007/Senior TT|Aprilia|17|118.705| | |2007/Supersport|Honda|33|113.809| | |2007/Superstock|Aprilia|24|117.385| | |2007/Superbike|Aprilia|26|115.835| | |2008/Senior|Honda|DNF|--| | |2008/Superstock|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |2008/Superbike|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |2009/Senior|Suzuki|DNF|--| | |2009/TTXGP Pro|MotoCzysz|DNF|--| | |2009/Superstock|Suzuki|12|122.704| | |2009/Superbike|Suzuki|11|121.528| | |2010/Senior|BMW|25|118.377| | |2010/TT Zero|MotoCzysz|1|96.82| | |2010/Superstock|BMW|17|121.285| | |2010/Superbike|BMW|25|119.163| | |2011/Dainese Superbike|Aprilia|DNF|--| | |2011/Monster Energy Supersport|Honda|35|113.93| | |2011/Royal London 360 Superstock|Aprilia|DNF|--| | |2011/Monster Energy Supersport Race 2|Honda|DNF|--| | |2011/SES TT Zero|MotoCzysz|2|98.288| | |2011/Pokerstars Senior|Aprilia|23|118.46| |Mitchell, Dwight|1998/Junior TT|Kawasaki|60|82.86| | |1999/Prod.|Kawasaki|54|102.38| | |1999/Junior 600|Kawasaki|55|100.55| | |1999/F1|Kawasaki|46|100.04| | |2002/Prod. 100|MV Agusta|60|101.52| | |2002/F1|MV Agusta|50|99.68| |Montano, Thomas|1992/Supersport 600|Yamaha|25|102.62| 1993/Supersport 600Yamaha20107.36| |1993/Senior|Honda|DNF|--| | |1994/F1|Honda|25|107.39| | |1994/Supersport 600|Honda|23|108.41| | |1994/Senior|Honda|35|107.93| | |1995/Junior|Yamaha|25|109.14| | |1995/Senior|Yamaha|28|109.09| | |1996/F1|Honda|21|109.23| | |1996/Senior|Honda|15|113.39| | |1997/Junior|Honda|10|114.37| | |1997/Senior|Honda|DNF|--| | |1998/Junior|Honda|DNF|--| | |2000/Junior 600|Kawasaki|17|112.25| | |2003/Senior|Ducati|13|116.51| | |2003/Production 600|Yamaha|22|111.35| | |2003/Junior 600|Yamaha|18|113.26| | |2003/F1|Ducati|15|114.3| | |2004/Senior|Yamaha|31|114.24| | |2004/Production 600|Yamaha|19|112.72| | |2004/Lightweight|Yamaha|9|106.13| | |2005/Senior|MV Agusta|13|118.43| | |2005/Supersport Junior|Yamaha|28|112.544| | |2005/Supersport Junior A|Yamaha|36|111.325| | |2005/Superstock|MV Agusta|DNF|--| | |2005/Superbike|MV Agusta|17|116.571| | |2006/2e2 Senior|Honda|40|114.196| | |2006/Supersport|Honda|23|114.584| | |2008/Senior|Suzuki|32|114.814| | |2008/Junior TT 1|Honda|DNF|--| | |2008/Junior TT 2|Honda|DNF|--| | |2008/Superstock TT|Suzuki|DNF|--| | |2008/Superbike|Suzuki|DNF|--| | |2009/TTXGP Pro|Mission Motors|4|74.091| | |2009/Supersport 1|Honda|40|115.123| | |2009/Supersport 2|Honda|35|110.281| |Moore, Jimmy|2007/Senior|Honda|DNF|--| | |2007/Supersport|Honda|15|118.55| | |2007/Superstock|Honda|25|117.359| | |2007/Superbike|Honda|33|114.476| | |2008/Supersport Junior 1|Honda|DNF|--| | |2008/Supersport Junior 2|Honda|DNF|--| | |2008/Superbike|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |2008/Senior|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |2009/Senior|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |2009/Supersport 1|Yamaha|14|120.245| | |2009/Supersport 2|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |2009/Superstock|Yamaha|20|121.029| | |2009/Superbike|Yamaha|22|117.822| | |2010/Senior|Yamaha|11|122.558| | |2010/Superstock|Suzuki|20|121.597| | |2010/Superbike|Yamaha|18|121.185| |Mossman, P.|1938/Lightweight|OK Supreme|DNF|--| |Nicholson, Nick|1953/Junior|Norton|DNF--| | |1953/Senior|Norton|18|83.23| |O’Connor, Rory|2002/Sidecar A|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |2002/Sidecar|Yamaha|46|87.83| |O’Sullivan, Joseph|1993/Supersport 600|Honda|DNF|--| | |1994/Supersport 600|Honda|66|96.17| | |1995/Lightweight|Honda|42|93.37| | |1995/Junior|Yamaha|54|100.77| | |1996/Junior|Honda|55|99.17| | |1997/Lightweight|Honda|50|92.71| | |1997/Lightweight 125|Honda|DNF|--| |Pridmore, Reg|1978/Sidecar 1st leg|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |1978/Sidecar 2nd leg|Yamaha|43|--| | |1979/Sidecar 1&2|Yamaha|DNF|--| |Rocheleau, Alma|1974/750 Sidecar Passenger|MGF BSA|30|--| |Rocheleau, Joseph|1974/750 Sidecar|MGF BSA|30|--| |Rodi, Beno|1984/Historic 500cc TT|BSA|13|--| |Roper, Dave|1982/F3|Aermacchi|12|--| | |1983/F1|Ducati|DNF|--| | |1983/F2|Kawasaki|12|--| | |1984/Historic 500cc TT|Matchless|1|96.11| | |1984/F2|Ducati|21|--| |Rosier, J. de la|1911/Senior|Indian|DQ|--| |Ross, Michael|1982/Classic|Harley-Davidson|DNF|--| |Schimpf, P.L.|1962/Junior|AJS|DNF|--| | |1964/Sidecar|Skitsu|DNF|--| |Sharp, W.|1964/Lightweight 125|Bultaco|37|--| | |1964/Senior|BSA|DNF|--| |Singleton, Dale|1981/Classic|Yamaha|24|--| |Small, Peter|1998/Production 750|Suzuki|41|104.39| | |1998/F1|Suzuki|DNF|--| |Thompson, Steven L.|1987/F1|Suzuki|50|94.82| | |1987/Production 750|Suzuki|38|99.37 fastest lap:101.2| |Torres-Mori, Alex|2004/Production 1000|Yamaha|65|95.77| | |2004/Senior|Suzuki|61|99.31| |Toye, Jeremy|2006/2e2 Senior|Suzuki|20|117.621| | |2006/Superstock|Suzuki|39|113.368| | |2006/Superbike|Suzuki|26|115.74| | |2011/Dainese Superbike TT|Kawasaki|DNF|--| | |2011/Royal London 360 Superstock TT|Kawasaki|DNF|--| |Vanderhaar, James|2009/Senior|Kawasaki|DNF|--| | |2009/Superstock|Kawasaki|51|110.9| | |2009/Superbike|Kawasaki|49|108.037| | |2010/Supersport 2|Yamaha|42|112.048| | |2010/Supersport 1|Yamaha|43|110.937| |Weed, John|1969/Ultra-lightweight|Honda|17|--| | |1971/Ultra-lightweight|Honda|11|--| |Weil, Lance|1967/Production 750|Triumph|4|--| | |1967/Junior|Norton|DNF|--| | |1967/Senior|Matchless|DNF|--| | |1969/Production 750|Triumph|4|--| | |1969/Junior|Norton|DNF|--| | |1969/Senior|Norton|DNF|--| |Welch, Ben|2000/Junior|Suzuki|DNF|--| |Wells, William H.|1907/Twin|Vindec|2|--| | |1908/Twin|Vindec|4|--| | |1909/Twin|Indian|DNF|--| |Williams, John|1978/F1|Honda|15|--| | |1981/Senior|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |1981/Classic|Yamaha|DNF|--| | |1981/Junior 250|Yamaha|22|--| |Wright, M.|1965/Junior|Norton|47|--| | |1965/Senior|Norton|25|--|Wolfel, Lawrence|1995/Junior|Honda|57|96.98| |Zeky, Brian|1975/Production 250|Yamaha|37|84.22|