More bikes than ever at the Southern 100

The Steam Packet Company says it brought more than 12 per cent more motorbikes to the Southern 100 this year.

The ferry company says 997 bikes and 7,700 passengers travelled to the Island by ferry for the race meeting.

Last year, 883 bikes came to the Island to watch the action on the Billown circuit.

Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward says the event is clearly growing and the number of bikes compares favourably to the last year's Festival of Motorcycling, which attracted around 4,000 machines.