Interest in the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling is on the increase, with forward bookings for Isle of Man Steam Packet Company sailings up on previous years.

The first year of the Festival, which brought together the Manx Grand Prix, all-new Classic TT and other bike events, saw the number of motorcycles carried to the Island increase by 15% compared with the same period in 2012.

The Steam Packet Company currently has double the number of forward bookings than at the same stage last year.

In addition, bookings for the 2014 TT are 3.2% up compared with this time last year, and that figure could rise as the Steam Packet Company promotes the TT Taster Offer at Motorcycle Live, the major bike show being held in Birmingham until December 1.

The offer allows visiting fans to attend the TT during the quieter Practice Week period. The price has been held at just ?99 for a motorcycle and rider. It has already proved popular, with many bookings in place, however there is still some availability and it can be booked online at www.steam-packet.com.

Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘The Festival of Motorcycling proved a very popular event in 2013, and clearly people are already excited about 2014 as our forward bookings are ahead of where they were this time last year.

‘The Festival was a wonderful event and one we were very proud to be involved with as sponsor of the 1967 Senior TT Re-enactment lap, featuring Giacomo Agostini and John McGuinness. We will again be supporting the event in 2014, and look forward to an announcement on this during Motorcycle Live.

‘Bookings for TT are also up and we hope to encourage more people to experience this unique event by taking advantage of the TT Taster Offer.

‘Looking at the bookings so far, 2014 looks set to be a bumper year for the Island’s motorcycle events.’