FIVE-time motorcycling Grand Prix world champion Mick Doohan will be visiting the TT this year.
Mick, who won five consecutive 500cc world championships in the 1990s (the championship was later to become known as MotoGP), will start the Monster Energy Supersport 2 Race and present the trophies for the PokerStars Senior TT.
He will also complete an Arai parade lap on a Honda Fireblade alongside Ian Hutchinson - who won five TTs in a week last year - on Wednesday, June 8 as well as being a VIP Guest in the hospitality suite.
He will be meeting fans on Thursday, June 9 as part of the 'Day of Champions'.
The popular Australian is widely considered to be one of the greatest motorcycle racers in the history of the sport.
Only Giacomo Agostini - with eight - and Valentino Rossi, with seven, have won more world championships in the top class of racing.
Riding for Honda, he won his first 500cc world championship in 1994 and dominated the class until 1998.
In 1997, his most successful year, Mick won 12 out of 15 races, finishing second in another two and crashed out of the final race of the season at his home GP when winning by more than six seconds.
In June 1996 Mick was inducted as a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the sport of motor racing.
In 1999, following an accident in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, he announced his retirement.
Mick said: "I'm really looking forward to visiting the Isle of Man and seeing a race or two.
"I'm a massive fan of all bike sport and the TT Races has a huge pedigree and is obviously world famous so I want to go and see what all the fuss is about.
"I have a great respect for what those guys do there - I've seen some YouTube footage and its looks mad.
"I'm sure when I'm sitting in someone's front garden with a beer or a cup of nice English tea it will look even madder.
"I've had a great relationship with Arai over the years and they are pretty involved as an official helmet partner so it will be great to dust down the leathers and get a lap of the famous Mountain Course as well as having the chance to meet some fans."
Following his trip to the Isle of Man Mick will also be visiting Silverstone to see the British leg of the MotoGP Championship.
He added: "I'll be hopping over to Silverstone for the MotoGP race right after the TT to catch up with some old mates.
"I've never visited the place before and with all the new work they've been doing to the track and the pits it all looks pretty cool."
TT and motorsport manager Paul Phillips said: "This visit is a real coup for the TT organisation as Mick is truly one of the greatest and most flamboyant motorcycle riders of all time.
"His visit will really boost the profile of the event and generate even more media coverage and I'm sure that TT fans will enjoy meeting this Australian legend."
