Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. Forest Dunn Revs Up For Isle of Man TT Races Debut

   Posted on 1:00pm Wednesday 9th Mar 2016

   Cornwall’s Forest Dunn is to make TT Mountain Course debut at the 2016 Isle Of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

   The Falmouth rider, who will ride for his own Forest Dunn Racing team, will compete in the RL360 Superstock, RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT Races on his Superstock Spec Kawasaki ZX10R with different livery for each race as he has backing from Infinity Security, BMA Carbon and Maen Carn Concrete products respectively for his TT 2016 campaign.

   28 year old Forest started racing in 2012 and has won Hottrax Eundrance and ‘No Limits’ Racing Series. His career highlights include 20th placed finishes in Superbike and Superstock races at NW200 on his debut in 2015.

   Forest will be spending a number of days on the Isle of Man in the run up to this year’s TT Races in preparation for his debut as part of the Newcomers programme, learning from the TT rider liaison officers as he prepares to fulfil his lifelong ambition.

   On hearing the news that his race entry for the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races had been accepted he said:

   “To say I am buzzing is an understatement, I always aimed to race at the TT before I was 30, and thanks to my hard work and the help of my loyal sponsors it’s happening this year! I can’t thank Paul Phillips and the TT organising team enough for the chance to show what I am capable of.”

   He continued:

   “I have had a few folk behind the scenes making this all happen - Craig at CMR Performance, Infinitus Security, Ward Groupage Newry, LaserMaster, Southwest Motorcycles, Bennetts Gardens Barry and Dolina Hughes and SR Electrical and BMA Carbon, all of whom have provided help over this winter to make both myself and the bike the best we can be, I will be spending several weekends over on the island between now and practice week soaking up the knowledge of rider liaison officers Milky Quayle and Johnny Barton.”

   

2. BILLY REDMAYNE SET FOR ISLE OF MAN TT RACES DEBUT

   Posted on 11:00am Thursday 3rd Mar 2016

   2015 Junior Manx Grand Prix winner Billy Redmayne is set to make his debut at the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy. Billy will compete in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock, PokerStars Senior and Monster Energy Supersport TT Races.

   Billy will be riding Jack Valentines Valmoto MV Agusta 675, backed by Support our Paras, the Parachute Regiment’s charity and Des and Dot Collins in the Supersport events. Billy will be the third rider to compete on the Valmoto MV Agusta around the Mountain Course after Gary Johnson and Peter Hickman. Billy will also be competing on his own Billy Redmayne Racing Kawasaki ZX10R, backed by thepeoplesbike.com.

   Billy is very excited to be stepping up to the TT after a successful two years at the Manx Grand Prix, winning the Newcomers ‘A’ race in 2014 and the Junior Manx Grand Prix in 2015. He lapped at over 121mph on the opening two laps of the Senior Manx Grand Prix before being forced to retire at Parliament Square on the final lap, whilst locked in a fierce battle with eventual race winner Malachi Mitchell-Thomas.

   2016 is set to be an exciting season for Billy who will take in a number of other races including the Spring Cup, North West 200, Southern 100, Armoy, Ulster Grand Prix and The Scarborough Gold Cup.

   Due to Billy being a serving member of the Parachute Regiment he has previously struggled to commit 100% to road racing due to deployments to Afghanistan, but for this season he has the full support from the Regiment to pursue his road racing ambitions enabling him to focus on training and preparing for the challenge.

   Commenting on his Isle of Man TT debut, Billy said:

   “I’m really looking forward to making my debut at the TT and looking to improve on my previous times at the Manx Grand Prix. I can’t wait to get going on the MV as I have seen what the bike is capable of and it’s definitely a bike that will help me achieve my goals. I am very lucky to be working with Jack Valentine for my first TT, having someone with his knowledge and experience is going to be awesome.”

   Billy added:
   “As it will be my first go on a big bike around the circuit I will definitely have a lot to learn. Again having such a wealth of knowledge with thepeoplesbike.com will help me progress and work towards putting good lap times in.”

3. MCN’s Adam Child confirmed to ride Lightweight TT for British Motorcycle Manufacturing and Norton Project

   Posted on 1:00pm Monday 29th Feb 2016

   The British Motorcycle Manufacturing Academy in partnership with Norton will be returning to the Isle of Man to compete in highly competitive Lightweight class with MCN’s Senior Road Tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child at the helm.

   Students on the apprenticeship program run by the BMMA at Norton HQ, Donington Park will once again primarily run the project. The team had a baptism of fire at last year’s TT as they competed against the words best road racers. Their job was made ten times harder as the team had to work long hours to rebuild the bike after Chad crashed on the mountain section at the end of practice week.

   The bike showed promise in the race, but unfortunately the team were forced to retire on the second lap due to a mechanical gremlin. Since the TT the BMMA team, made up of students under 21, have made huge strides, gaining valuable experience competing in the prestigious Scarborough Gold Cup, scoring a creditable 7th position on the bikes first outing around the undulating track.

   Head of design and executive director Simon Skinner said:

   “The young team were thrown in at the deep end last year and learnt so much, nothing beats live racing and it doesn’t come much harder than the TT. Chad is back on board working closely the students who are gaining from his vast experience. The young team are growing in confidence, they have the potential to surprise a few people this year. Again the young team will be working in partnership with the factory Norton Team.”

   MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child, who will be competing at his fifth TT has been professionally testing bike for 15 years and is a key member to the team working on the development of the new bike. He said:

   “I messed up last year, it was my fault, I just took my eye off the ball for a second and crashed, it was no fault of the bike. The lads worked their socks off, really grafted and I’m desperate to give them a good result this year. It’s a hugely interesting and rewarding project working with the students and I’m looking forward to another year.”
   
   

4. Saroléa Racing announce TT Zero team for the 2016 IOM TT

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 26th Feb 2016

   Saroléa Racing (www.sarolea-racing.com) will return to race the IOM TT in 2016 with two riders racing the 2016 Saroléa Electric SP7 in the TT Zero Class.

   Bradford’s Dean Harrison and Northern Ireland’s Lee Johnston are confirmed to ride for the iconic Belgian brand in their 3rd consecutive year at the Isle of Man TT.

   Lee Johnston who raced the TT ZERO for the first time in 2015 and podiumed 3rd said: “I’m buzzing to be on-board with Saroléa. I raced last year for a different team and podiumed 3rd, this year the plan is to podium again but faster!”

   Dean Harrison now approaching his 6th year at the IOMTT said: “It’s my first time racing the TT Zero and I cannot wait. I’ve been following the team since they raced for the first time in 2014 and I’m itching to get on the bike. The technology is off the scale and this year is going to be flat out.”

   Saroléa Racing competed at the Isle of Man TT Zero for the first time in 2014; Robert Wilson taking the exquisite brand new all carbon SP7 to an amazing 4th, just 0.4 seconds off the podium and an average speed of 93.507mph. 2015 followed with significant technical advancements, and a ride that resulted in a solid 5th with an average speed of 106.510 mph, a phenomenal 13 mph improvement.

   With TT Zero lap speeds and technological advancements evolving at an unprecedented rate, the 2016 TT ZERO is set to be one of the most exhilarating races in electric history.

   Torsten Robbens, Saroléa said: “Having multiple bikes on the 2016 TT grid, in combination with two of the best road racers in the world is another huge step forward in the Saroléa journey!”

   The TT Zero Race created in 2010 for zero emission electric motorcycles is a one-lap race round the Island’s 37.733 mile Snaefell Mountain Course scheduled for Wednesday June 8th 2016, with qualifying laps on Friday 3rd and Monday 6th June 2016.

   The 2016 Saroléa Electric SP7 will be unveiled later this year, stay tuned for updates! #SaroleaMoto

5. HAWK RACING CONFIRMS MICHAEL DUNLOP FOR ISLE OF MAN TT RACES

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 13th Feb 2016

   Leicestershire based Hawk Racing has confirmed that Michael Dunlop will race for the team at the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy. The team made the announcement in London at the MCN Motorcycle show at Excel today.

   Eleven time TT Race winner Dunlop, 26, will again ride the BMW S1000 RR Superbike on which he dominated the 2014 TT Races, which included a Superbike and Senior TT double.

   Dunlop’s 2015 TT campaign for the team was hampered by an injury sustained in the opening race of the meeting, the RST Superbike Race but he still went on to record his fastest TT lap – 132.515 – which is the second fastest lap in TT history, on the final lap of the PokerStars Senior TT to finish fifth.

   The Ballymoney man will also race for the team at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix as well as campaigning the team’s Superbike in several BSB rounds, including Silverstone and Oulton Park, as a wild card entry.

   Dunlop’s remarkable TT Races career began in 2007 with his first race win in the Supersport class two years later. He took his first ‘big bike’ win in 2011, winning the Superstock race before taking his first Superbike title in 2013.

   Hawk Racing Team Manager Steve Hicken commented:

   “We’re delighted to have Michael back on board for 2016. We know what we have to do to get him back on the top step on the Isle of Man and with a proper lead time to prepare this year we’re looking forward to helping Michael achieve his ambitions.”

   Michael Dunlop commented:

   “I’m coming back to win again. I gave it my best last year but the Superbike crash wasn’t the best preparation for the Senior. My last lap at the TT reminded everyone what I can do and with these boys behind me I’m ready to race properly again.”