TT Legends

Meet John McGuinness, Cameron Donald and Simon Andrews - together they are the Honda TT Legends. Motorcycle racers who specialise in the art of road racing they’ve come together as team for a gruelling season of racing in the FIM Endurance World Championship. In the first episode of the series we meet these extraordinary guys and find out about their ordinary backgrounds. We also meet team boss, and ex-racer, Neil Tuxworth, the all-important mechanics as well as the wives, children and girlfriends who all make up part of the close-knit Honda TT Legends family. As the racers prepare for the upcoming challenges there’s a preview of the formidable 24 hour events at the Bol d'Or and Le Mans, the passion and the heat of Suzuka and the unique Isle of Man TT.

The Bol d’Or is the opening race of the Motorcycle Endurance World Championship and it is one of the most prestigious races of the year. It takes place and the famous Magny-Cours circuit in central France in April and conditions can be extremely challenging. From baking sunshine by day to freezing temperatures, rain and even hail at night this race throws everything it can at riders. Taking it in turns to ride the bike for up to four hours at a time John McGuinness, Simon Andrews and Cameron DOnald must find every ounce of skill, stamina and grim determination they have just to hold on to their 190mph motorcycle. Off the track the team must be ready to react at a moment's notice if something goes wrong with the bike - or the rider - and when things do go awry for Cameron Donald the team is really put to the test.

After the rigours of the Bol d'Or (see episode 2) the Honda TT Legends are happy to get back on the territory they know best - racing on public roads. The North West 200 is held on the nine miles of the "Triangle" in Northern Ireland. It is one of the fastest motorcycle races anywhere in the world. John McGuinness and Cameron Donald are both veterans of the road racing scene but the newest recruit to the Honda TT Legends team, Simon Andrews, is still finding his feet. There's no room for error at speeds over 200 mph racing between grass-lined hedges and roadside houses so Simon has to learn quickly. In between races John finds time to pay his respects to his hero, Joey Dunlop, the most successful road racer ever who lost his life in a crash in 2000.

Episode 4 sees Honda TT Legends take on their most dangerous assignment - the Isle of Man TT. A race like no other on Earth, it takes total commitment and years of hard work to learn the 37.73 mile course - many never do. John McGuinness is known as the 'King of the Mountain' for his uncanny skills on this most demand circuit which rises from sea level to over 1400 ft. He's won the race more times than any other living rider. In 2012 he returned to the Mountain Course looking to add to his tally of 17 wins. Cameron Donald, John's Honda TT Legends team mate has won the race twice but he's determined to win it again and John knows he's a big threat. Simon Andrews has only raced in the Isle of Man once before and needs to learn quickly to keep up with his more experienced rivals - as he finds out though the Mountain Course is no place to make mistakes...

Honda TT Legends' youngest rider Simon Andrews finds he's lucky to be alive after a spectacular 142mph at the Isle of Man TT. He must begin the long fight to full fitness so he can rejoin his team mates as they battle for the Motorcycle Endurance World Championship. Meanwhile Cameron Donald and John McGuinness continue to pit themselves against the fearsome Isle of Man TT course. While John adds to his tally Cameron misses out by the narrowest margins to fellow antipodean Bruce Anstey. It's nail-biting stuff as the Honda TT Legends prove themselves worthy of their name.

Suzuka is the scene for one of the most high profile races of the motorcycle season as the big Japanese manufacturers put their all into winning what they see as the most prestigious race of the Endurance World Championship. For eight hours the famous circuit turns into a crucible where legends are forged and reputations can be made or lost. For the Honda TT Legends it is a make or break moment in their season - they have to do well to stay in contention for the Championship. As the temperatures rise on the track so do the stakes and John McGuinness, Cameron Donald and Jason O'Halloran must put everything they've got, and more, into just staying on the bike. Gritting their they dig deep and so do their support team as Suzuka wrings them dry.