Moto2 race bike at Isle of Man

The 2010 Isle of Man TT has begun in earnest and this year represents a milestone of sorts for the world-famous race, with a Moto2 race bike competing in the Senior TT event.

The first Moto2 race bike -- the category that replaced the 250cc two-stroke GP bikes -- to contest the Isle of Man TT  will be fielded by FTR Moto. Olie Linsdell at the ripe old age of 22 will take on the infamous 60km (37.5 mile) Snaefell Mountain Course, riding the FTR M210 (first image).

But unlike the Moto2 class there have been a number of changes to the bike.

The engine has been changed from the standard Honda CRB600RR Moto2 unit and has been tooled by the Joe Darcey Team to World Supersport specification, but the chassis is almost identical to the Moto2 trim.

Entered in the six-lap 'Senior TT' event which takes place on Friday June 11, the M210 is ostensibly a prototype motorcycle for the event and could be  a serious contender in the 362km (225 mile) race.

FTR Moto is eager for the prestige of winning an Isle of Mann TT race, but the team also sells a Ron Haslam Elf race replica bike in the UK (second image), priced at a very extreme £70,000 (A$122,000). But as the saying goes, win of Sunday (or Friday as the case may be), sell on Monday.

For more info, check out the official Isle of Man TT website. You can also get more details on the FTR Moto products from its official site.