Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. TEAM CLASSIC SUZUKI FIELD STRONG LINE-UP FOR CLASSIC TT

   Posted on 5:00pm Monday 11th Jul 2016

   Team Classic Suzuki will field one of the strongest line-ups at the 2016 Classic TT presented by Bennets with Michael Dunlop, Lee Johnston and Nick Jefferies riding for Steve Wheatman’s impressive team.

   As in 2015, the trio will line up in the 4-lap Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT, scheduled for Monday 29th August, on near identical GSXR 1100cc-engined XR69 Suzukis and will start among the favourites.

   Dunlop took the inaugural Formula 1 Classic TT in spectacular style in 2013 leading the race from start to finish despite suffering from an oil leak. Lapping at a scorching 123.196mph, the Ballymoney rider won the race by almost a minute from then team-mate Conor Cummins, following his victories in the Manx Grand Prix Post Classic Superbike races in 2010 and 2012.

   He was out of luck in 2014 but bounced back in style last year when he again won the race, this time after a fierce battle with Bruce Anstey. There was little to choose between the pair but a final lap of 125.050mph saw the Ballymoney rider, who set a new outright lap record of 133.962mph at this year’s TT, claim his second Classic TT victory.

   Lee Johnston rode for the team for the first time in 2014 and finished fifth in the Formula One race while last year saw him take seventh with a fastest lap of 123.636mph. Nick Jefferies joined the team in 2015 where he took a solid 17th place, the winner of the 1993 Formula One TT race lapping in excess of 114mph.

   On confirming his team line up for the Classic TT, team owner Steve Wheatman commented:

   “The Classic TT has grown every year since its introduction in 2013 and we have been happy to support it each year. We’ve experienced both success and disappointment in that time, but as reigning champions in the Superbike class, we are fully committed to defending that position and off the back of an incredible TT, Michael Dunlop is definitely the man for the job.”

   “Lee Johnston is back to full fitness after a crash earlier in the year will challenge for a podium place and in Nick Jefferies we have a real legend of the TT in our line up who adds a lot of experience to the team.”

   Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available for Friday’s final qualifying session priced at £5. All prior qualifying sessions are free for the main Grandstand. There are also race day tickets available for both Classic TT race days on Saturday 27th and Monday 29th August as well as VIP and Platinum hospitality tickets. To purchase tickets go to iomtt.com or phone Duke Marketing on (00 44) 1624 640011.

2. ALL STAR LINE UP FOR MISTRAL RACING AT 2016 CLASSIC TT

   Posted on 9:00am Friday 8th Jul 2016

   Lancashire-based Mistral Racing will return to the 2016 Classic TT presented by Bennetts with a three-pronged attack on the four-lap Motorsport Merchandise Classic TT Superbike Race.

   Steve Mercer, Jamie Coward and local ace Dan Kneen will all campaign ZXR750 Kawasakis and are sure to be major contenders for the podium places.

   Both Mercer and Coward have prior experience with the team, Mercer taking fourth place in the corresponding race in 2014, after posting a 121mph+ lap, whilst Coward was on board one of the ‘Green Meanies’ in 2013 only to be forced to retire on the third lap whilst in fifth place.

   The Yorkshire rider missed the 2014 event due to injury, ironically being replaced in the team by Maidstone’s Mercer, but was back twelve months ago when he finished in sixth place with a best lap of 121.834mph. He arrives at the Classic TT on the back of an excellent campaign at the TT where he narrowly missed out on winning the coveted TT Privateer’s Championship.

   Kneen, meanwhile, joins the team after making his Classic TT debut in 2015 when he rode the Valvoline Racing by Padgetts Motorcycles 750cc OW01 Yamaha. Back then, he took ninth place with his fastest lap being in excess of 120mph. Having missed the TT due to injury, the Braddan rider, who normally rides the Mar-Train Racing Yamaha’s, will be keen to get back out on the Mountain Course and score a strong result on the Mistral Kawasaki.

   Run by highly experienced former racer Ian Harrison, the squad is again expected to run their immaculate machinery in Team Kawasaki France replica colours. Huge supporters of the Classic TT, having fully embraced the spirit of the event since its inception in 2013, they will again have one of the greatest presences in the paddock as well as being one of the most professional.

   Speaking about his line up for the Classic TT, Team Owner Ian Harrison commented:

   “We are really excited about the Classic TT this year with three riders in our team who are in the form of their lives. Jamie and Steve had their best ever TT’s this year and have been strong in testing and racing on our bikes also.”

   “We are delighted to welcome Dan Kneen to the team. Dan is one of the best young riders in road racing, and was showing excellent form on the run up to the TT before he was forced to miss the event after picking up a training injury. He will be back to full fitness in time for the Classic TT and we will be providing him a bike capable of winning the race on.”

   Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available for Friday’s final qualifying session priced at £5. All prior qualifying sessions are free for the main Grandstand. There are also race day tickets available for both Classic TT race days on Saturday 27th and Monday 29th as well as VIP and Platinum hospitality tickets. To purchase tickets go to iomtt.com or phone Duke Marketing on (00 44) 1624 640011
   
   
   
   
   

3. WK BIKES CLAIMS TT SUCCESS WITH CFMOTO

   Posted on 8:00am Thursday 30th Jun 2016

   WK Bikes has returned from this year’s Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy on a high with Gary Johnson securing an impressive fourth placed finish on its factory-supported CFMOTO WK650 in the Bennetts Lightweight TT with Craig Neve taking 16th in the same race.

   WK Bikes made its TT debut in 2013 and has continued to defy critics of Chinese-manufactured ‘real’ racing bikes, proving its initial eyebrow-raising 109mph practice lap in the hands of frontrunner Johnson was more than a promotional fluke. In just four short years, the Lincolnshire-based distributor has firmly placed its WK Bikes CFMOTO Factory Team on the TT map, enjoying hard-won and positive acceptance in the process.

   Since that early outing, WK Bikes has taken its WK650 to a new level in terms of race-specific technical advancement. Thanks to its successful racing history in the hands of its sister company Quadzilla, the team has applied its passion, drive, experience and motivation to the manufacturer support from CFMOTO and, together with rider input from TT-specialist Johnson, has focussed on building a winning package.

   The team’s 2016 results stand out for a number of reasons with reliability and performance taking top billing. Johnson held onto third place for the first two laps of the Lightweight TT class before slipping back to fourth spot after a pit stop, yet was only two seconds off the podium after 150 miles of gruelling road racing. Neve started 32nd and made up 16 places to finally finish in 16th ahead of many other experienced teams and riders.

   The WK Bikes team have defied critics and proven that their CFMOTO bikes are capable of beating some of the biggest manufacturers such as Suzuki and Kawasaki, at the world’s most gruelling road race. WK Bikes together with CFMOTO are at the forefront of the Chinese motorcycle revolution in the UK.

   Summing up his team’s 2016 success, WK Bikes boss Mike Hinkley said;

   “After the early failures at the TT, I took control of the race team 2 years ago and during this time we’ve worked hard to rectify those early mistakes and further the technical advancement of the bike. I also appointed a new rider to get additional feedback and this meant we spent more time testing and improving the bike than we’d ever managed before. The WK650 is a real-world bike that started out as a commuter. Over the past few years our involvement at the TT has created a great deal of excitement and brand awareness and we’ve proved beyond all doubt that the 650 can run with the very best Japanese machines. Watch this space!”

   Mike is now concentrating on the future of the WK Bikes team and has already started the ball rolling with improvements to be made to the bike for the TT 2017.

4. Paul Shoesmith and his family awarded ‘Spirit of the TT’ Award

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 15th Jun 2016

   Paul Shoesmith, who lost his life participating in the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races and his family have been awarded the 2016 PokerStars Spirit of the TT.

   The award is given annually to the person or persons who best represent the ethos and values of the TT Races including decency, honesty, generosity, courage, compassion, integrity, respect, teamwork and commitment to the development of the races.

   The presentation of the award was made at the Grandstand podium ahead of this year’s PokerStars Senior TT Race.

   Paul Shoesmith was one of the biggest characters in the TT paddock who not only competed in the TT Races but also gave the opportunity for a number of riders to race on the Mountain Course through his Ice Valley Four Anjels Racing outfit including Peter Hickman, who made his TT debut for the team, and Simon Andrews as well as a number of international competitors.  He was also well known for his fundraising efforts, most notably his work with the Simon Andrews Foundation.

   Eric Hollreiser, Director of Corporate Communications, PokerStars commented:

   “We have been overwhelmed with the response to this year’s award.  Paul has received many more nominations than we have ever had before and it is clear that he has a huge number of friends in the TT paddock and helped numerous people at the TT.”

   David Cretney, Isle of Man Government’s Tourism and Motorsport representative said:

   "Paul was truly one of the largest personalities in the TT paddock and his character shone through in everything that he did. He made an enormous impact on everyone who met him, not only through his racing but his larger than life personality, his incredible generosity and willingness to help anyone. He was a great ambassador for the TT Races and his loss is hugely felt by everyone associated with the event and the Isle of Man."

   He continued:

   “This award is not only for Paul but also for his remarkable family who have shown such spirit and resilience in such difficult circumstances.”

   As well as the award to Paul’s family, PokerStars would also like to highlight a number of other people who were nominated including fundraiser Shaun Hogg, who raises money to run ambulances at Motorsport events on the Isle of Man in memory of his brother Phil.

   A number of marshals have been recognised this year including Matthew Horn who is battling major injuries from a motorbike crash but continues to marshal at this year’s TT, Kevin Quinn who marshalled this week at Alpine despite battling cancer and a posthumous award to Willy Killey who marshalled for 59 years at the TT and passed away during TT2015 race week, after carryout flag duty throughout practice week.  TT marshal Emma Limerick who continued to marshal this week despite personal loss will also be recognised.

   PokerStars will be creating mementoes for all of the above named nominees, which will be sent out to them shortly.

   Representatives from the Isle of Man Government's Motorsport team including David Cretney, the Isle of Man Government representative with responsibility for Motorsport and Tourism, TT rider liaison officers Richard Quayle and John Barton, ACU Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson and PokerStars Director of Corporate Communications Eric Hollreiser judged the award. Nominations were invited from members of the public and from officials associated with the TT.

   Previous winners have included Paul Owen, Conor Cummins, the Birchall Brothers, TT Marshal Eric Alexander and TTRA secretary Frances Thorp.  Last year’s winners were 91 year old Harold Leece who opens up his garden to visitors and 8 year old fundraiser Cici Reed.

   

   

5. DUNLOP DESTROYS LAP RECORD IN STUNNING POKERSTARS SENIOR TT VICTORY

   Posted on 8:00am Saturday 11th Jun 2016

   Michael Dunlop shattered his own outright lap record in Friday’s Pokerstars Senior TT, the final race of the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy, as the Hawk Racing BMW rider lapped at 133.962mph on his way to his 13th TT victory. In a repeat of Saturday’s RST Superbike race, Dunlop got the better of Ian Hutchinson and John McGuinness with his eventual winning margin a commanding 31.4s. 

   With morning delays, the race finally got underway at 3.45pm and at Glen Helen on the first lap, Dunlop had already established a healthy 1.8s lead over Hutchinson with Harrison a further 1.6s behind in third as Lee Johnston, Gary Johnson and Peter Hickman rounded out the top six, just six seconds covering the top ten.

   Dunlop was really pressing on but having doubled his lead by the time they jumped Ballaugh Bridge, Hutchinson had reduced it again at Ramsey to 2.9s while Johnson moved up to third ahead of Hickman, Bruce Anstey and Dean Harrison.

   With an opening lap speed of 133.256mph, Dunlop led Hutchinson by 2.8s with the leaderboard places behind the leading pair constantly changing. Hickman had moved into third, eight seconds down on Hutchinson, with fourth to sixth now seeing Anstey, Johnson and Harrison occupying the places.

   Hutchinson grabbed the lead on the road on the second lap but he was unable to make any inroads into Dunlop’s time and all the way round the lap, the Ulsterman’s advantage grew. Indeed, with yet another new outright lap record of 133.962mph, Dunlop led his BMW rival by a commanding 9.2s as they made their first pit stop at the end of the lap.

   There was change further behind though as Anstey moved up to third, albeit almost 26 seconds behind Hutchinson, after Hickman retired at Brandywell. John McGuinness, down in ninth at the end of the first lap, had jumped up the order to fourth with Harrison in fifth and Johnson now in sixth.

   The pit stops saw Dunlop and Hutchinson maintain their first and second place positions but McGuinness’ crew again worked wonders and that helped him take over third by the time he reached Glen Helen on lap three, with the Morecambe man now some 6.7s clear of Anstey. Johnson’s good run ended though with a retirement at Appledene while David Johnson slid off the Norton at Sulby Bridge after posting a 130mph lap on his opening lap.

   At half race distance, Dunlop had stretched out his lead slightly to 11.2s and now almost had Hutchinson in his sights on the road. McGuinness had also pulled away from Anstey with the difference between the two Honda riders having gone out to 11.8s. Harrison was holding station in fifth with Conor Cummins moving up to sixth.

   Coming into the second pit stop and two-thirds race distance at the end of lap four, Dunlop still didn’t have full control of the race as the gap was still only 10.6s. Hutchinson and McGuinness were circulating on the road together and looked secure in second and third with the lower leaderboard places also becoming more settled, Anstey, Harrison and Cummins still occupying fourth to sixth.

   Dunlop’s team got him in and out quicker than Hutchinson and his lead grew by an additional five seconds. Indeed, he now had him firmly in his sights on the roads and was able to ride accordingly for the final lap and a half, eventually overhauling both Hutchinson and McGuinness on the road too.

   He eventually took the chequered flag from Hutchinson by over twenty seconds with McGuinness taking his 46th TT podium in third. Harrison grabbed hold of fourth on the penultimate lap from Anstey as Cummins, Rutter, Johnston, James Hillier and Ivan Lintin rounded out the top ten.

   The results saw Hutchinson end with 115 points to be a comfortable winner of the Joey Dunlop TT Championship with Harrison second on 80 and Dunlop third with 70.

   Meanwhile, Dan Hegarty was the first privateer to finish in an excellent 11th and that saw him clinch the TT Privateer’s Championship with 91 points to Jamie Coward’s 72.