1949 Isle of Man TT

United Kingdom  1949 Isle of Man TT
Race details
Race 1 of 6 races in the
1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Date6–17 June 1949
Official nameInternational Isle of Man Tourist Trophy
LocationSnaefell Mountain Course
Course
  • Public roads
  • 60.72 km (37.73 mi)
500cc
Rider
Fastest lap
Rider United Kingdom Bob Foster Moto Guzzi
Time 25m 14s
Podium
First United Kingdom Harold Daniell Norton
Second United Kingdom Johnny Lockett Norton
Third Republic of Ireland Ernie Lyons Velocette
350cc
Rider
Fastest lap
Rider United Kingdom Freddie Frith Velocette
Time 26m 53s
Podium
First United Kingdom Freddie Frith Velocette
Second Republic of Ireland Ernie Lyons Velocette
Third United Kingdom Artie Bell Norton
250cc
Rider
Fastest lap
Rider United Kingdom Tommy Wood
United Kingdom Dickie Dale
Moto Guzzi
Moto Guzzi
Time 28m 09s
Podium
First Republic of Ireland Manliff Barrington Moto Guzzi
Second United Kingdom Tommy Wood Moto Guzzi
Third United Kingdom Roland Pike Rudge

The 1949 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the first round of the Grand Prix World Championship that was held in the Isle of Man.[1]

At the FICM (later known as FIM) meeting in London near the end of 1948, it was decided there would be a motorcycle World Championship along Grand Prix lines. It would be a six-race annual series with points being awarded for a placing and a point for the fastest lap of each race. There would be five classes: 500 cc, 350 cc, 250 cc, 125 cc and 600 cc sidecar. The historic Isle of Man TT would be one of those races, and this toughest and most dangerous of Grand Prix motorcycle races would be a mainstay on the GP calendar until 1976.

Harold Daniell, on a Norton, won the 500 cc Senior TT event at an average speed of 86.93 mph. Les Graham, on an AJS Porcupine 500 cc twin, led the Senior race until the last lap when his magneto drive sheared. He pushed the bike past the finish line in tenth place. As he had finished the race he gained one championship point for recording the fastest lap.

Four clubman races were included; the Clubmans Senior, Clubmans Junior, Clubmans Lightweight, and the new Clubmans 1,000 cc.

British 350 cc rider Ben Drinkwater was killed in the Junior TT race at the 11th Milestone.[2]

  1. ^ Isle of Man Examiner 1949 TT Races page 4 Friday 20 August 1948 "As a result of representations made by various insular authorities, the Auto-Cycle Union is to reconsider its requests the 1949 TT Races be held on the 6th, 8th and 10th June 1949."
  2. ^ Isle of Man Examiner page 4 17 June 1949