Final preparations are being made for tonight's T.T. 2010 launch at the Villa Marina.

Many of the event's top names will be appearing on stage in the Royal Hall from seven o'clock.

Announcements about festival entertainment and the starting numbers of the front runners are expected.

Speaking at a rehearsal earlier, T.T. and Motorsport Development Manager Paul Phillips said very few bike meetings in the world put on a show like this to advertise the main event:-

Manx Radio's Friday Sport programme at just after six o'clock will come live from the Villa Marina and the launch itself will be broadcast in Evening Extra with Bob Harrison from 6.30pm