The Isle of Man TT is the pinnacle of pure motorcycle road racing and with the biggest names in the sport lining up for 2009, this year's festival of racing promises to be one of the most exciting and dramatic in recent times.

With ITV confirming it will broadcast almost 50 hours of programming featuring the TT during the 2009 event, the opportunity for sponsors to gain maximum exposure has never been greater.

The three-man Team Blackhorse Yamaha rider line-up is sure to be at the forefront of press coverage on the island.

The team is led by eight times TT winner Ian Lougher, a man who certainly know his way round the 37¾-mile Mountain Circuit. Always in demand for interviews, Ian will find himself at the centre of media attention on Saturday 6th June when he lines up for the opening race of the 2009 Isle of Man TT. The Superbike race at 12.00pm will be his 100th TT start, a remarkable achievement.

Mats Nilsson also needs no introduction to the knowledgeable race fan. The 33 year old Swede views the Isle of Man TT course as the ultimate racing challenge and he met that challenge head-on in 2008 when, on his debut, he lapped at 121.31mph on a 600cc machine. Mats will certainly be one of the riders to watch in 2009.

Completing the trio in Team Blackhorse Yamaha colours is Japan's Yoshinari Matsushita. The 39 year old makes his debut at the event and his progress will be closely monitored as he realises his ambition to tackle the world famous circuit.

In announcing its final schedule for the TT, ITV revealed that in addition to extensive coverage on ITV 4 there will be two hour-long programmes on ITV1, sponsored by leading UK insurance provider Bennetts. The two ITV1 programmes will be broadcast on Sunday June 7 and Sunday June 14 at 11.45pm.

They will be shown across the entire ITV network and will feature race highlights from the 2009 races as well as profiles of the riders taking part.

Other features will include an interview with MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi and his historic lap of the TT course, due to take place in June 6.

ITV4 will also carry TT history programmes, a TT documentary entitled The Race that Time Forgot, a review of the 2008 TT races and TT Greatest Moments programmes.

The programmes will be presented by leading ITV sports anchor Craig Doyle with commentary from former racers Steve Parrish and Jamie Whitham, who have both competed at the TT.

The ITV coverage was negotiated by North One TV, who hold the licence for the exclusive sales and distribution rights for the TT races, on behalf of the Isle of Man Government.

Controller of ITV Sport Niall Sloane said:

'We'’re delighted to be broadcasting coverage of the Isle of Man TT – one of the most historic and highly anticipated events of the motorsport calendar.’'

North One TV CEO Neil Duncanson added:

‘'With the clock ticking down on the event we're all getting pretty excited about it. ‘The Isle of Man TT is a fabulous event and now it will have a television product to match.’'

Isle of Man Tourism and Leisure Minister Martyn Quayle said:

‘'All of this positive publicity is a great way for us to showcase the Isle of Man and the TT Races and we hope that it will encourage people to come and visit the Island, either for the races or to experience other aspects of the Isle of Man.'’