The Department of Economic Development has been working with Isle of Man based Duke Marketing to develop an official website for the newly branded ‘Manx Grand Prix Festival’, which runs from 21st August to 5th September 2010.

The 2010 MGP Festival brings together four of the biggest two-wheel events in the Isle of Man’s sporting calendar: the Manx Grand Prix Races, which sees classic and modern racing machines competing around the 37.73-mile TT Mountain Course; the Two Day Trial; the Manx Classic Trial and the Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Festival of Jurby, Vintage Parade and Rally. The site - with the url mgpfestival.com – will go live on Friday 13th August.

The site will carry latest news from each of the events as well as multimedia content, spectator guides, entertainment listings, photo galleries, competitor database and results archive. It will also feature comprehensive information on how to book travel and accommodation packages through official travel partner Regency Travel. Each of the ‘Manx Grand Prix Festival’ event organisers will also have their own dedicated areas to promote their events and carry competitor information.

For the first time, fans around the world will be able to follow the Manx Grand Prix via the MGP Live! Service, which will deliver live commentary from local radio station Manx Radio and live timing on the internet throughout the fortnight-long event. The service is free and does not require registration.

MGP Live! uses the same tried and tested technology as TT Live!, which has been running annually since 2007. MGP Live! will allow fans to see sector times and speeds from data collection points around the course as soon as the timing beams are broken, so they can follow the practice and race action as it happens. There will also be regular Facebook and Twitter updates from events around the Island.

The site is part of the Department of Economic Development’s strategy to generate additional visitors to the Island during the Manx Grand Prix Festival Fortnight. It is also a key element of the commercial programme to attract sponsorship to offset the cost of running the event.

The Department has negotiated a number of commercial partners for this year’s event including Motorsport Merchandise, Suzuki GB and Mylchreest Motors. Media Group Morton’s, publishers of Classic Racer, Classic Dirt Bike, The Classic Motorcycle and Classic Bike Guide, are the official media partner and will support the festival editorially and the event also receives a financial contribution from the Manx Grand Prix Supporters Club.

Geoff Corkish MBE, MHK, the Political Member for Isle of Man Tourism, commented:

“Bringing together four enjoyable, strong events into one Festival of motorcycle sport will give visitors even more to experience. Having a fully functional website will really help us to promote the event and to build the worldwide audience for the Manx Grand Prix Festival. It will also hopefully be a great resource for encouraging potential visitors to come to the Island and help us to drive incremental revenue from corporate partners.”

The website has been designed and built by Manx firm Duke, the company behind the Official Website of the Isle of Man TT Races, which attracted almost 1 million visits during the 2010 TT.

Duke Managing Director Peter Duke said:

“We are delighted to have extended our remit with the Department to put together mgpfestival.com, the official online presence of what I believe is one of the most exciting developments in the Manx motorsport scene for several years.”

“Where else in the world can you see national-standard trials competition, some of the fastest and most spectacular road racing and a complete historical cross-section of motorcycling road and competition machinery, all for free, over a 14-day period?”

“I believe http://www.mgpfestival.com captures not only the excitement but also celebrates the unique heritage of each of these events, as well providing a one-stop information shop for everything you need to know about the festival.”