Isle of Man TT race organisers have made the difficult call to cancel the highlight of this year’s event, the Senior TT.
But given deteriorating conditions around the 37.73-mile circuit, it’s hard to see the decision as anything other than exactly the right call to conclude what has up until this point been one of the safest TT fortnights in history.
The race was originally set to get underway at 1045 on Saturday morning for six laps, before heavy overnight rain and morning showers first pushed the start time back to 1245 and then 1445, before organisers eventually announced that a four-lap race would go at 1900.
Riders completed a course inspection lap beforehand, though, and initial feedback was mixed to say the least, with some immediately pulling off the grid and announcing that they wouldn’t race even if it went ahead.
At that point, clerk of course Gary Thompson pulled the entire starting grid into a riders only meeting to gauge feedback before making the difficult announcement to cancel the Senior TT for only the second time in history.
“After consultation with competitors,” he announced on the paddock PA system, “the feeling is that it is unsuitable for racing tonight. The Senior Race for 2025 is cancelled. Race control, out.”
A message from @ttracesofficial clerk of the course Gary Thompson after the tough decision to call off the 2025 Senior TT pic.twitter.com/oHiu7dw8KK
— The Race MotoGP (@TheRaceMoto) June 7, 2025
But while it might be an anticlimactic and disappointing end to the TT fortnight, it was the right call to make, with gusting winds of over 30mph hitting the exposed Mountain section of the course.
And with further weather complications expected on Sunday - and, with a limited window of road closing times available thanks to the need to fit them around church services - organisers had already gone into Saturday night knowing it was the one final chance to conclude the weather-struck race week, having already confirmed that there was no contingency to race any later.
There was, of course, obvious disappointment from the grid at the news that the race wouldn’t go ahead - but also agreement with the decision from some of the top names.
“All in all we’ve had a fantastic week,” said double race winner in the superstock class Dean Harrison, “and it is disappointing to end this way, but I back Gary 100% in what he’s done because he makes the best decisions.
“It’s hard on everyone, and I do feel for the fans out there because everyone comes here to watch motorbikes go around the best track in the world. We want to ride around the best track in the world, but it was as bad as everyone is saying it was out there.
“There’s damp patches, it’s windy. It’s a difficult situation, it’s half 7 at night, and it’s cold. It’s a difficult situation and all we can do is go onwards and upwards.”
The 2026 Isle of Man TT will start on Monday May 25 and will conclude following the Senior TT on Saturday June 6.
