Despite the challenging wet weather conditions, the TT races managed to go ahead much to the delight of fans.

Reflecting on what has been continually described as a ’frustrating’ two weeks for organisers and spectators, we get the views of visitors and residents on this year’s festival.

We went to Quarterbridge on Senior Race Day on Friday (June 7) to speak to those watching the action.

’It’s been brilliant,’ said Brenda Devlin, 52, from County Donegal. ’We want to be back for next year already.

’There’s something for everybody during TT. It’s such a pretty island. Even if you’re not into motorbikes it’s a great place and people are so friendly.

’I’ve never seen so many foreign visitors compared to the last time we were here.’

Having last watched the races in 2007, she ventured to the island again this year along with her husband Joe Devlin and friend Shean Doherty who together watched the races from St Ninian’s and Quarterbridge.

’We’ve seen all racing and we were very lucky we didn’t come until Monday (June 3). It was raining every day since we arrived, so we had shortened races until yesterday.

’We would have liked Dunlop to win today’s race, but to see Dean Harrison get it was good.’

All three shared a pre-erected tent at the Douglas Rugby Club campsite. ’Camping has been fantastic. The guys there couldn’t have done enough and the facilities were great,’ she said.

Married couple Chris Barber and Kay Walton, 58 and 60, from Manchester, have ’loved’ the TT Festival this year even with the ’rubbish’ weather.

Chris said: ’Thursday was good with five races in one day. We watched from Bray Hill at the top and then at the bottom. It was brilliant. We come every year. Last year was perfect. I got sunburnt last year and then wet this year.’

Kay continued: ’We stay with our friends who we met here at Quarterbridge six years ago. We started talking and became good friends.’

Chris added: ’They’re fantastic.’

Their Douglas friend Linda Cain, 63, explained how she and her partner Warwick Lomax came to help their friends.

’They were getting charged extortionate prices in the hotel. We gave them our number and they gave us a ring and have stayed with us ever since. They’re great friends,’ said Linda.

’TT this year was good - our friends make our TT. You cannot pick the weather, it’s the atmosphere that matters and it’s still good.’

Will Strudwick, 44, from Castletown, told the Examiner: ’It’s been a let down with the weather, but they’ve done well to go ahead today.’

His friend Paul Ellis, 46, also from Castletown, added: ’I’ve not seen a full race until today. I work at the hospital usually.’

Paul’s son Harry, aged 11, said: ’It’s my first time I’ve seen a full race and I thought it was great! It was pretty cool because they’re going pretty fast. I would watch it again, when I’m a bit taller.’

This year their friend Neil Sawyer, 40, from Walsall in West Midlands came to visit - but not to see the TT specifically.

’I came here for my sister’s wedding and I thought I would catch the TT,’ he said. ’My sister and her husband are big bike fans and always wanted to come to the TT.’

Gianni ’Radius’ del Missier, 60, from Italy, camped at Union Mills this year. He said: ’This is my third TT, I came in 2007 and 1997.

’This year I didn’t see a lot of the laps because of the rain. For me, it’s a little bit expensive to be here. To have an official programme was very expensive. Camping is alright - it’s very wet and this is the problem.’

Gary Johnston, 60, from County Antrim, also commented on this year’s weather, saying: ’We got wet, everybody did, but the racing’s been good.’

Travelling with friends Johnny Baxter and Lesley Johnston, they have been coming to watch the world’s fastest road race for the last 40 years.

’Lesley organised it and still does. We’ve always been interested in motorbikes,’ said Johnny.

Lesley said: ’We raced motorbikes in Northern Ireland in the 70s and 80s. We just had to come and see the TT. It’s an annual pilgrimage. We look forward to it every year.’

On the subject of weather again, Lesley said: ’I think they’ve done miracles to get the races done. And it hasn’t rained in any of the pubs we’ve been in.’

Johnny said: ’Where we live it rains all the time, so we’re used to it. It is what it is.’

Geoff Briers, 56, from Peel, said: ’Obviously the weather’s been a low point and we’ve been at work too much so we’ve not been able to get our and see what’s going on.

’Thursday was fantastic! My family and I got out to watch at the end of Cronk y Voddy straight which is a great vantage point. That was for the TT Zero - we loved that.

’Both my daughters, who’ve moved away, have come back for TT. Having them come back is nice.’

Ryan Hagedorn, 33, from Liverpool, said: ’Today has been fantastic.

’Yesterday (Thursday) was also good. It’s just a shame that the weather’s ruined it.

’We arrived yesterday morning, so I’ve had the best of it. Those who organised it, it’s been a wonderful job.’

His father Mark Hagedorn, 64, said: ’I’m now living here, I moved in April. We’ve always come here for holiday and brought our family here. I always intended on retiring here.

’When I was a child my dad used to bring me to see the TT. I tried to do the same with my family, but it was always too expensive. My son and I used to come here for Senior Race Day. Get there in the morning and get the boat back in the evening.’

Unfortunately for Belfast residents Aldrin Berdeprado and Nikki Alegre, both 29, they missed out on the races when visiting relatives.

’It’s our first TT and missed the races. It wasn’t easy for us with the roads being closed and the rain also made it difficult to move around.

’We’ve seen a couple on the TV or heard about it on the news, but we have liked the energy and the people are really responding well to how the races are going.’

Nikki said: ’They are really passionate here. We live in Belfast so we’ll be here to make sure we watch. The island is very quiet and very clean. We went to Peel with the castle and thought it was lovely. People here are very laid back and also lovely.’

Big motorbike fans Peter Scullion, 60, from Belfast and Mick Connolly, 56, from County Down called their first experience of the TT ’absolutely brilliant’.

’Being close to the bikes is 100% euphoric - it’s the best feeling in the world. I’ve been following motorbikes since primary school. This is the capital of the world for motorbike events. No dispute about that,’ said Mick.

Mick, who would often see TAS racing founder Hector Neill walking to the pub in his area of Northern Ireland when he was younger, has an impressive collection of badges on his vest which relate to the motorsport.

’I’ve been collecting them since I was 14, buying them for 50p. We see some of same ones in auctions going for £100.’

Peter continued: ’The way they’ve managed the TT this year by cramming it is so well organised.

’We’ll be coming back next year.’

They added that they’ll be watching the Manx Grand Prix in August.