One of the few world sporting events that transcend the sport itself.

Just as the Glastonbury Festival transcends rock concerts and the Sistine Chapel transcends ceilings. At its most reductive, the Tourist Trophy is a motorbike road race. But it's so much more than that. Something special.

This week, the 102nd anniversary of the TT and the 50th year of Honda's association with the event, a modest man from Morecambe called John McGuinness will mount his Honda Fireblade and attempt, once again, to make history on the Isle of Man.

McGuinness is already the lap record-holder on the 37.75-mile Mountain course, with an average speed of more than 130mph. To fully appreciate that achievement, you need to realise the TT is a true road race, on bumpy country lanes, through villages with a long, fast dash up and down a mountain.

Now he is looking to claim his 15th TT win to become the second most successful rider in its history.

Each year, professional bike racers back away from the challenge, suddenly infected with the sense that this isn't their year.

And each year, hundreds of amateurs with more courage than sense accept the challenge on what's become known as Mad Sunday.