The island is drenched in sun and there's a crackle of anticipation as Michael Dunlop leaves jaws on the floor with a stunning opening lap to set the tone for the 2023 fortnight.

The three-wheelers move heaven and earth to achieve their dreams while the sidecar roster is a hardy breed of men and women who stare fear in the eye and let fear blink first.

The elite band of brothers continue to push their physical limits in order to rewrite the history books as a tragic loss explains why the TT represents a very unique freedom.

The stakes are high as the blue-riband event - the Senior TT - draws near and all eyes now turn to Michael Dunlop and his quest to become the greatest TT racer of all time.