2009 Irish emergency budget, International reaction
The Independent described Ireland's financial situation as "the dismal business of adjusting to a generational drop in living standards with the end of the Celtic Tiger boom and the prospect of a new era of austerity". The Independent also carried a cartoon of Ireland's Taoiseach Brian Cowen measuring a lifeless Celtic Tiger before deciding that it would have to go on a diet at the present time. Meanwhile, The Irish Times disagreed with an assessment on the website of the Toronto Star which said the budget was a "painstakingly negotiated plan" which involved "hefty hikes in income tax and service spending cuts" which it said were intended to restore confidence in the "shaky finances of debt-stricken Ireland".


2009 Irish local elections
The 2009 Irish local elections were held in all the counties, cities and towns of the Republic of Ireland on Friday, 5 June 2009, on the same day as the European Parliament election and two by-elections (Dublin South and Dublin Central).


2009 Irish local elections, Overview
The election results were significant for a number of reasons:


2009 Irish local elections, Results
The total number of the Irish electorate eligible to vote in the election was 3,259,253. A total of 1,880,589 first preference votes were cast, representing a turnout of 57.7%.


2009 Irish local elections, Results
The Progressive Democrats and Independent Fianna Fáil did not compete in the elections. As they competed in the previous elections, totals for vote and seat changes may not total zero. People Before Profit Alliance figures are compared to Socialist Workers Party figures from the previous local elections.


2009 Irish local elections, Results, Detailed results by council
Following the June 2009 local elections Fine Gael were the largest political party on 24 councils, the Labour Party on 4 councils, Fianna Fáil on 3 councils, Independents on 2 councils and Sinn Féin on 1 council.


2009 Ironman 70.3 World Championship
The 2009 Ironman 70.3 World Championship was a triathlon competition held in Clearwater, Florida on November 14, 2009. The race was sponsored by Foster Grant and organized by the World Triathlon Corporation. The championship race is the culmination of the Ironman 70.3 series of races that take place during the 12 months prior leading up to the event. Athletes, both professional and amateur, earn a spot in the championship race by qualifying in races throughout the 70.3 series.


2009 Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Qualification
The 2009 Ironman 70.3 Series features 34 events that enable qualification to the 2009 World Championship event. Some 70.3 events also act as qualifiers for the full Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.


2009 Ironman World Championship
The 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship was held on October 10, 2009 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was the 33rd such Ironman Triathlon World Championship, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978. The champions were Craig Alexander and Chrissie Wellington. The championship was organised by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC).


2009 Ironman World Championship, Race highlights
A total of 1,778 athletes from more than 48 countries started the race and 1,653 (1,200 men and 453 women) finished, 3 were disqualified. Hot and humid weather conditions prevailed with temperatures well above 90 °F (32.2 °C) during the bike and run portions.


2009 Ironman World Championship, Race highlights
Both Chrissie Wellington (3rd consecutive win) and Craig Alexander (2nd consecutive win) continue their current reigns as Ironman World Champions.


2009 Ironman World Championship, Race highlights
Chrissie Wellington set a new women's course record of 8:54:02, breaking Paula Newby-Fraser's 17-year-old women's course record. She finished 22nd overall among the pro men and women.


2009 Ironman World Championship, Race highlights
Mirinda Carfrae set a new women's course run record of 2:56:51 in her very first Ironman World Championship, breaking the women's course run record that Chrissie Wellington set one year ago.


2009 Ironman World Championship, Qualification
To enter for the 2009 World Championship race, athletes were required to qualify through performance at an Ironman or selected Ironman 70.3 race, through Hawaii residency, through a random allocation lottery, or by invitation from the WTC.


2009 Ironman World Championship, Qualification
The Ironman 2009 Series consisted of 21 Ironman qualifying races plus the Ironman World Championship 2008 which was itself a qualifier for the 2010 Ironman World Championship. The series started with Ironman Wisconsin 2008 held on September 7, 2008, and in total 1,800 athletes qualified for the World Championship race.


2009 Ironman World Championship, Qualification, Qualifying Ironmans
The fastest time of 7:59:16 was set by Timo Bracht during the Ironman European Championship 2009 at Frankfurt, Germany.


2009 Islamabad Frontier Corps post bombing
The 2009 Islamabad Frontier Corps post bombing was a suicide attack that took place on the Pakistan Frontier Corps (FC) post, a  paramilitary forces of Pakistan, at Jinnah Super Market in Sector E/7 of the Margallah area of Islamabad on Saturday, 4 April 2009. Five people have died with 5 injured. Policemen were taking dinner at the time.


2009 Islamabad Frontier Corps post bombing, Reaction
"The suicide bomber came from behind the bushes when the FC personnel broke for dinner and got a chance to detonate the device" said Interior Advisor Rehman.


2009 Island Games
The XIII Island Games were held in Åland, Finland, June 27-July 4, 2009. For the 13th edition of the Games, 25 teams competed in 14 different sports.


2009 Island Games, Participating Countries
24 islands competed in the 2009 Island Games. They were:


2009 Island Games, Participating Countries
Prince Edward Island were set to participate, but a lack of funding from their government caused their withdrawal from the event, and subsequent resignation from the International Island Games Association.


2009 Isle of Man TT
The 2009 Isle of Man TT Festival was held between Saturday 30 May and Friday 12 June on the 37.733-mile (60.725 km) Mountain Course. The 2009 TT races again include a second 600 cc Supersport Junior TT race and the Lightweight TT and Ultra-Lightweight TT races held on the 4.25-mile (6.84 km) Billown Circuit in the Isle of Man. A new event for the 2009 Isle of Man TT races was the one-lap TTXGP for racing motorcycles "to be powered without the use of carbon based fuels and have zero toxic/noxious emissions."


2009 Isle of Man TT
The Blue Riband event of TT Race week was won by Steve Plater claiming victory in the Senior TT and also winning the prestigious Joey Dunlop TT Championship. There were two race wins in a day for Ian Hutchinson with the Supersport Race 1 and the Superstock TT race. The Superbike TT Race was won by John McGuinness and Michael Dunlop was a popular first time winner of the Supersport Race 2. The Sidecar Race 'A' was won by local Isle of Man crew of Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle.


2009 Isle of Man TT
The subsequent Sidecar Race 'B' was abandoned after a serious crash to Nick Crowe/Mark Cox near Ballaugh Bridge on lap 1. The inaugural TTXGP race was won by Rob Barber and Chris Heath was first in the TTXGP Open Class. With three race wins on the Billown Circuit it was Ian Lougher that went on to win the Ultra-Lightweight TT and Lightweight TT Races. The 2nd leg of the Ultra-Lightweight Race was won by Chris Palmer on the Billown Circuit, the 1000 cc Support Race was won by John Burrows with Roy Richardson first in the 600 cc class.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
The first practice session for 2009 Isle of Man TT races featured an evening untimed practice session and newcomers control lap on Saturday 30 May 2009 held in almost perfect weather conditions. The first practice session suffered a 40-minute delay due to livestock too close to the course at Ballacrye Corner near Ballaugh.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
The Newcomers Control Lap was led away from the TT Grandstand by the TT Travelling Marshals and a steady pace set by the accompanying experienced Isle of Man TT competitors including former TT winner and rider's lasion officer Richard Quayle and former Manx Grand Prix winners Nigel Beattie and Paul Duckett. The newcomers control group included a number of new competitors from the United States, Marc Fissette from Belgium, Luis Carreira from Portugal and the Japanese rider Yoshinari Matsushita.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
The newcomers control group also included one female competitor, Jenny Tinmouth, and a number of outfits for the Sidecar TT accompanied by experienced TT sidecar competitors Roy Hanks/Dave Wells and Tony Baker/Fiona Baker-Milligan. The first competitor away from the TT Grandstand in the main solo class for the first untimed practice session was the Gary Johnson riding a 1000 cc Honda and the 2008 Senior TT winner John McGuinness also riding a 1000 cc Honda set an unofficial lap at an average speed of 125 mph on the Snaefell Mountain Course.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
After suffering a minor oil leak and completing only two laps, McGuinness stated, "I'm glad to get that one out of the way. The first two laps settled me. I've had butterflies in my stomach all day. I was a bit nervous." The new Norton motorcycle entry ridden by Michael Dunlop suffered mechanical problems and stopped at Glen Helen on the first lap of practice for the motorcycle as did the LCR 600 cc Honda outfit of former TT sidecar winner Nick Crowe/Mark Cox near the 2nd Milestone. The 2009 TT newcomer Scott Jensen from Colorado slipped off at Union Mills and Steve McDonald at Braddan Bridge and both were taken to Nobles Hospital to be later released after a medical check-up.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
Practice at the 2009 Isle of Man TT races continued on Monday 1 June 2009 with a 40-minute delay to reorganise TT Marshals on the Mountain Section of the Snaefell Mountain Course. The German TT newcomer, Rico Penzofer and triple 2008 Manx Grand Prix winner Dan Kneen completed their control-lap before the start of main evening practice session.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
The winner of the 2007 Supersport TT Race, Ian Hutchinson pulled in at Ballacraine on the first lap of Monday practice and John McGuinness recorded a lap of 124.35 mph after a broken gear-lever on the high speed Crosby section left his Honda motorcycle jammed in 6th gear. The 2009 Sidecar TT winner Nick Crowe/Mark Cox again failed to record a time on Monday practice after continuing problems with the engine ignition system.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
The evening practice for Tuesday 2 June 2009 was held in slightly cooler weather conditions and the problems for the first two sessions of glaring sun and flies were reduced for competitors. It was again McGuinness that dominated practice in the Superbike class with a lap of 17 minutes 27.56 seconds an average speed of 129.661 mph. The sidecar TT class was led by Nick Crowe/Mark Cox with a lap of 19 minutes 39.43 seconds an average speed of 114.697 mph.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
The Suzuki sidecar outfit of Tim Reeves/Patrick Farrance stopped at Keppel Gate on Monday evening practice with a blocked fuel lift pump and then stopped again on Tuesday evening practice at Sulby crossroads with a snapped throttle cable, although completing the lap after borrowing a new cable from a local lawnmower dealer. The American Isle of Man TT newcomer James Vanderhaar slipped-off at Sulby Bridge and Roger Maher hit the bales at Glen Helen. The 600 cc LCR Honda sidecar outfit of David Wallis/Sally Wilson crashed at the 13th Milestone and the crew evacuated by the Medical Helicopter to Nobles Hospital.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
The Wednesday evening practice session was again dominated by John McGuinness riding a 1000 cc in the Superbike class, unofficially breaking the lap record with a time of 17 minutes and 23.46 seconds an average speed of 130.171 mph. This was only the second lap at an average speed exceeding 130 mph and was completed after a heavy landing at Ballaugh Bridge by John McGuinness that his crash helmet collided with the fairing and McGuinness said later;- "I rode the remainder of the lap with a broken screen."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
In the Supersport Junior TT class, Michael Dunlop riding a 600 cc Yamaha jumped into 2nd place on the practice leaderboard with a time of 18 minutes 5.88 seconds an average speed of 125.085 mph. The 2007 Lightweight Manx Grand Prix winner, Olie Linsdell crashed on the bumpy Glentramman section during Wednesday evening practice. After being stranded at Parliament Square on Wednesday evening with a loose battery, Cameron Donald riding a 1000 cc Suzuki lapped faster than McGuinness in a time of 17 minutes 13.25 seconds an average speed of 131.457 mph in the Thursday evening practice session.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
A third lap of over 130 mph for the 2009 Isle of Man TT races was recorded by his Suzuki teammate, Bruce Anstey in 17 minutes 23.79 seconds an average speed of 130.129 mph. In the Supersport class, Michael Dunlop set an even faster time for the Junior TT during Thursday practice in 17 minutes and 55.45 seconds an average speed of 126.299 mph.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
The practice for the Sidecar TT class was red-flagged after a few competitors had left the TT Grandstand after the outfit 600 cc DMR Honda of Karl Bennett/Lee Cain caught fire at Douglas Road Corner in Kirk Michael. Also an oil-spillage on Bray Hill caused a high speed spin for the sidecar of David Atkinson/Jane Wheatcroft at St Ninian's Crossroads which led to the session being halted. The Friday evening practice of 5 June 2009 was held in the same hot weather, with a strong north-west wind on the Mountain Section of the course.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2009
The sidecar practice was extended by 30 minutes after the Thursday night postponement, although the times for both solo and sidecar classes were not generally as fast as the previous evening. After setting the fastest time on Thursday evening practice, Cameron Donald missed a gear change on the approach to Keppel Gate, running wide onto a grass bank and crashing on the uneven surface. A dislocated left shoulder and back injury forced Cameron Donald out of the 2009 Isle of Man TT Races.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
The 2009 Superbike TT Race was scheduled for mid-day start on Saturday 6 June 2009 and to be flagged away by the former world motorcycling champion Giacomo Agostini and was delayed 48 hours due to inclement weather conditions. The pole time for the Superbike TT race was set by the Australian Cameron Donald in 17 minutes, 13.25 seconds an average speed of 131.457 mph riding a 1000 cc Suzuki motorcycle. The hot weather of TT practice week returned for the 6 lap (226.38 miles) Superbike TT Race held on Monday 9 June 2009.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
The first competitor flagged away at the start at the TT Grandstand was the 1000 cc Honda of Gary Johnson from Brigg followed by the 1000 cc Honda of John McGuinness with a 10-second starting interval. Starting at number 5 with a 40-second start interval, Bruce Anstey the Suzuki teammate of injured Cameron Donald was the first to hit mechanical problems with a slight engine mis-fire at the bottom of Bray Hill and Bruce Anstey retired his 1000 cc Suzuki at Ballacraine on lap 1 with a fuel sensor problem.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
It was the 1000 cc Honda of John McGuinness that led lap 1 at the first official timing point at Glen Helen by 1.91 seconds from Conor Cummins riding a 1000 cc Kawasaki motorcycle followed by the Honda brigade of Ian Hutchinson in 3rd place, Gary Johnson, Steve Plater and Guy Martin in 6th place.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
The lead at Parliament Square, Ramsey was increased by McGuinness to 5 seconds over Conor Cummins and Guy Martin leap-frogging the other competitors to 3rd place and the leading group was joined by the 1000 cc Yamaha of Ian Lougher in 7th place making his 100th Isle of Man TT race start. Over the Mountain Section of the course, John McGuinness maintained a 5.14 second lead over Conor Cummins at the end of lap 1in a time of 17 minutes, 26.61 seconds an average speed of 129.779 mph.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
The pace continued on lap 2 with McGuinness increasing his lead with Guy Martin moving into second place and Steve Plater in third with the unfortunate Conor Cummins slipping down to 4th place. With pits-stops at the end of lap 2, John McGuinness now led by 10.79 seconds and set a new outright course record of 17 minutes, 21.29 seconds an average speed of 130.442 mph. A slow pit-stop by Conor Cummins caused by the chain on his 1000 cc Kawasaki caused him to slip down the leaderboard to sixth place behind the Honda of Gary Johnson.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
The TT Grandstand stop box was overshot by Keith Amor riding a 1000 cc Honda motorcycle on lap 2 incurring a 10-second race penalty. An engine mis-fire forced Keith Amour to retire at Ballacraine on lap 3. After pushing-in on lap 2 the 1000 cc Yamaha of Michael Dunlop retired at the pits and a further retirement at the TT Grandstand was the 1000 cc Kawasaki of Ryan Farquhar with an oil leak from a replacement TT Superstock engine.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
At Glen Helen on lap 3, McGuinness led Steve Plater by 7.91 seconds with Guy Martin in third place over 10 seconds adrift of the leader. The rest of the chasing pack at Glen Helen on lap 3 included the 1000 cc Honda of Gary Johnson followed by Conor Cummins, Ian Hutchinson, Ian Lougher and the triple 2008 Manx Grand Prix winner Dan Kneen making the top dozen competitors on his debut Isle of Man TT race.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
The local Isle of Man competitor Gary Carswell and the former winner of the Senior 1997 Manx Grand Prix crashed heavily at the jump at the exit of Ballacrye Corner and was evacuated to Nobles Hospital on lap 3 with foot, rib and knee injuries and a series of minor fractures.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
The eight second lead was maintained during lap 4 by the 1000 cc Honda Superbike of John McGuinness over Steve Plater and Guy Martin in 3rd place. The 1000 cc Yamaha of Michael Rutter retired on lap 4 at Parliament Square, Ramsey with a broken gear-lever. At the pit-stops at the end of lap 4, John McGuinness increased his lead slightly to 9.14 with a lap averaging 129.318 mph.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
With an extra burst of speed McGuinness increased his lead over Steve Plater to 11 seconds on lap 5 and to 19.57 seconds at the official timing point at Ramsey on the last lap. The 2009 Superbike TT Race was won by John McGuinness in a new race record of 1 hour, 46 minutes and 7.16 seconds at an average race speed of 127.996 mph.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
This provided John McGuinness with a historic 15th win and speaking after the race, McGuinness said;- "I don't know what to say about being ahead of Hailwood, Mike Hailwood is the hero of the people of my dad's generation." In celebrating their 50th Anniversary of Isle of Man TT Racing for the Honda marque, McGuinness mentioned that;- "I had to admit that I was feeling the pressure a bit with so many functions going on and so many Honda people over here expecting the victory....


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
It is great to repay them with a victory and also for Honda to have a 1-2-3 finish in the race." In second place Steve Plater commented about the Superbike TT that "I made improvements in my lap times and I am happy with the way I rode – you never stop learning around here and it is a different mind set to riding the short circuits, which I'done at Thruxton ten days earlier."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
In contrast, Guy Martin in third place explaining that he thought that his front suspension forks required further adjustment mentioned that "The bike is great in straight lines, but not in corners – I've had cracking pit stops, the bike has not missed a beat, so it is down to me and I'm not here to make up the numbers – I wanted the win."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
The 1000 cc Honda of Ian Hutchinson finished in fourth place after the Kawasaki machine of Conor Cummins suffered an engine failure on the Verandah on the last lap. The fifth-place finish in the Superbike TT went to the Honda of Gary Johnson with Adrian Archibald the first Suzuki finisher in sixth place and Ian Lougher finishing seventh after making his 100th Isle of Man TT race start.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
The 2008 Senior Manx Grand Prix winner, Adam Barclay crashed at Glen Helen in the early stages of the Superbike TT and the TT newcomer Adrian Clark crashed at Sulby Bridge and both were uninjured. At Guthrie's Memorial the TT competitor Roger Wibberley slipped off his motorcycle as did Derek Brien the 2007 Junior Manx Grand Prix winner.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
After finishing in twelfth place, William Dunlop after the Superbike TT race while on an impromptu testing session on public roads crashed at 120 mph suffering extensive friction burns and Dunlop explained "....I decided to take the 250 Honda up a wee winding road near Port Erin and sort out a few problems....I had just clicked into fifth gear when I lost it and hit a dry stone wall.... I had no leathers on and was just riding in my jeans and a top, but thankfully I had my leathers on." The 250 cc Honda motorcycle was broken into two pieces in the accident and required extensive repairs to compete in the Lightweight TT Race at Billown, Castletown later in TT Race Week.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
After the Superbike TT race the former World Motor-Cycling champion and Isle of Man TT winner Giacomo Agostini completed a demonstration parade lap of Snaefell Mountain Course riding a MV Agusta motorcycle accompanied by the current world champion Valentino Rossi riding a 1000 cc Yamaha R1 motorcycle. Both Giacomo Agostini and Valentino Rossi had watched the 2009 Superbike TT race from a vantage point on Quarterbridge Road in Douglas and Valentino Rossi described the experience as;- "Watching from Ago's Leap is impressive, speed is unbelievable even from the outside but I think it feels more fast from the outside.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superbike TT Race
With the walls and houses it is a great show and it feels like a GP from 30 years ago..." Afterwards, Valentino Rossi made the presentations to the winner John McGuinness of the Superbike TT race and congratulated McGuinness by saying;- "You are a true gladiator of the sport to ride that fast at the TT." Describing the parade lap, Giacomo Agostini said that;- "We went as fast today as I used to when I raced here."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'A'
The pole time for the 2009 Sidecar TT Race 'A' was set by the 600 cc LCR Honda outfit of Nick Crowe/Mark Cox at an average speed of 116.063 mph during the Wednesday evening practice session. On lap 1 the race was led at Ballacraine by the Honda of Nick Crowe/Mark Cox from the 600 cc DMR Suzuki sidecar of Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle by 1.39 seconds with John Holden/Andy Winkle in third place. This was followed in fourth place by the former World Sidecar Champion outfit of Klaus Klaffenbock/Darren Hope.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'A'
At the official timing point at Ballaugh Bridge on lap 1 the lead was reduced by Molyneux/Sayle to less than one second, drifting back to 2.25 seconds at the Ramsey Hairpin and Holden/Winkle a further 5.1 seconds adrift. The 600 cc Suzuki sidecar of Simon Neary/Stuart Bond moved into fourth place at the Ramsey Hairpin on lap 1 and Tim Reeves/Patrick Farrance into 5th place.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'A'
The lead for Nick Crowe/Mark Cox at the TT Grandstand at the end of lap 1 was 3.99 seconds from the Suzuki outfit of Molyneux/Sayle. The opening lap was an average speed of 115.419 mph for Honda outfit the leaders and news soon filtered through that the 600 cc LCR Honda of Crowe/Cox had retired at Greeba Bridge on lap 2, followed shortly by John Holden/Andy Winkle at the Black Dub on the same lap.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'A'
The new leaders were Molyneux/Sayle with a lead 28 seconds from the 600 cc Ireson Honda of Phillip Dongworth/Gary Partridge in second place with Neary/Bond now in third place.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'A'
The lead was increased to 42 seconds by Molyneux/Sayle at the Ramsey Hairpin on lap 2 and completing the second lap in 19 minutes 30.83 seconds an average speed of 116.010 mph and just 0.34 of a second short of the 2005 lap record.." The sidecar of Phillip Dongworth/Gary Partridge had a minor collision with the outfit of Klaffenbock/Hope at Tower Bends on lap 2 with Klaus Klaffenbock suffering a minor hand injury and he stopped at the Gooseneck.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'A'
The local Isle of Man crew of Karl Bennett/Lee Cain retired at Glen Vine on lap 2 after repairing their 600 cc DMR Honda which caught fire at Douglas Road Corner during Thursday evening practice. The 600 cc LCR Suzuki outfit of Jean-Claude Huet/Jonathan Huet crashed at Brandywell on lap 2 with the sidecar passenger suffering a broken ankle. The 600 cc Honda sidecar of Greg Lambert/Dipash Chauhan retired at the TT Grandstand on lap 2.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'A'
The lead on the 3rd lap was now 50.67 second for Molyneux/Sayle increasing to 57 seconds at the official timing point at Ramsey Hairpin. The 2009 Sidecar TT race was won by Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle in 58 minutes and 59.28 seconds at an average race speed of 115.132 mph and was a new race record.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'A'
After competing in special gold-flake sprayed helmets to commemorate his first sidecar TT win in the 1989, Dave Molyneux commented on his 14th TT win and equalling the record set by Mike Hailwood, he said that "I guess that I've been racing round here longer than Mike did...."    and he said "....Not bad for some old bugger.... My bones are a bit stressed now....I've had a hell of a year, but things came good today. Pretty Mint."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'A'
The new race record was 7.15 seconds faster than the previous 2005 race record and the first Sidecar TT race under 59 minutes for the 3 lap and 113.00-mile event. It was Dan Sayle that commented that Dave Molyneux rebuilt the engine the night before from the parts from 3 engines using the Suzuki workshop engine manual;- "...the outfit felt a lot looser today, skitting around on the road, but Dave's some boy. He only decided to build a fresh motor last night – and believe me he's no engine builder. But it was obviously worth it."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'A'
In second place for 2009 Sidecar TT Race 'A' was Phillip Dongworth/Gary Partridge at an average race speed of 113.404 mph and Phillip Dongworth said that;- "I've been trying for 9 or 10 years to get to the podium and I'm delighted with our final lap of more than 114 mph too. The final podium place went to the 600 cc Suzuki of Simon Neary/Stuart Bond in third place with an average race speed of 112.600 mph. After being made redundant earlier in the year, Simon Neary nearly missed the 2009 Isle of Man TT Races; – "I only decided to come at the last minute . We did our sums and managed to do it on a tight budget."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport Junior TT Race 1
With the delayed Superbike and Sidecar Race 'A'  the race to be held on Monday were moved to Tuesday 9 June 2009 with an amended race schedule with the first race being held was the 4 lap (150.73-mile) Supersport Race 1. The pole time for the Supersport race was set by Michael Dunlop at an average speed of 126.299 mph. In what was considered to be a highly contested race it was the unfortunate Michael Dunlop that was the first retirement on lap 1 at Snugbrough near the 2nd Milestone.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport Junior TT Race 1
Despite only setting fifth fastest in practice it was Bruce Anstey riding a 600 cc Suzuki that led at the official timing point at Glen Helen by 1.73 seconds from the 600 cc Honda of Guy Martin with Ian Hutchinson just 0.5 second behind in third place also riding a Honda motorcycle. A further gaggle of riders covered by five seconds included the Honda of John McGuinness in fourth place followed by the Kawasaki of Conor Cummins then Keith Amor with the 600 cc Yamaha of Ian Lougher in seventh place at Glen Helen on lap 1.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport Junior TT Race 1
The places were reversed at the Ramsey Hairpin on lap 1 with Guy Martin now leading Bruce Anstey by 0.3 seconds. The first lap of the Supersport Race 1 was completed by Guy Martin in 18 minutes and 3.37 seconds at an average speed of 125.375 and Ian Hutchinson passed Bruce Anstey for second place on the Mountain Section of the course on corrected time.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport Junior TT Race 1
In third place at the beginning of lap 2, Bruce Anstey increased his pace passing Ian Hutchinson on corrected time and closed the gap to 0.46 seconds from the leader Guy Martin at Ballaugh Bridge. At the Ramsey Hairpin on lap 2, Bruce Anstey was now leading by 3.35 seconds and the New Zealander shattered the lap record with a lap of 17 minutes and 53.32 seconds an average speed of 126.549 mph and was now leading by 6.86 seconds.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport Junior TT Race 1
After the pit-stops at the end of lap 2 it was Ian Hutchinson that moved into second place leading Guy Martin by 0.3 seconds in third place followed by the Honda riders of McGuinness, Keith Amor and Steve Plater. The pace continued by Bruce Anstey on the third lap with a slightly increased lead of 8.63 seconds and a lap with an average speed of 120.660 mph and increasing the lead to 10.55 seconds at the official timing point at Ballaugh Bridge on lap four.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport Junior TT Race 1
Maintaining his lead at the Ramsey Hairpin on the last lap, it dropped to 7.14 seconds at the Bungalow the 600 cc Suzuki of Bruce Anstey was beginning to slow and was forced to retire at Brandywell with a broken wire leading to an amplifier. This elevated Ian Hutchinson to first place and winning the 2009 Supersport Race 1 in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 56.58 seconds at an average race speed of 121.141 mph. The racing had been close and the winner Ian Hutchinson said;- "Bruce and I were touching fairings going into the Gooseneck.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport Junior TT Race 1
It was enjoyable but frustrating...." In second place was Guy Martin completing the race with a blown head gasket and mentioned that;- "Conditions were nearly 100% but there wasn't the grip there was on Monday. We're chipping away at it. I'm just pleased to finish second. After having trouble with the bike on lap 2, I was looking for a decent pub to pull up at."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport Junior TT Race 1
The third place went to the 600 cc Honda of Keith Amor after a previous third place in the 2008 Supersport Race 1 was handed to him after a technical enfridgment following the exclusion of Bruce Anstey motorcycle and Amor said with this in mind that;- "It's a nice feeling to be finally stepping up onto the podium, though it was hard work. At times we were almost touching, it was so close but I was determined to hang in for third."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superstock TT Race
Continuing with the amended race schedule on Tuesday 9 June 2009 the 4 lap (150.73 miles) Superstock TT, the fastest time in practice was set by Steve Plater with an average speed of 126.938 mph. It was the 1000 cc Honda of Keith Amor that held a 1-second lead over the Honda of John McGuinness and a further 1.3 seconds over Ian Hutchinson in third place at Glen Helen on lap 1.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superstock TT Race
In fourth place was the 1000 cc Kawasaki of Conor Cummins followed by the Kawasaki of Ryan Farquhar and the 1000 cc Honda of Steve Plater in sixth place and only 0.82 seconds on corrected time covering the battle for fourth place. By the Ramsey Hairpin on lap 1, it was McGuinness that had moved into the lead by 0.5 seconds from Keith Amor with Ian Hutchinson in third and Guy Martin moving into fourth place.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superstock TT Race
The places changed again on the Mountain Section of the course on lap 1 with John McGuinness setting a new lap record from a standing start for the Superstock class in 17 minutes and 36.72 seconds an average speed of 128.538 mph and leading Ian Hutchinson by 0.95 of a second with Keith Amor in third place at the end of lap 1. A former winner of the Superstock class, Bruce Anstey retired his 1000 cc Suzuki at the TT Grandstand at the start of lap 2.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superstock TT Race
In a highly contested Superstock TT race it was now Guy Martin leading at Glen Helen on lap 2 by 0.23 of a second from Keith Amor also leading McGuinness by 0.5 seconds and Ian Hutchinson in fourth place. At the official timing point at Ballaugh Bridge on lap 2, it was Ian Hutchinson's turn to leap-frog into second place then moving into the lead by 0.5 of a second from Guy Martin and Keith Amor in third place.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superstock TT Race
Racing to the pits-stops at the end of lap 2, Ian Hutchinson set a new lap record and the first 129 mph lap for the Superstock class of 17 minutes and 31.20 at an average speed of 129.212 mph and Guy Martin also recorded a lap of 129.212 mph inside the short-lived new recorded set by McGuinness on lap 1. The 2.03 second lead held by Ian Hutchinson at the end of lap 2 rapidly disappeared when the filler-cap jammed in the fuel-tank.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superstock TT Race
It was Guy Martin that now in the lead on lap 3 by seven seconds after the fumbled pit-stop by Ian Hutchinson, although this lead was reduced to 2.99 seconds on corrected time at Ballaugh Bridge on lap 3 and just 0.3 of a second at Ramsey Hairpin. At the start of the last lap, Guy Martin was determined to hold and lead Hutchinson by 0.05 of a second with Keith Amor in third place over 10 seconds adrift of the leaders.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superstock TT Race
At Glen Helen on lap 4, Guy Martin increased the lead to 0.88 of a second over Ian Hutchinson and pulling-out a slight margin of 1.2 seconds at the Ballaugh Bridge. The positions were reversed at Ramsey Hairpin on the last lap with Ian Hutchinson now leading by 1.26 seconds over Guy Martin increasing to 5.0 seconds at the official timing point at the Bungalow. The 2009 Superstock TT race was won by Ian Hutchinson with a new race record of 1 hour, 10 minutes and 57.54 seconds at an average race speed of 127.612 mph.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superstock TT Race
After winning two Isle of Man TT races in one day, Ian Hutchinson said;- " I can't believe it....I didn't feel I was on the pace to start with, but I got stuck in and had a much better second lap. We filled the tank right to the brim at the fuel stop and coundn't get the filler cap back in. I considered going off without it, but that would have been stupid."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superstock TT Race
In second place with an average race speed of 127.349 mph was the 1000 cc Honda of Guy Martin who commented;-  "Fair play to Ian, there were a few back-markers in the way on the final lap, but he had to deal with them as well, 129 mph – thats going some." The final podium place was filled by Keith Amor with an average race speed of 127.103 mph who commented on the race conditions after the delayed start as;- "It was like night-time racing, quite dark under the trees, but I cannot believe the speeds.".


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Superstock TT Race
The 2009 Superstock TT race provided a new women's lap record for the Snaefell Mountain Course with TT newcomer Jenny Tinmouth lapping in 19 minutes and 26.08 seconds an average speed of 116.483 mph on the last lap and beating the previous time of 19 minutes 43.8 seconds held by Maria Costello from the 2004 Production TT race. The Japanese rider and TT newcomer Yoshinari Matsushita crashed at the Stonebreakers Hut on lap 3 of the Superstock TT race suffering multiple fractures to both legs and a shoulder injury. A further incident occurred between races to John McBride a TT Travelling Marshal after crashing at Keppel Gate suffering multiple injuries.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport TT Race 2
The pole time for the Supersport race was set by Michael Dunlop at an average speed of 126.299 mph set on the Thursday evening practice for the 4 lap (150.73-mile) Supersport Race 2. After the Supersport TT Race 2 was delayed for nearly 4 hours due to rain on some parts of the course between Greeba Bridge and Kirk Michael including hail showers. Despite the mixed road conditions it was the 600 cc Yamaha of Michael Dunlop that was in the lead at Glen Helen by 3 seconds from the 600 cc Kawasaki of Ryan Farquhar on lap 1.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport TT Race 2
This was followed by the 600 cc Kawasaki of Conor Cummins just 0.11 of a second down in third place, followed by the 600 cc Suzuki of Bruce Anstey and the 600 cc Yamaha of Ian Lougher in fifth place. At the Ramsey Hairpin on lap 1, Conor Cummins passed his fellow Kawasaki rider on corrected time, to lead Ryan Farquhar by 3 seconds, but still 11 seconds adrift of the leader Michael Dunlop.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport TT Race 2
An indication of the mixed condition, Michael Dunlop completed lap 1 in 18 minutes and 54.33 seconds an average speed of 119.743 mph leading Conor Cummins by 10.12 seconds and the 600 cc Honda of Guy Martin that was 8.96 seconds adrift in third place. Retirements at the TT Grandstand at the end of lap 1 included the 600 cc Yamaha of William Dunlop, the 600 cc Suzuki of Adrian Archibald and the 600 cc Honda of the 2005 Junior Manx Grand Prix winner Ian Pattinson.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport TT Race 2
On lap 2 at Ballaugh Bridge, Michael Dunlop had increased his lead to 14.76 seconds over Conor Cummims with Bruce Anstey now in third place. At the end of lap 2, Michael Dunlop had increased the lead to 15.4 seconds and lapped at an average speed of 122.692 mph as conditions on the course improved. The lead increased to 16.6 seconds for Michael Dunlop on lap 3 at Glen Helen with Conor Cummins ahead of the Suzuki of Bruce Anstey by 7.1 seconds and Guy Martin in fourth place.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport TT Race 2
At the Bungalow on lap 3 the lead had increased to 18 seconds for Michael Dunlop completing the lap in 19 minutes 7.45 seconds an average speed of 118.373. As Conor Cummins crossed the finish-line at the end of lap 3 his 600 cc Kawasaki cut-out and he coasted the length of the pit-straight with a dead engine and the TT Grandstand speed-trap recording a speed of 98 mph. Passing the pit-lane exit, the engine restarted and second place was lost to Bruce Anstey on corrected race-time.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport TT Race 2
On the last lap, Michael Dunlop was now leading the Suzuki of Bruce Anstey by 26.48 seconds at Glen Helen and Conor Cummins had recovered from his engine mishap to be 7 seconds adrift of second place. At the Bungalow on lap 4, the lead had increased to 31 seconds for the 600 cc Yamaha of Michael Dunlop as Bruce Anstey in turn had to fight off a late challenge over the Mountain Section of the course by Conor Cummins the local Isle of Man rider.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport TT Race 2
The 2009 Supersport Race 2 was won by Michael Dunlop in 1 hour, 14 minutes and 34.80 seconds at an average race speed of 121.416 mph. In the mixed race conditions Michael Dunlop commented that;- "My dad gave me the knowledge. I went as quickly as I dared in the damp conditions later on. I had to go for it. It was my spare bike, my better one blew-up in the first couple of miles yesterday. This makes up for all the disappointment....I have been pretty relaxed apart from that. It's been like Paddy's on Tour."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport TT Race 2
The 2009 Supersport TT Race 2 was the second win on the Snaefell Mountain Course after Michael Dunlop had won the 2006 Newcomers Manx Grand Prix and was the 34th win for the Dunlop family over a period of 32 years. In second place was the New Zealander Bruce Anstey at an average race speed of 120.580 mph the margin just 0.71 seconds from the late challenge from Conor Cummins.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport TT Race 2
Also, Bruce Anstey reflected about the mixed conditions and after three non-race finishes said;- "We finally got the gremlins sorted out and I was just glad to cross the finish line – the conditions were very wet and slippery early on but got drier as the race went on. Michael got the move on the first lap and there was no getting him back.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Supersport TT Race 2
In third place was Conor Cummins at an average speed of 120.561 and said of the lap 3 problem;- "I'm really not sure what went wrong with the bike at the end of lap three but it seems OK now. I'm delighted with third but it would be nice to go two better.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'B'
The weather delays to the running of the Supersport Race 2 that the 3 lap (113.00 miles) Sidecar Race 'B' was postponed to early evening. The leaders on the road and on corrected race time on lap 1 at Glen Helen were the 600 cc LCR Honda outfit of Nick Crowe/Mark Cox by 0.65 of a second from the 600 cc DMR Suzuki of Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle. On approaching Ballacobb near Ballaugh Bridge the Honda sidecar of Nick Crowe/Mark Cox crashed heavily and caught fire. The two crew were airflifted to Nobles Hospital by the Medical Helicopter with extensive injuries.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Sidecar TT Race 'B'
The Sidecar Race 'B' was red-flagged and the following sidecar competitors were stopped at various points of the course before Ballaugh Bridge. These sidecar crews were escorted back to the TT Grandstand in the reverse direction by the TT Travelling Marshals to restart the race and later a decision was made by the organisers to abandon the 2009 Sidecar TT Race 'B'. It is believed that the onboard camera on the outfit of Nick Crowe/Mark Cox shows a Brown Hare running in front of the sidecar immediately before the crash.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, TTXGP Race
The first race to be held on Senior Race day was TTXGP – (Time Trial Xtreme Grand Prix) for racing motorcycles "to be powered without the use of carbon based fuels and have zero toxic/noxious emissions." The race for mainly two types of battery powered electric motorcycles for 1 lap (37.733 miles) of the Snaefell Mountain Course and the fastest time in practice was set Rob Barber in 26 minutes and 41.39 seconds an average speed of 84.819 mph in the 3a PRO Class.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, TTXGP Race
The inaugural lap of the "Electric TT" the race leader at the official timing point at Glen Helen on lap 1 was Rob Barber with a Team AGNI electric motorcycle and described by the Sports Editor of an Isle of Man Newspaper as;- "For all the world it sounded like a milk float without the chink of glass bottles....the UK-India alliance AGNI team machine, ridden by the fastest man in training Rob Barber, whirred its way to Glen Helen in six minutes, the kind of time perhaps expected from Artie Bell on his winning ride in the 1950 Junior."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, TTXGP Race
In second place at Glen Helen was Thomas Schoenfelder and the XXL machine and 28 seconds down on the leaders time with James McBride and the Isle of Man-based ManTTx Racing in the Open Class a further 9 seconds behind. A change in the leaderboard positions at Ballaugh Bridge as Rob Barber was now leading James McBride by 46 seconds and the XXL entry of Thomas Schoenfelder relegated to third position. The Kingston University entry ridden by George Spence was forced to stop at Crosby Crossroads to recharge the batteries at the Crosby Hotel.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, TTXGP Race
The official speed-trap on Sulby Straight recorded a speed of 106.50 mph for the XXL machine for Thomas Schoenfelder, a speed of 99 mph for James McBride in the Open class and 97.9 mph for the PRO Class AGNI bike of Rob Barber.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, TTXGP Race
The fast pace was too much for the Open Class entry of ManTTx Racing, and the bike stopped with an overheated electric motor at Glen Duff and a retirement for James McBride, a replacement for Dan Kneen after a crash at the Black Dub during the Supersport TT Race 2, which resulted in a broken ankle for the 2008 Manx Grand Prix winner. The leader in TTXGP reached Ramsey Hairpin in 15 minutes and 56 seconds an average speed of 87 mph and Rob Barber maintained a lead over Thomas Schoenfelder with the American rider Thomas Montano over 2 minutes off the pace of the leaders.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, TTXGP Race
The winner of the 2009 TTXGP was the AGNI entry of Rob Barber in 25 minutes and 53.50 seconds an average race speed of 87.434 mph. After lapping at 112 mph in the Supersport TT race 2, Rob Barber was pleased to be the inaugural winner of the TTXGP and said; "It is the best experience of my life.... The volt meter is running quite low as the battery started to run out in the final few miles, but I have the win and the record lap, which I wanted – Fantastic."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, TTXGP Race
The winning Anglo-Indian AGNI PRO class entry was based on a 600 cc Suzuki GSX frame and incorporating the Cedric Lynch designed axial gap brushed DC Lynch motor. The second place in the PRO class was the XXL entry of Thomas Schoenfelder in 29 minutes and 4.93 seconds an average race speed of 77.841 mph. The XXL machine was based on 650 cc Laverda using a 120 hp Siemens motor and an electric regulator from an Audi hybrid car.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, TTXGP Race
The third-place finisher was Mark Buckley with the Brammo/BIKE entry on the 3a PRO class in 30 minutes and 2.64 seconds at an average race speed of 75.350 mph. The Brammo entries based in Oregon, USA and Mark Buckley said that; " Every time I ride this bike it just gets better. It just like a GP 250." The Open class winner was Chris Heath with the Electric Motorsport entry in 34 minutes and 17.30 at an average race speed of 66.022 mph.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, TTXGP Race
In second place was Chris Petty at an average race speed of 62.219 mph and third place with the TORK entry was John Crellin at an average race speed of 60.475 mph. There was confusion at the end of the Open class as the winner Chris Heath was briefly excluded and then reinstated after the rider was unaware of a TTXGP regulation that competitors must sound the machines' electric horn if a yellow flag is displayed by a race marshal. After discussion with ACU stewards and the TTXGP organisers, Chris Heath was reinstated as winner of the Open class.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
The Blue Riband event of TT Race week was the Senior TT race over 6 lap (226.38 miles) of the Snaefell Mountain Course held on Friday 12 June 2009. The pole time for the Senior TT race was set on Thursday evening practice by the Australian Cameron Donald in 17 minutes, 13.25 seconds an average speed of 131.457 mph riding a 1000 cc Suzuki motorcycle. A non-qualifier for the Senior TT was the official Norton Motorcycle Company and a single entry Wankel-engined 588 cc NRV motorcycle ridden during practice by Michael Dunlop.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
After a 30 minutes delay due to a light rain shower, the leader of the 2009 Senior TT on lap 1 at the official timing point at Glen Helen was the 1000 cc Honda of John McGuinness by 2.42 seconds from Steve Plater and the 1000 cc Kawasaki of Conor Cummins down by 1.75 seconds on the two Honda teammates. The 1000 cc Honda of Ian Hutchinson was 3.8 seconds behind in 4th place, followed by the 1000 cc Suzuki of Bruce Anstey, the 1000 cc Honda of Gary Johnson and Guy Martin in seventh place.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
The Honda of McGuinness completed lap 1 in 17 minutes and 17.23 seconds an average speed of 130.953 mph from a standing race start to lead Steve Plater at the TT Grandstand by 3.68 seconds. An early retirement was the 1000 cc Kawasaki of Ryan Farquhar explaining that;- "There is no high-speed stability." The lead was extended by John McGuinness on lap 2 to 10 seconds at the Ramsey Hairpin and Steve Plater held a 5.8 second margin over Conor Cummins in third place.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
The second lap was completed by John McGuinness in 17 minutes and 12.30 seconds at an average speed of 131.578 mph and McGuinness was on course to complete his fifth straight Senior TT win. The New Zealander Bruce Anstey retired his Suzuki at the 33rd Milestone and Ian Lougher retired his 1000 cc Yamaha with handling problems. At Glen Helen on lap 3, the Honda of John McGuinness was leading his teammate by 18.5 seconds with Conor Cummins holding third place.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
On the same lap while exiting Parliament Square, Ramsey the chain on the 1000 cc Honda of John McGuinness snapped and he coasted to a halt at Cruickshanks Corner. This dramatically handed the lead to Steve Plater with an 11-second lead over Conor Cummins at Ramsey Hairpin on lap 3 with the 1000 cc Honda of Guy Martin moving into third place. At the end of lap 4, Conor Cummins posted his first 130 mph lap in 17 minutes and 23.02 seconds an average speed of 130.225 mph.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
Further drama in the pit-lane at the TT Grandstand at the end of lap 4 with Guy Martin in third place pulling-out of his pit the chain on his 1000 cc Honda also snapped forcing him into retirement. The 1000 cc Honda of Keith Amor was another retirement with a jammed rear-wheel spindle which would not allow the rear-tyre to be changed.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
The lead on lap 5 was extended by Steve Plater to 15.6 seconds at the Ramsey Hairpin over Conor Cummims with 29.2 seconds separated Ian Hutchinson in third place. A crash near the Alexander Road Junction with the Quarterbridge Road for the 1000 cc Suzuki of the American competitor Mark Miller and he slid downhill with his machine all the way to the Quarterbridge. This left oil on the racing line from the damaged motorcycle and despite the efforts of the race marshals the 1000 cc Yamaha of William Dunlop slid-off at the same place.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
This was followed by Ian Hutchinson crashing-out of third place of the Senior TT on the same oil at the Quarterbridge and also losing his lead in the Joey Dunlop TT Championship. This moved the 1000 cc Honda of Gary Johnson into third place on the last lap of the Senior TT Race. The winner of the 2009 Isle of Man TT Race was Steve Plater in 1 hour, 45 minutes and 53.15 seconds at an average race speed of 128.278 mph.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
Also winning the prestigious Isle of Man TT Championship, Steve Plater said that;- "This means a massive amount to me. It probably won't sink in until I manage to get some time to myself but I don't know were to go from here." In second place was the Isle of Man competitor Conor Cummins at an average race speed of 127.884 mph and was the best result for a local competitor in the Senior TT since Tom Sheard won the 1923 race.


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
Describing the race, Conor Cummins said that; "I rode with all my heart today....I remember watching the TT as a lad from the end of the road near Milntown, but I never in a million years did I think I would get two podium finishes in one week."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
The third-place finisher was Gary Johnson at an average race speed of 126.875 mph and included a 10-second stop-box penalty at the pit stop at the end of lap 2. Delighted with his first podium place Gary Johnson said; "It has been a difficult week for us, but the team pulled together to enable me to pull this result out of the bag. I have served my three-year apprenticeship. The TT is an endurance race and you've got to be on it on the last lap to get a result."


2009 Isle of Man TT, TT Race Week 2009, Isle of Man Senior TT Race
It is later announced by race organisers that John Crellin fatally crashed at the 27th Milestone on the Mountain Mile on lap 5 of the 2009 Senior TT Race. A local Isle of Man motorcycle competitor and experienced mountaineer, John Crellin had finished in third place in the Open Class for the 2009 TTXGP earlier in the same day. The newly formed manufacturers award was won by Honda. Fittingly in their 50th Racing year.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Practice Times, Practice Times & Leaderboard Supersport Junior TT
For 600 cc motorcycles conforming to the 2009 MCRCB Supersport Regulations. Plate Colour; White on Blue.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Practice Times, Practice Times TTXGP
For Carbon free emission motorcycles in classes 3a-3d and Open class.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Superbike TT final standings.
Fastest Lap and New Class Record: John McGuinness – 130.442 mph (17' 21.29) on lap 2.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Sidecar TT Race 'A' TT final standings
Fastest Lap: Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle  – 116.010 mph (19' 30.83) on lap 2.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Supersport Junior TT Race 1
Fastest Lap and New Lap Record: Bruce Anstey – 126.549 mph (17' 53.32) on lap 2.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Superstock TT final standings.
Fastest Lap and New Lap Record: Ian Hutchinson – 129.746 mph (17' 26.88) on lap 4.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Supersport Junior TT Race 2
Fastest Lap: Steve Plater – 125.384 mph (18' 03.30) on lap 4.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 TTXGP PRO Classes final standings.
12 June 2009 1 Lap (37.733 Miles) Mountain Course. TTXGP for Carbon free emission motorcycles in PRO classes 3a-3d


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 TTXGP OPEN Class final standings.
12 June 2009 1 Lap (37.733 Miles) Mountain Course. TTXGP for Carbon free emission motorcycles in OPEN class.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Senior TT final standings.
Fastest Lap, New Lap and Course Record: John McGuinness – 131.578 mph (17' 12.30) on lap 2.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Senior TT final standings.
Note: Experienced rider John Crellin died after crashing on the fifth lap of this race.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Ultra-Lightweight TT Race 1 final standings.
13 June 2009 Race 1; 1st leg 8 Laps (34.00 Miles) Billown Circuit.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Ultra-Lightweight TT Race 1 final standings.
Fastest Lap and New Lap Record: Ian Lougher – 94.911 mph (2' 39.291) on lap 7.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Lightweight TT Race 1 final standings.
13 June 2009 Race 2; 1st leg 8 Laps (34.00 Miles) Billown Circuit.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Lightweight TT Race 1 final standings.
Fastest Lap and New Lap Record: Chris Palmer, 102.638 mph (2' 29.068) on lap 5


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Billown TT 600 cc/1000 Support Race final standings.
13 June 2009 Race 3; 8 Laps (34.00 Miles) Billown Circuit.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Billown TT 600 cc/1000 Support Race final standings.
Fastest Lap: Mark Parrett, 106.125 mph (2' 26.125) on lap 6


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Ultra-Lightweight TT Race 2 final standings.
13 June 2009 Race 4; 2nd leg 8 Laps (34.00 Miles) Billown Circuit.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Ultra-Lightweight TT Race 2 final standings.
Fastest Lap;- Chris Palmer – 95.291 mph (2' 40.561) on lap 2.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Lightweight TT Race 2 final standings.
13 June 2009 Race 5; 2nd leg 8 Laps (34.00 Miles) Billown Circuit.


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2009 Lightweight TT Race 2 final standings.
Fastest Lap;- William Dunlop, 102.077 mph (2' 29.887) on lap 6


2009 Isle of Man TT, Results, Isle of Man TT Championship Points Standings
Introduced in 2009, the 2009 Isle of Man TT points championship will award points to the best 15 riders in each of the five solo races. The winner of this championship will win the Joey Dunlop TT Champion Trophy and a prize of  £10,000.


2009 Isle of Wight Council election
The 2009 Isle of Wight Council elections were held on Thursday 4 June 2009.


2009 Isle of Wight Council election
After a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, the number of seats on the council was reduced from 48 single-member wards, to a 40-member council, consisting of 38 single member wards, and one double-member ward.


2009 Isle of Wight Council election, Overview
The result of the election was 'no change', with the Conservatives retaining an overall majority by winning twenty-four of the forty seats available. Of the sixteen remaining seats, ten went to independents, five to the Liberal Democrats and just one to the Labour Party. Although the Conservatives managed to retain control, the Isle of Wight was still the only council in England in which they lost seats. Among the factors which could have led to this relatively poor performance are the recent education reforms on the Isle of Wight, which led to protests over the closure of island primary schools.


2009 Isle of Wight Council election, Overview
The "Standards not Tiers" independent candidate Chris Welsford beat the sitting Conservative councillor Jonny Fitzgerald-Bond by 141 votes in the Ventnor East ward. In the Cowes West and Gurnard ward, which was at the heart of education reforms, sitting Tory councillor Alan Wells was beaten by independent candidate Paul Fuller. The large numbers of independent candidates standing at this election and the increased level of support for them could also be attributed to the ongoing United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal, pushing voters away from the mainstream political parties represented in the House of Commons.


2009 Israel Open
The 2009 Israel Open was a professional tennis tournament played on Hard courts. It was part of the Tretorn SERIE+ of the 2009 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Ramat HaSharon, Israel between 4 and 10 May 2009.


2009 Israel Open, Singles entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2009 Israel Open, Champions, Men's doubles
George Bastl /  Chris Guccione def. Jonathan Erlich /  Andy Ram, 7–5, 7–6(6).


2009 Israel Open – Doubles
Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram were the defending champions; however, they lost to George Bastl and Chris Guccione in the final. The new champions won 7–5, 7–6(6).


2009 Israel Open – Singles
Marsel İlhan was the defender of championship title, however he lost to Simon Stadler in the quarterfinal. In the final Benjamin Becker retired when the result was 6–3, 3–1 and Lu Yen-hsun became the new champion.


2009 Israeli Basketball League Cup
Winner Cup 2009 was the 4th edition of the Israeli basketball pre-season tournament Winner Cup. It was played between  October 4 and October 8 in Jerusalem at the Malha Arena, during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Hapoel Jerusalem has won the cup after defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv 86-80 in the final. MVP was Tre Simmons (Hapoel Jerusalem).


2009 Israeli Basketball League Cup, Tournament Bracket
The teams were seeded according to their last season standings.


2009 Israeli legislative election
Elections for the 18th Knesset were held in Israel on 10 February 2009. These elections became necessary due to the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the Kadima party, and the failure of his successor, Tzipi Livni, to form a coalition government. Had Olmert remained in office or had Livni formed a coalition government, the elections would have been scheduled for 2010 instead.


2009 Israeli legislative election
Although the incumbent prime minister's party, Kadima, won the most seats in the parliament, the Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu was able to form a majority coalition government and become the new prime minister.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Background
On 17 September 2008, Kadima held a leadership election, which was won by Tzipi Livni. Following Livni's victory, former party leader Ehud Olmert (who did not run in the contest) resigned as Prime Minister. Livni was given six weeks to form a coalition, but set a deadline of 26 October for parties to agree to join the new government.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Background
Although the Labor Party agreed to join, current coalition member Shas rejected the opportunity; Livni claimed that it had made "economically and diplomatically illegitimate" demands (including a reluctance to increase child benefits, and rejection of the possible division of Jerusalem in a deal with the Palestinians). It was reported that Shas had rejected almost one billion shekels in child allowances offered to it as part of the coalition negotiations. Gil and United Torah Judaism had both rejected offers to join, while negotiations with Meretz-Yachad were still ongoing. On 26 October, Livni recommended to President Shimon Peres that early elections be held.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Background
President Peres had three days to consult on the recommendation, after which there was a period of three weeks in which other Knesset members could have offered to form an alternative coalition, but no such alternative was brought.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Background
The election would have to be held within 90 days after the end of that period. Although Kadima submitted a bill to the Knesset on 27 October to call early elections and bypass the three-week period, Peres' announcement to the Knesset that there was no chance of forming a government meant that the full waiting period stood. Ehud Olmert was to remain the caretaker Prime Minister until a new government was formed after the elections.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Background
The traditional distinction between the Israeli left and the right had become blurred, with both the voters and the main candidates gravitating toward the center. Israelis, who had always been highly politicized, were switching affiliations more easily. On the Palestinian front, stark differences among the parties still remained. Kadima was committed to continuing talks for a two-state solution. Labor did not believe that bilateral Israeli–Palestinian negotiations could succeed under the current circumstances, and advocated a more comprehensive, regional approach to peace. Likud said it would promote an "economic peace" with the Palestinians and also hold political negotiations, although it was not clear about what.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Procedures
Elections to the Knesset allocate 120 seats by party-list proportional representation, using the D'Hondt method. The election threshold for the 2006 election was set at 2% (up from 1.5% in previous elections), which is a little over two seats.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Procedures
After official results are published, the President delegates the task of forming a government to the member of Knesset with the best chance of assembling a majority coalition (usually the leader of the largest party, but not required). That member has up to 42 days to negotiate with the different parties, and then present his or her government to the Knesset for a vote of confidence. Once the government is approved (by a vote of at least 61 members), he or she becomes Prime Minister.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Parliament factions
The table below lists the parliamentary factions represented in the 17th Knesset.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Parties
By 23 December 2008, a record 43 parties had registered with the parties registrar, compared to 31 for the 2006 elections, although in the end, only 34 parties submitted a list of candidates, and only 33 ran on election day. On 12 January 2009, Balad and the United Arab List–Ta'al alliance were disqualified by the Central Elections Committee on the grounds that they failed to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and called for armed conflict against it. Balad and Ta'al were also disqualified from the 2003 election, but won a Supreme Court case which allowed them to run. On 21 January 2009, the Supreme Court again revoked the ban.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Parties, Alliances
The Labor–Meimad alliance, in existence since 1999, was ended prior to the elections. Labor ran on its own, and Meimad ran a joint list with the new Green Movement.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Parties, Alliances
Meretz and Tnu'a HaHadasha, a new movement of left-wing activists led by Tzali Reshef, ran a joint list, with Tnua'a HaHadasha representatives getting third, seventh, and eleventh spots on the alliance's list.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Parties, Alliances
The anti-West Bank barrier movement Tarabut was merged into Hadash.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Parties, Alliances
The religious Zionist Ahi party, previously part of the National Union alliance, merged into Likud in late December 2008. Ultra-Orthodox parties Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah agreed to continue their alliance, United Torah Judaism, for the election.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Parties, New parties
Several political parties had been established since the 2006 elections. The first was Social Justice, founded by billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak in February 2007 (which in the end did not run in the election), and Yisrael Hazaka was established by the former Labor member of the Knesset, Efraim Sneh, in May 2008.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Parties, New parties
After the announcement of elections in late October 2008, the Tkuma and Moledet factions of the National Union and the National Religious Party merged into a single party in early November 2008, which was later named The Jewish Home. However, the National Union was re-established after the Moledet and Tkuma factions broke away from the party and agreed to an alliance with Hatikva headed by Aryeh Eldad and Eretz Yisrael Shelanu (Our Land of Israel) headed by Rabbi Sholom Dov Wolpo and Baruch Marzel.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Parties, New parties
Member of the Knesset Abbas Zakour left the United Arab List to establish the Arab Centre Party in early December 2008. However, he later joined the Balad list.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Government formation
On 20 February, President Shimon Peres announced that Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu would be given the task of forming a government. This is the first time in which the president had not appointed the head of the largest party for this task, although there had already been several cases in which the Prime Minister was not the head of the largest party. Such a case occurred in the 1996 elections, when Netanyahu himself was elected Prime Minister by direct vote, although his Likud party won fewer seats than Shimon Peres's Labor party. Peres's motivation in nominating Netanyahu was likely based upon the judgement that Netanyahu was in a better position numerically to put together a coalition. Likud's potential partners on the political right won more seats than the parties of the centre-left, who would more likely support Kadima.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Government formation
Labor and Kadima initially stated they would not join a Likud-led government, although both parties scheduled further talks. Polls at the time showed that the public supported a national unity government between Likud and Kadima, with either Yisrael Beiteinu or Labor as the third senior coalition member.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Government formation
On 16 March 2009, Netanyahu signed a coalition agreement with Yisrael Beitenu. Following an extension of the coalition negotiation deadline from 20 March to 3 April 2009, he then signed a coalition agreement with Shas on 22 March 2009, and on 24 March 2009, he secured the support of the Labor Party, with Labor's central committee approving the deal by 680 votes to 507. However, large parts of the party remained sceptical, accusing Ehud Barak of only being interested in his own benefits under the deal. On 25 March, the Jewish Home also joined the coalition.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Government formation
On 30 March, in accordance with the Israeli Basic Law, Netanyahu informed Peres and acting Knesset speaker, Michael Eitan, that he was able to form a government and the Knesset was set to convene on 31 March 2009, in order to vote on the government in a "Vote of Confidence" and to be sworn in thereafter. The country's 32nd government was approved that day by a majority of 69 lawmakers, with United Torah Judaism joining the following day, expanding the coalition to 74 MKs.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Government formation, Unity Government 2012
On 27 March 2012, the Opposition party Kadima called for leadership primaries, pitting its leader Tzipi Livni against Shaul Mofaz. Mofaz won with 62% of the vote. Livni resigned from the Knesset in May 2012.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Government formation, Unity Government 2012
Earlier, Netanyahu defeated his rival Moshe Feiglin, winning 77% of the vote in the primaries for the Likud leadership held on 31 January 2012.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Government formation, Unity Government 2012
On the eve of 7 May 2012, after weeks of deliberation and rumours, Netanyahu called for an early general national election and proposed 4 September as the election day, a notion which seemed inevitable—but in a dramatic turn of events, that very night, he announced that he had forged a unity government with the Kadima Party, effectively retracting the earlier call for early elections. The next afternoon, Likud and Kadima signed a coalition agreement placing Kadima's 28 Knesset members in the government, with Mofaz appointed as Active Vice Premier (in case of Netanyahu's absence) and Minister Without Portfolio.


2009 Israeli legislative election, Government formation, Unity Government 2012
This agreement bolstered the government to the widest government in Israel's history, with a coalition of 94 seats and an opposition of only 26. However, on 17 July, Kadima voted to pull out of the coalition—which, all the same, retained a majority of seats even without that party. The reduced coalition was now divided between nationalist groups, such as Yisrael Beiteinu, and Haredi groups, such as Shas, which are on opposite sides of the universal draft issue. This led some commentators to suggest that the coalition's complete break-up was imminent, and that new elections would take place by January 2013.


2009 Istanbul Molotov Bus Attack
In November 2009, Molotov cocktails were thrown at a bus and set ablaze in Istanbul. 17-year old Serap Eser was badly burnt and died in the hospital, after a while in coma. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) was blamed and still to this day some Turkish officials and pro-Turkey media outlets accuse them. In 2015, former Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin later stated “I have unfortunately learned that the people who sabotaged the bus, throwing Molotov cocktails, were members of MİT”.


2009 Istanbul Molotov Bus Attack
The newspaper Daily Vatan (which has since ceased publication in 2018) reported that a suspect in the case stated, they were member of MİT (Turkey's intelligence agency, sometimes involved in clandestine events) and that the MIT also had responded to the court confirming this, saying the suspect known as "A.S." had been used as an intelligence operative in a number of incidents.


2009 Istanbul Molotov Bus Attack
In 2012, the then Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş stated that the MIT was responsible for the killing and also responsible of other acts. The Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) also raised questions about the incident in 2015 at the Turkish parliament. In the same year members of the CHP Youth Organization marched in front of the Galatasaray High School, chanting slogans and showing signs reading "The murderer state will be accountable", "The Molotov MIT Official Who Killed Serap Eser 241 Children were Murdered under AKP rule. We will ask for an account. ", Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Deputy Chairman and Gürsel Tekin General Secretary of the CHP were supportive.


2009 Istanbul Molotov Bus Attack, The attack
In November 8, 2009 Molotov cocktails were thrown at a bus and set ablaze, a 17 year old teenager, Serap Eser was onboard among others on her way home, she was badly burnt, dying a month later in hospital while in a coma.


2009 Istanbul Molotov Bus Attack, Aftermath
Four who were under the age of 18 when the attack occurred were sentenced for being a member of a terrorist organization and intentional homicide. After Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin statements, four of who were accused of carrying out the attack, filed a complaint to the Bakırköy Public Prosecutor’s Office on the 23rd of January 2015.


2009 Istanbul Molotov Bus Attack, Aftermath
In 2014, Alevi Bektashi Federation chairman Selahattin Özel stated regarding the incident “The PM and his spokespeople are continuously trying to correlate Alevis with terror groups. They are holding Alevis together with terror organizations. Previous to this incident, a girl of ours died in a molotov cocktail [attack] which was thrown at a bus. MİT came out behind this and [the AKP] let them go." A Turkish court dismissed all claims of involvement with the Turkish MİT involvement.


2009 Istanbul Molotov Bus Attack, Aftermath
In 2011, a case in which two Kurds were sentenced to over 12 years in prison for being in possession of a Molotov cocktail, the court case referred back to this incident.


2009 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round
The 2009 Turkish GP2 Race was the third race of the 2009 GP2 Series season. It was held on June 6 and 7, 2009 at Istanbul Racing Circuit in Tuzla, Turkey. The race was used as a support race to the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix.


2009 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round
The Feature race was won by Vitaly Petrov after an eventful Race which saw many safety car periods. Championship leader Romain Grosjean did not finish, like almost half the field. Lucas di Grassi of Racing Engineering won his first race of the season in Sprint Race after being given pole due to penalties issued after the feature race.


2009 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round
Karun Chandhok set the fastest lap in the Sprint Race, but he was not awarded a point for it. This is because he finished outside the top ten. The point for the fastest lap of the race goes to the driver inside the top ten, who was fastest around the circuit, in this case Vitaly Petrov. This allowed the Russian to increase his lead with an extra point.


2009 Istanbul mayoral election
The Istanbul mayoral election, 2009 for the office of mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (Turkish: İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanlığı) was held on 29 March 2009 and was won by the Justice and Development Party candidate, the incumbent Kadir Topbaş.


2009 Istanbul mayoral election
The closely fought contest was noticeable in that it helped launch the national political career of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who would go on to assume the leadership of his party.


2009 Italian Athletics Championships
The 2009 Italian Athletics Championships (Italian: Campionati italiani assoluti di atletica leggera 2009) was the 99th edition of the Italian Athletics Championships and were held in Grosseto from 31 July - 2 August.


2009 Italian Athletics Indoor Championships
2009 Italian Athletics Indoor Championships was the 40th edition of the Italian Athletics Indoor Championships and were held in Turin.


2009 Italian Figure Skating Championships
The 2009 Italian Figure Skating Championships (Italian: Campionati Italiani Assoluti 2009 Pattinaggio Di Figura Su Ghiaccio) was held in Turin from December 18 through 21, 2008. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing on the levels of senior and junior. The results were used to choose the teams to the 2009 World Championships, the 2009 European Championships, and the 2009 World Junior Championships.


2009 Italian Formula Three Championship
The 2009 Italian Formula Three Championship was the 45th Italian Formula Three Championship season. It began on May 9, 2009 in Adria and ended on October 18 in Monza. Italian driver Daniel Zampieri won the title at the last round in Monza. Zampieri also sealed the Rookie Cup title during the same race.


2009 Italian Grand Prix
The 2009 Italian Grand Prix (formally the Formula 1 Gran Premio Santander d'Italia 2009) was a Formula One motor race held on 13 September 2009 at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza, Italy. It was the 13th race of the 2009 Formula One season. It was contested over 53 laps.


2009 Italian Grand Prix
It was the last win for Brawn GP and for team driver Rubens Barrichello. Teammate and Championship Leader Jenson Button came in second, completing Brawn's fourth (and last) one-two finish of the season, while the Ferrari of Kimi Räikkönen came third after reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton crashed on the final lap. Hamilton's crash meant the race officially finished behind the safety car, despite the safety car not picking up the leader. Adrian Sutil, who finished in fourth place, recorded the first fastest lap of his career, and the first for the Force India team.


2009 Italian Grand Prix
As of 2021, this is the last race win for a Brazilian Formula One driver.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Jenson Button led the Drivers Championship by 16 points from Brawn GP teammate Rubens Barrichello, who led Red Bull's third placed man Sebastian Vettel by 3 points. Brawn led the Constructors Championship by 23½ points from Red Bull who were a further 48½ points ahead of winners of the previous race, Ferrari.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Vettel won his maiden Formula One race in the 2008 race for the Toro Rosso team, that made him the youngest driver to win a Formula One race, in the first race won by both the Toro Rosso team since they were formed as Minardi and by a customer Ferrari engine. The only other Italian Grand Prix winners in the field are Fernando Alonso and Barrichello. No Italian has won his home Grand Prix since Ferrari's Ludovico Scarfiotti won his only race at the 1966 race.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Jarno Trulli, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Giancarlo Fisichella were the only current Italians in the field this year, with Luca Badoer replaced as Ferrari's stand-in by Fisichella. Fisichella became the first Italian since Ivan Capelli in 1992 to race for Ferrari at Monza, after terminating his Force India contract. Fisichella was replaced by Force India test driver Liuzzi.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Renault decided to use KERS for the first time since Spanish Grand Prix weekend.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
The first session of the Italian GP finished with the McLarens on top with Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen first and second fastest, respectively. Force India's Adrian Sutil finished the session in third. Renault's Fernando Alonso finished fourth while teammate Romain Grosjean finished fifteenth. Fischella, driving for Ferrari for the first time in his career, finished eighth ahead of teammate Kimi Räikkönen who ended the session in tenth. Toyota's Trulli and Timo Glock were at the back of the pack. Championship leader Jenson Button ended seventh while his Brawn teammate Rubens Barrichello finished twelfth.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
In the second session Force India's Adrian Sutil was fastest, ahead of the two Renaults of Grosjean and Alonso. Hamilton was eleventh with Kovalainen coming in fourth. Button in a Brawn finished 19th, with only Fisichella separating him from last place. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel came eighteenth, and Mark Webber in fourteenth.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
The final practice session ahead of Qualifying again saw Sutil fastest, ahead of the Brawn of Jenson Button with teammate Barrichello in fourth. The two McLarens ended fifth and sixth, with Fisichella's replacement at Force India, Vitantonio Liuzzi, in seventh. The two Red Bulls ended the session 17th and 18th. Fisichella ended the session last, with Räikkönen's other Ferrari in twelfth.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The first session, lasting 20 minutes, decided the final five places on the grid. Five minutes into the session Liuzzi ran off the track but did not damage his car and managed to proceed through to the next part of qualifying. Räikkönen topped the session ahead of Hamilton and Kovalainen. Both Toro Rossos and both Williams cars were knocked out along with the Toyota of Timo Glock. Fisichella made it through to the next session, making it the first time since the Hungarian Grand Prix that both Ferraris had made it through to Q2. Grosjean also progressed to Q2.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The second session, lasting 15 minutes, decided positions 11 to 15. Five minutes into the session Nick Heidfeld's BMW engine gave way to leave him in 15th for the race. Seven minutes later, the other BMW of Robert Kubica appeared to have the same problem and pulled off with engine problems just before the first corner. This left Kubica qualifying in 13th. Fisichella was unable to make it through to the final session of qualifying. Button topped the session, with Hamilton in second and Force India's Adrian Sutil in third. After the chequered flag had fallen Liuzzi was the final driver to post a time moving from 13th into the top 10. The other drivers not to make it were Grosjean and Trulli.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The final session, lasting ten minutes, decided the top ten positions. Early on, Alonso set the fastest time in the first sector, but it was Räikkönen who had the best time overall. Very soon afterwards Hamilton set the fastest lap, while Webber, Alonso, Sutil and Räikkönen traded second place. The chequered flag fell and very few cars were still out, but it was Hamilton who came out on top to snatch pole from Sutil. Although Button qualified sixth and his teammate Barrichello in fifth, they looked well-placed after the fuel loads were released and both were on a one stop strategy, while Hamilton, Sutil and Räikkönen were all on a two stop strategy.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
At the start, Lewis Hamilton held onto his lead with Kimi Räikkönen in second, ahead of Adrian Sutil. Heikki Kovalainen, on a one-stop fuel strategy was overtaken by the similarly fuelled Brawns of Rubens Barrichello, off the start line, and Jenson Button, through the second Lesmo. Championship contender Mark Webber was spun by Robert Kubica at Della Roggia on the opening lap and was forced to retire. By Lap 15, Kubica had also retired with an oil leak. Before this, on lap 9, Kubica was shown the black flag with orange circle because he damaged his front wing during his contact with Webber, meaning he was summoned to the pits to repair it.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
The battle for the lead was tactical, with the Brawn cars stopping only once while Hamilton was on a two-stop strategy. Barrichello and Button were able to lap consistently faster than Hamilton despite their heavier fuel load, meaning when Hamilton emerged from his second pit stop he found himself behind both Brawns in third position. Reigning World Champion Hamilton tried in vain to overtake Championship leader Button over the final few laps before crashing into the barriers at the second Lesmo as he attempted to catch Button.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Hamilton's crash left debris across the race track, meaning the safety car was deployed despite it being the final lap of the race. The safety car was therefore unable to pick up the leader, Barrichello, before he took the chequered flag as he would take Brawn's eighth win of the season and his third win at Monza. This race had also proven to be the 11th and last victory, as well as the last podium for Rubens Barrichello's very long, very distinguished and very up-and-down career.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
The safety car ended a race long battle between the similarly fuelled Räikkönen and Sutil. Sutil was able to keep up with the Ferrari driver throughout the race. Both made their second and final pit stop at the same time, Räikkönen coming out of the pits first despite a delay leaving his garage after Sutil drove too fast into his box, knocking over a mechanic, who was unhurt. Despite Sutil's pressure over the closing stages, Räikkönen held to inherit third place. Sutil did have the consolation of claiming the fastest lap of the race, Force India's first in Formula One.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Fernando Alonso finished fifth, ahead of Kovalainen despite the Finn being on the race-winning one-stop strategy. Nick Heidfeld finished seventh after working his way through the field from fifteenth on the grid. Sebastian Vettel took the final point, ahead of Ferrari debutant Giancarlo Fisichella. Fisichella's replacement at Force India, Vitantonio Liuzzi, retired with a mechanical problem while challenging for the points.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Post race
The poor performance from the Red Bull cars, combined with Brawn's 1-2 finish, meant the Drivers Championship became effectively a two-horse race between Button, who led Barrichello by 14 points with four races to go. Vettel was 26 points behind Button with Webber a further 2.5 points adrift. Brawn team boss Ross Brawn said after the race he would allow his drivers to compete amongst themselves for the Drivers Championship, as his team was virtually assured of the Constructors Championship. Barrichello admitted he was relishing the prospect of a straight title fight after playing second fiddle to Michael Schumacher whilst the German won five world championships at Ferrari. A visibly more relaxed Button was magnanimous in defeat and happy to face a battle from within.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Post race
Webber admitted frustration at his first non-finish of the year following such a "small" accident, while Vettel insisted his Championship chances were not over. McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh did not criticise Hamilton for his last lap crash, stating the accident was a result of the Briton's "never-give-up attitude, his unquenchable desire to fight until the very last metre of the very last lap." The focus of the F1 paddock after the race, however, was on the looming Crashgate hearing at the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris the following week. This was to determine whether Renault had asked former driver Nelson Piquet, Jr. to crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, to aid teammate Fernando Alonso ultimately win the race.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Post race
Lewis Hamilton  mathematically conceded the defence of his 2008  World Championship following the result of this race as only Jenson  Button, Rubens Barrichello, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were  mathematically able to win the Championship. 2007  World Champion Kimi Räikkönen  also mathematically conceded the World Championship as a result of this  race, while 2005 and 2006  World Champion Fernando Alonso  was already out of contention before this race. As a result, it meant  following this race a brand new World Champion was guaranteed to be  crowned for 2009.


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Classification, Qualifying
Cars that use the KERS system are marked with "‡"


2009 Italian Grand Prix, Classification, Race
Cars that use the KERS system are marked with "‡"


2009 Italian Open (tennis)
The 2009 Italian Open (also known for 2009 Rome Masters and its sponsored title 2009 Internazionali BNL d'Italia) was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 66th edition, and was part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier-level tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour. Both the men's and the women's events took place at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, with the men playing from April 25 through May 4, 2009, and the women from May 3 through May 9, 2009.


2009 Italian Open (tennis), Finals, Men's doubles
Daniel Nestor /  Nenad Zimonjić defeated  Bob Bryan  /  Mike Bryan, 7–6(7–5), 6–3


2009 Italian Open (tennis), Finals, Women's doubles
Hsieh Su-wei /  Peng Shuai defeated  Daniela Hantuchová /  Ai Sugiyama, 7–5, 7–6(7–5)


2009 Italian Open – Men's Doubles
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan were the defending champions, and Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjić defeated them in the final, 7–6(5), 6–3.


2009 Italian Open – Men's Singles
Rafael Nadal defeated the defending champion Novak Djokovic in the final, 7–6(7–2), 6–2 to win the Men's Singles title at the 2009 Italian Open. It was his record fourth Italian Open title.


2009 Italian Open – Men's Singles, Seeds
The top eight seeds receive a bye into the second round.


2009 Italian Open – Women's Doubles
Chan Yung-jan and Chuang Chia-jung were the defending champions, but chose not to participate this year.


2009 Italian Open – Women's Doubles
Hsieh Su-wei and Peng Shuai won in the final, beating Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama 7–5, 7–6(7–5).


2009 Italian Open – Women's Doubles, Seeds
The top four seeds receive a bye into the second round.


2009 Italian Open – Women's Singles
Jelena Janković was the two-time defending champion, but lost in the quarterfinals to Svetlana Kuznetsova.


2009 Italian Open – Women's Singles
World No. 1 Dinara Safina won in the final, beating Kuznetsova 6–3, 6–2.


2009 Italian Open – Women's Singles, Seeds
The top eight seeds receive a bye into the second round.


2009 Italian electoral law referendum
Three abrogative referendums on the electoral law were held in Italy on 21–22 June 2009. They were promoted by Mario Segni, Giovanni Guzzetta, Arturo Parisi, Antonio Martino and Daniele Capezzone. With a turnout of 23.31% / 23.84%, the referendums did not reach the necessary quorum of 50% voters, so were not valid.


2009 Italian electoral law referendum
The three questions were about giving the majority prize to the most voted list in the Chamber of Deputies (question 1, purple ballot) and in the Senate (question 2, yellow ballot) as opposed to the most voted coalition, as is the current law, and about preventing politicians from standing in multiple constituencies at the same time (question 3, green ballot).


2009 Italian electoral law referendum
The Promoting Committee and Democratic Party (PD) had proposed holding the referendums together with European Parliament elections, whereas The People of Freedom (PdL) as its main ally, the Lega Nord, opposed the referendums and answered that never, in Italian history, an election and a referendum were jointly celebrated.


2009 Italian electoral law referendum
Several PdL party officials had long supported the referendums, the main long-term goal of the PdL being to transform Italian politics into a two-party system. The PD saw the referendums as an opportunity to overcome its current political hard times and to divide the centre-right.


2009 Italian electoral law referendum, Results
The referendums did not reach the quorum required by law for their validity.


2009 Italian electoral law referendum, Results, First question
Italian Chamber of Deputies — Abrogation of the connection between lists and of the attribution of the majority prize to a coalition of lists.


2009 Italian electoral law referendum, Results, Second question
Italian Senate — Abrogation of the connection between lists and of the attribution of the majority prize to a coalition of lists.


2009 Italian electoral law referendum, Results, Third question
Italian Chamber of Deputies — Abrogation of the possibility for a candidate to stand for election in more than one constituency.


2009 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2009 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix was the fifth round of the 2009 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 29–31 May 2009 at the Mugello Circuit. The Moto GP race was won by Casey Stoner with Jorge Lorenzo second and Valentino Rossi in third place. This broke Rossi's sequence of seven consecutive victories at this event. During the weekend, Dani Pedrosa recorded the fastest speed ever for a motorcycle grand prix bike, with 349.3 km/h (217.0 mph) breaking Makoto Tamada's record of 343.7 km/h (213.6 mph) set in 2006. Mika Kallio and Rossi also recorded speeds above the previous benchmark.


2009 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix, Championship standings after the race (MotoGP)
Below are the standings for the top five riders and constructors after round five has concluded.


2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
The 2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament was an under-18 ice hockey tournament held in Břeclav, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia from August 11–15, 2009. The two venues were Alcaplast Arena in Břeclav and Patrícia Ice Arena 37 in Piešťany. Canada captured their fifth championship in six years and fourteenth gold medal of the tournament overall, defeating Russia 9–2 in the gold medal game. Sweden defeated the United States by an identical 9–2 score to earn the bronze medal. The tournament marked the second straight year that Canada, Russia and Sweden medalled in that order.


2009 Ivy League Baseball Championship Series
The 2009 Ivy League Baseball Championship Series took place at Red Rolfe Field at Biondi Park in Hanover, New Hampshire on May 2 and 3, 2009. The series matched the regular season champions of each of the league's two divisions. Dartmouth, the winner of the series, claimed the Ivy League's automatic berth in the 2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. It was Dartmouth's first Championship Series victory, coming in their fifth appearance.


2009 Ivy League Baseball Championship Series
Cornell defeated Princeton in a one-game playoff to advance to the Championship Series and represent the Lou Gehrig Division. The playoff was held on April 29, 2009 at Hoy Field in Ithaca, New York.


2009 J.League Cup
The 2009 J.League Cup, more widely known as the 2009 Nabisco Cup, is the 34th edition of Japan soccer league cup tournament and the 17th edition under the current J.League Cup format. The championship started on March 25, 2009 and ended on November 3, with F.C. Tokyo defeating Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 in the Final. They qualified for the 2010 Suruga Bank Championship.


2009 J.League Cup
Teams from the J1 will take part in the tournament. Kashima Antlers, Kawasaki Frontale, Nagoya Grampus and Gamba Osaka were given a bye to the quarter-final due to the qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage. The rest of 14 will start from the group stage, which divided them into two groups. The group winners and the runners-up of each group will qualify for the quarter-final along with the four teams which qualified for the AFC Champions League.


2009 J.League Cup Final
2009 J.League Cup Final was the 17th final of the J.League Cup competition. The final was played at National Stadium in Tokyo on November 3, 2009. FC Tokyo won the championship.


2009 J.League Division 1
The 2009 J.League Division 1 season is the 45th season of the top-flight club football in Japan and the 17th season since the establishment of J1 League. The season started on March 7, 2009 and ended on December 5, 2009.


2009 J.League Division 1
A total of eighteen clubs participated in double round-robin format. At the end of the season, top three clubs received automatic qualification to the following years' AFC Champions League. Also starting this season, the bottom three clubs were relegated to J2 League by default.


2009 J.League Division 1
Kashima Antlers became the first Japanese club win J.League Championship in three straight seasons.


2009 J.League Division 1, Clubs
The following eighteen clubs will play in J.League Division 1 during the 2009 season. Of these clubs, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Montedio Yamagata are the newly promoted clubs.


2009 J.League Division 1, League format
Eighteen clubs will play in double round-robin (home and away) format, a total of 34 games each. A club receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the following order:


2009 J.League Division 1, League format
A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied at the first place, both clubs will be declared as the champions. The bottom three clubs will be relegated to J2. The top three clubs will qualify to AFC Champions League in the following year.


2009 J.League Division 1, Attendance
Updated to games played on December 5, 2009Source: Notes:† Team played previous season in J2.


2009 J.League Division 2
The 2009 J. League Division 2 season was the 38th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 11th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season started on March 7 and ended on December 5.


2009 J.League Division 2
In this season, the number of participating clubs was increased by three, making the total number, eighteen. The clubs played in triple round-robin format. Starting this season, all top three clubs were promoted by default and Pro/Rele Series was eliminated accordingly. There were no relegation to the third-tier Japan Football League.