2019 Isle of Man Monster TT Races - official launch

WE'RE OVER on Mona's Isle for the 2019 TT launch event, and there's plenty going on. We had a lap of the course narrated by genuine Manx legend Richard 'Milky' Quayle (check the video out on our Facebook page), and there's been a stack of announcements already.

Arai is here, launching its new 2019 special edition TT helmet, with some help from proper TT hero Michael Dunlop. The new lid, based on the firm's top-spec RX-7V race lid, features a new fluoro yellow paint scheme by Aldo Drudi. The Triskelion Manx logo is writ large, and it's a proper relationship: the majority of top TT racers choose to wear Arai in 2019, including Michael Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson, Conor Cummins, Davey Todd, Derek McGee, David Johnson and Lee Johnston with sidecar racers Ben and Tom Birchall, John Holden and Lee Cain, and Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes. It's a gorgeous thing, and if you fancy one, best get buying now...

Away from lids, Honda has announced that it will be supplying the marshal bikes and cars for the fortnight long event. Fireblade SP bikes and Civic Type R cars will be tazzing about the Island, letting marshals and medics get to where they need to be sharpish...

Multipe sidecar TT champ Dave Molyneux has also named his new passenger for 2019. The 17-time TT winner will line up on a new LCR Yamaha for the two three-lap races in June and will be partnered by Harry Payne for the first time. Since making his TT debut in 1985, Molyneux has taken 17 race wins and 30 podiums - both a record in the class. With a new outfit at his disposal, Molyneux is desperate to get back to winning ways in 2019 and he has enlisted the services of Payne - who made his TT debut last year.

Finally - for now, there's a new timekeeping sponsor for the event - British firm Bremont. It'll be keeping time of the racers, and no doubt be handing out a posh watch or two to the race winners...

There's a massive launch event tonight at Douglas where there might be a few more big announcements - and we'll be there to see it live. You can watch too - the whole event is being streamed online. Check it out at  iomttraces.com from 8pm GMT tonight, Tuesday 19thMarch.