1992 Senior TT
The 1992 Senior TT was an absolute classic, and is often described as one of the best ever races in TT history.
After their record busting TT in 1991 on board the all conquering Hondas, Hislop and Carl Fogarty had not planned to be back in 1992. However, they both lined up on the Glencrutchery Road that year on 'inferior' machinery - Hislop on Ron Haslam's John Player Special sponsored Norton and Carl on the Loctite Yamaha. The Norton 588 had been developed on a shoe string budget when compared to Honda Racing's RC30's. JPS had no intention of backing Steve's TT campaign, but after scratching around for some sponsorship and minimal testing time, the team headed for the Isle of Man.
Hislop's Norton took to the circuit in unconventional white livery, backed by Steve's long term sponsor Abus. Hislop and the team defied the bike's detractors taking a fine 2nd place in the opening Formula 1 race. The bike had proved it could complete 6 laps of the grueling Snaefell Mountain Course in hot weather, and the team could look forward to Friday's Senior TT.
A number of adjustments had been made to the Norton prior to the Senior - a larger screen was fitted to protect Hislop from the high winds, the front mud guard was removed to let in more air, and protective covers were fitted to the front forks.
Hislop's main rival of course, was Carl who would start at number 4. Steve would start at 19. Not only would this give him more traffic, but it would give the crowd an anxious wait as the officials calculated the time difference between them - a difference that never exceeded 7.4 seconds. As the race progressed, the two gladiators smashed the records they set the previous year with Hislop taking a narrow advantage into the last lap. In a last-ditch attempt to catch Hislop, Fogarty recorded a blistering lap time of more than 123 mph on his unfancied Yamaha. It was all in vain however, with Hislop guiding the fly splattered Norton home to an historical win - one of Hislop's greatest achievements and one of the most popular TT wins ever. Carl Fogarty's lap record stood for 7 years.
Hislop and Fogarty would go on to become two of Britain's greatest motorcycle racers of the modern age, taking many race wins and championships at home and abroad. It was the 1992 Senior TT that saw them battle together for the last time.
Described by some as a flawed genius, success on the world stage never materialised - possibly because of a self-destructive reputation. He had many well-publicised clashes with other riders and teams over the years.
Read more about this topic: Steve Hislop
Famous quotes containing the word senior:
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