Ireland to ride Isle of Man

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 3

Ireland to ride Isle of Man

NZPA London Two of New Zealand’s leading motor-cyclists, John Woodley and Dennis Ireland, are lining up for the classic Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races early next month. Both competed in the event last year, Ireland finishing seventh in the 500 cc senior TT, two places ahead of Woodley. This year they will ride in the senior and the classic events. But Woodley, the present New Zealand 500 cc and open champion, will not know until next week whether he will be able to ride or not. When he spoke to the NZPA last week his left wrist was still in plaster after he had broken it during the Penang Grand Prix in Malaysia at the beginning of May. “I would really like to ride at the Isle of Man again this year but it really depends on how my wrist is,” he said. “I will have to be completely satisfied that it can take the strain because the Isle of Man is not

something you want to go into half fit.” The Isle of Man race, attracting amateur and professional riders from around the world, has a rapidly growing reputation as perhaps the deadliest motorsports event anywhere in the world.

The stone walls which line the tightly twisting road around the island have been blamed for dozens of serious injuries. Last year, an Auckland rider, Michael Adler, died of severe brain injuries after catapulting into a wall during the "classic” race. His death brought the toll for the 1978 series to five and was the 121st fatality in the 70 years since the TT series began. If Woodley is unable to compete in the series, he will concentrate on getting fit for the Dutch Grand Prix, on June 22, or the Belgian Grand Prix the following week. The two races are also on Ireland’s programme.