Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. TEAM CLASSIC SUZUKI CONFIRMS TIE UP WITH SUZUKI GB VINTAGE PARTS PROGRAMME FOR 2016

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 4th Jan 2016

   Team Classic Suzuki has announced its tie up with Suzuki GB’s Vintage Parts programme for 2016, and confirm that it will officially represent the Japanese manufacturer in high profile classic racing events next season.

   The team will contest a number of events throughout the year, including the Classic TT on the Isle of Man, and unveiled the Suzuki XR69s that riders Michael Dunlop and Lee Johnston will campaign in 2016 at Motorcycle Live.

   Team Classic Suzuki Owner, Steve Wheatman, said of the tie up,

   “We’re delighted to have agreed terms with Suzuki GB for increased support in 2016, and are proud to be officially representing the brand next season. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership, with the team able to benefit from Suzuki’s parts knowledge and input, while the spectators at many of the events we will be racing at in 2016 are enthusiasts and owners of older bikes, who could benefit from Suzuki GB’s parts programme for more classic machines.

   “In 2015 Michael Dunlop raced our XR69 to victory at the Classic TT; his second win in three years on our bike, and we’ll be aiming for the top step again at every event we enter in 2016 with both Michael and Lee Johnston.”

   Suzuki GB Aftersales Marketing Co-ordinator, Tim Davies, said,

   “Being involved with Steve and Team Classic Suzuki is a perfect fit for us. Racing is a hugely important part of Suzuki’s heritage, and even though bikes and technology are always moving forward, we don’t forget about the bikes that got us to where we are. It’s the same with our road bikes too, which is why we’re so committed to supporting the team next season, and we’re sure we’ll be celebrating some good results together in 2016.”

2. Dan Hegarty lines up RTR Motorcycles deal for 2016 Road Racing Season

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 21st Dec 2015

   Rising road racing star Dan Hegarty has confirmed that he will ride for RTR Motorcycles backed by Downshift Limited for the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy as well as selected meetings at Oliver’s Mount including the prestigious Scarborough Gold Cup.

   The team has yet to confirm machinery but is committed to competing in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock, Monster Energy Supersport and PokerStars Senor TT Races at next year’s TT which runs from 28th May to 10th June 2016.

   Nottingham rider Dan, who made his TT Races debut in 2011, clearly made real progress in 2015, performing consistently at the TT, which resulted in a new highest placed finish of thirteenth which he achieved in the opening Superbike race. He followed that up with a top 20 position in the RL360 Superstock Race and eighteenth position in the prestigious PokerStars Senior TT, rounding off his most consistent TT to date. He also improved his fastest lap around the TT Course to 126.5mph on the last lap of this year’s Senior TT.

   2015 also saw Hegarty make his debut at Oliver’s Mount in the Spring Cup National Road Races, finishing the meeting as leading newcomer, which included third place in second Junior A Race.

   He finished the 2015 road race season in style at the Scarborough Gold Cup, piloting his Downshift Motorsport ZX10R Kawasaki to a superb fourth place finish in the Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup meeting which included taking an outstanding runner-up place in the Senior Race ahead of notable road racing luminaries including John McGuinness and Ivan Lintin.

   Commenting on his 2016 season Dan said:

   “I am glad of the way I have progressed over my years competing at the TT. There’s so much to take in when you’re learning the TT course but next year will be my sixth year on the Isle of Man and every year I get more confident round there. It’s great to have the deal with RTR Motorcycles/Downshift Ltd sorted well ahead of the new season which gives me loads of time to keep working hard towards my goals.”

   

3. Devitt RC Express Racing add Bonner to 2016 line-up

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 20th Dec 2015

   Devitt RC Express Racing have confirmed that they will be expanding their team to a two-strong line-up for the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the other International road races, with Eire’s Alan Bonner joining 2015 Lightweight TT race winner Ivan Lintin.

   The Bristol-based team, led by father and son Roy and Ben Constable, has risen through the road racing ranks since their debut mid-way through the 2012 season, becoming one of the most successful teams in the paddock firstly with Dean Harrison and more recently with Lintin.

   The team took their first podium at the Isle of Man TT in 2014 when Harrison took second in the Superstock TT before going one better a few days later with a superb victory in the Lightweight TT. Lintin then gave the team further success in 2015 as they regained their Lightweight TT title.

   With Lintin already confirmed for 2016, Strathmullen’s Bonner joins the team on the back of a highly successful 2015 TT campaign which saw him become the fastest ever rider from Southern Ireland to lap the Mountain Course, breaking the late Martin Finnegan’s long-standing mark.

   Having made his TT debut in 2014, winning two bronze replicas in the Supersport races, Bonner excelled in his second year on the Island, lapping at 127.090mph on his way to finishing an excellent 15th place in the PokerStars Senior. That gave him his second silver replica in the process after finishing 18th earlier in the week in the Superstock race. He also finished 16th and won a bronze replica in the opening Superbike race

   Now fully recovered from injuries sustained in a qualifying accident at the Ulster Grand Prix, the Stamullen rider will campaign a Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock machine in all of the 1000cc races.

   Alan Bonner said:
   “I'm delighted to be joining Devitt RC Express Racing for 2016. I've admired the team for years and have seen the commitment they have to their riders. They have a very professional set up and some of the best technical people in the sport working within their team. I can't thank them enough or their sponsors for this opportunity especially Mann Camping. I'd also like to thank all my personal sponsors for supporting me and am looking forward to getting out to Spain with them in early March to start testing.”

   Ben Constable, Team Co-owner added:
   “I’m really pleased to have Alan on board for the internationals in 2016. Alan has shown great pace this year at the TT becoming the fastest Southern Irishman ever to lap the Mountain Course and was running inside the top 10 in qualifying at the Ulster GP in Superstock, just before his accident. With more of a team infrastructure behind him we firmly believe there is a lot more to come from him. His first outing on the ZX10R will be in Spain in March and we can’t wait to get going.”

   

4. MSS PERFORMANCE SUPPORT WILLIAM DUNLOP FOR 2016

   Posted on 3:59pm Thursday 17th Dec 2015

   MSS Performance and Colchester Kawasaki will be supporting ‘Roads’ star rider William Dunlop with a specially prepared Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Superstock machine for the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy. The activity sees Nick Morgan and the renowned MSS set-up continue their tuning work on the Ninja family with the new 2016 machine already in race development.

   Thirty year old William will be continuing the legendary Dunlop family tradition ‘between the hedges’ with MSS Performance chosen for their renowned experience on the Ninja in the popular production class. MSS has made its name tuning and preparing bikes from the Akashi based manufacturer, with many current British Superbike teams using their services. An MSS prepared machine took local Essex rider Danny Buchan to a dominant 2014 National Superstock title.

   William will be riding the Superstock Kawasaki in the ‘big three’ internationals; the Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy, North West 200 and the Ulster GP along with Irish National road races. Crucially, the TT winner will also be campaigning in selected National Superstock races at the MCE British Superbike Championship to work on his race pace and keep him ‘sharp’.

   The MSS squad are preparing the heavily revised 2016 ZX-10R, which is reckoned to be an even more potent Superstock machine, having already taken the National Superstock series crown for the last two seasons.

   William’s efforts in 2016 will be co-ordinated with CD Racing who will be running the Ulsterman on a variety of machinery.

   William Dunlop explained his decision to go with MSS Performance;

   “If I’m really honest I wasn’t too sure about Superstock but when I heard we had the option of running with Nick and understood the whole package I became really positive. I’m excited to be doing it properly with testing and some BSB rounds, which will mean I’ll be sharp for the TT. Chris Dowds of CD Racing sorted the deal and as we both know Nick and his guys have fantastic knowledge and data on the ZX-10R in this spec. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in green and that was an old MSS ZX-6R, which was great bike. The team seem a really relaxed group to deal with and that’s just how I like to go racing!”

   MSS Owner Nick Morgan added:

   “With the arrival of the new Kawasaki ZX-10R, 2016 is the perfect timing for the MSS Colchester Kawasaki Team to return to Road Racing with William Dunlop. We are looking forward to a full testing programme along with some wild card entries in Superstock 1000 in BSB with William, which I feel is essential to be competitive at the major road events. With more riders combining short circuit with the roads, gone are the days of just rocking up and being competitive. The lads are race sharp and in a short circuit frame of mind, and this I feel is exactly where we need to be with William and the team.

   I would like to take this opportunity to thank Luke Gregory of Colchester Kawasaki for all his help and support in getting MSS Colchester Kawasaki back on track, after what has been a character building absence for a few years. to say the least!”

   

5. Wryst reveals their Isle of Man 2016 Special Edition Swiss Sport Watch

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 15th Dec 2015

   Wryst, the Official Timing Partner of the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy, has confirmed that the new limited edition ‘Isle of Man Tourist Trophy’ sport watch is now available for pre-order and will be delivered in the first quarter of 2016.

   The Swiss manufacturer has developed The Isle of Man TT ‘Special Edition’ 2016 Chronograph, an exclusive timepiece dedicated to the iconic Isle of Man TT Races, the world’s greatest Road Race.

   Complete with a tough black diamond-like carbon coating and premium design, the watch has an ultra-modern style and is packed with high performance specifications designed to deliver a tough, durable and prestigious timekeeper including offering water resistance to 100 metres.

   The watch case back features a 3D recreation of the famous three legs triskelion with the inscription ‘Isle of Man TT’ and every watch has its own serial number and is marked ‘special edition.’ The watch face is also marked with Isle of Man TT at the 9 hour mark. Every watch comes complete with a 45 mm case. It has a bi-colour black and yellow high quality silicone strap.

   The high tech performance watch offers the following features;

   Swiss 5 jewel gold plated quartz chronograph movement
   Scratch resistant black ‘diamond like’ carbon coating on the case, crown and buckle
   Shatter-proof KI mineral crystal with anti-reflective coating
   Red anodized top chrono pusher, yellow anodized bottom chrono pusher
   TT Races winners will be early recipients of the watch but it is also available at £695 (GBP) and comes with a one year manufacturer limited warranty. They will be delivered worldwide from the first quarter 2016.