MOTORCYCLING: Liam Beckett back at the Isle of Man TT after decade

Beckett, who was Robert Dunlop’s mechanic and mentor for more than two decades, undertook his last refuelling job for the Ulster great in 2004 before the Ultra-Lightweight two-stroke class was dropped from the schedule a year later.

The Irish League footballing legend has since returned to the iconic Tourist Trophy races as a spectator, but Beckett has agreed to thrust himself back into the ultra-tense, high-octane environment of pit lane on a TT race day to provide a helping hand to the gutsy Northamptonshire rider.

“I’ve told Maria she can count on me and I’ll be donning the fireproof suit in Gasoline Alley once again after all these years,” Beckett told the News Letter.

“I was having a conversation with Maria via social media and the TT came up and she was asking if I’d be there this year. I’m going over this year to promote my new book mainly, but Maria had mentioned that she needed someone in her pit crew and asked if I’d be available.

“I said I would help her out if she needed me and she seemed to be delighted with that,” he added.

“I hope I can give Maria all the help I possibly can and I must say I’m looking forward to getting into Gasoline Alley again because it’s exciting to be there in a racing environment, it’s enthralling to be a part of it.

“I think I’ll still manage fine, the auld hand hasn’t starting shaking yet so I’ll be okay,” he joked.