Chapman has previously fielded Gary Johnson in the race but for 2016, he has decided to enter Lougher in the four-lap race with the team campaigning an all-new MV Agusta machine. The Italian manufacturer took the race win at last year’s event in the hands of Dean Harrison and Chapman, who’s been committed to the MV marque for many years, is now hoping that it’s his team’s turn for victory.

Lougher has been prominent in the class since the inaugural Classic TT and took the 2014 race on a 500cc Paton despite incurring a pit lane speeding penalty.  He continued that form last year, lapping at 111.523mph, just outside the class lap record, and was on course to repeat his victory only for another speeding violation in pit lane to drop him down the order to eighth place. Once more he fought back, tearing his way through the field to take second at the chequered flag.

HRT’s Ezio and Maurizio Mascheroni and Enrico Sironi, the company who made major contributions to MV Agusta’s new 675 F3 Supersport machine, have build Chapman’s machine. The bike Lougher will ride is a perfect copy of the three-cylinder MV Agusta GP 500 that last contested GPs in 1974. Sironi was a member of the legendary MV Agusta technical team and still has copies of the original drawings.

HRT has been able to replicate the moulds for the GP’s sand-cast engine, the machine components using the same magnesium and aluminium alloys – as well as the steel components – to the exact dimensional specifications. The bike is an impeccable duplication of the original with the modern Avon tyres just about the only exception not designed 50 years ago.

When Italian legend Giacomo Agostini saw the bike, he immediately ordered one for himself and rode the bike in the parade lap at the 2012 Isle of Man TT.

Speaking about the MV Agusta ride at the Classic TT, road racing legend Ian Lougher commented:

“I am delighted to be riding for John Chapman Racing at the Classic TT on a bike that should be as good as anything else in the race. MV Agusta is the most iconic brand of motorcycle when it comes to the TT Course and I am honoured to get a chance to ride one built to the same spec that legends such as Giacomo Agostini rode back in the 60’s and 70’s.”

Ian Lougher - The 2014 500cc Classic TT Winner