Although the 2022 Isle of Man TT Races will again see just a single fpurt-lap Lightweight race take place, it will do so under a new name and with a new rulebook.

The Lightweight class was re-introduced to the TT race programme in 2012 for 650cc machines but for next year, it will be renamed the Bennetts Supertwin TT, with the insurance company continuing their sponsorship of the race.

In addition, and what will be an undoubted boost to the class swelling both interest and entries, the regulations have been amended for 2022 in order for both Yamaha and Aprilia to compete in the category for the first time in the modern era.

The class has been dominated by Kawasaki and, more recently, Paton, but the new regulations will see twin-cylinder machines up to 700cc be able to compete. Subsequently, machines such as the Aprilia RS660 and the Yamaha MT-07 and YZF-R7 will be lining up on Glencrutchery Road in 2022..

There will also be significant changes in the Formula Two Sidecar rulebook where, for the first time, competitors will be permitted to use 900cc parallel twin-cylinder engines such as those found in the KTM 890 DUKE and the BMW F900R.

The class has seen 600cc four-stoke engines rule the roost since 1991 with a handful of 675cc three cylinder outfits also in the fray in the last decade.

In what will be the biggest shake-up in the class for three decades, they will now be joined by the newly eligible powerplants with Dave Molyneux having recently been seen testing a KTM-powered outfit at Jurby Airfield.