All is now set for the 2006 meeting, practising starting on Saturday evening August 19th, then continuing each evening throughout the following week, with an additional 'shake down' session after Wednesday’s race day programme.

Qualifying times this year are: Senior and Junior 23 minutes (98.42mph), Lightweight 24 minutes (94.32mph), Ultra Lightweight and Newcomers 750cc 25 minutes (90.55mph), Newcomers 125/400cc and Senior Classic 27 minutes (83.84mph), Junior Classic 28 minutes (80.85mph), Lightweight Classic 29 minutes (78.06mph).

The lap and race records go back ten years in one case, though the outright top speeds were both set during last year’s Senior race. Alan Jackson (750 Kawasaki) is the outright fastest in 18 minutes 31.45 seconds, an average speed of 122.208mph. The fastest four-lap time stands to Seamus Greene (750 Suzuki) in one hour 15 minutes 25.9 seconds, an average speed of 120.042 in winning the 2005 Senior race.

In the Junior category, the late Tom Clucas (600 Honda) holds the fastest lap. He did 18 minutes 49.2 seconds, 120.38mph, while leading the 2004 race. Dean Silvester (600 Yamaha) is the race record holder in one hour 16 minutes 39.1 seconds, 118.13mph.

The Lightweight lap and race records stand from 1999 in the name of Richard Quayle (250 Honda). He went round in 19 minutes 43.1 seconds, 114.80mph and his race time was one hour 20 minutes 20.1 seconds, 112.71mph.

The Ultra Lightweight lap and race records both date back to 1993. Keith Taylor (400 Yamaha) did 20 minutes 38.3 seconds and Stuart Sturrock (400 Yamaha) the race in one hour 23 minutes 48.6mph, 108.04mph.

In the Classic classes, Bob Heath holds the Senior lap and race record at 106.74 and 106.13mph from 1997; in the Junior it is Jason Griffiths at 102.33mph and Bill Swallow at 101.73mph from 2003 and 1996 respectively. The Lightweight belongs to Roy Richardson at 101.09mph and Bob Jackson at 99.68mph from 2003 and 1996 respectively.

The Senior Newcomers' marks are Ian Hutchinson's from 2003 – 116.66mph (lap) and 113.92 (race), while the Ultra Lightweight stand to Stuart Sturrock at 107.86mph (lap) and 106.48mph (race).

There are four previous TT winners entered: Ian Lougher (6), Chris Palmer and Ryan Farquhar (2 apiece) and Dan Sayle (3). Ten previous Manx Grand Prix winners with 18 victories between them take part: Bud Jackson (4), Roy Richardson (3), Ryan Farquhar, Barry Wood and Chris McGahan (2 each) and John Goodall, Sam Dunlop, Barry Davidson, Ewan Hamilton and Nigel John (1 apiece).

Females include Maria Costello, whose fastest lap is 114.743mph; Carolynn Sells (108.71); Gail Musson (100.16); Virginia Power (100.159); Marie Hodgson (98.045) and Elle Forrest (98.29).