Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. MICHAEL DUNLOP HEADS TT SUPERSPORT ENTRY AND TARGETS FIRST 130MPH LAP IN 600cc CLASS

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 31st Mar 2014

   High quality line up as organisers confirm Monster Energy Supersport TT Races startlist

   After recently announcing the starting order for the 1000cc classes at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, race organisers have also confirmed the Supersport startlist and as with the other races, a competitive grid will assemble on Glencrutchery Road later this year.

   Michael Dunlop made the class his own twelve months ago when, riding his own MD Racing Honda, he produced two blistering performances to take a resounding double, the second race seeing him shatter both the race and lap records, the latter rising to an incredible 128.666mph. Continuing to run his own Supersport venture in 2014, Dunlop will again start at number six and he is targeting a stunning 130mph lap in the middleweight division.

   Speaking about this year's Monster Energy Supersport TT Races, Dunlop is clear about his objectives: “I’ve proved I can win TT’s on a Supersport bike and I’ve also got the lap and race records. But what I really want is to be the first person to lap at over 130mph on a 600cc bike and I think it is within my reach. I need to take about 11 seconds off my best lap, which is a big ask. But my bike is going to be stronger this year and when I set the lap record I made a few little mistakes and lost quite a lot of time. So I know it is possible, it’s just about putting that perfect lap together for 37 and ¾ miles.”

   Rivals to Dunlop’s supremacy are spread throughout the top 20 seeds though and, with races in previous years being determined by ever-decreasing margins, it could well need a lap of that magnitude to win.

   Fellow Honda riders John McGuinness and Bruce Anstey will line up as team-mates for Padgetts Motorcycles at numbers 1 and 5 respectively, with the Kiwi having pushed Dunlop hard in both Supersport Races 12 months ago, especially the second where he led for much of the way. Anstey also won a memorable 600cc Race in 2012, getting the better of Cameron Donald by just 0.77s.

   Four-time Supersport race winner Ian Hutchinson will have a great chance of making it five on his Milwaukee Yamaha, once again starting at number 3, and while it’s been six years since he last rode a 600cc machine and only his second TT, his team-mate Josh Brookes cannot be discounted out at number 14, the Australian having finished third in the 2008 World Supersport Championshi.

   Tyco Suzuki riders Guy Martin and William Dunlop will again resume their challenge with the number 4 and 8 plates respectively and although the Suzuki hasn’t challenged for race wins in the last few seasons, Dunlop is a master of the 600cc class.

   Smiths Triumph are a new name to the TT but the 2012 British Championship winners will be focused on race wins and Gary Johnson should give them their best chance from number seven. Teammate Michael Rutter will have his first Supersport outings at the TT since 2009 and, as a result, starts lower down the order at 15.

   Keith Amor is another exciting top ten prospect at number nine and the returning Scot, back at the TT for the first time since 2011, has a great chance of adding to his haul of five podiums. James Hillier will again be Kawasaki’s main hope at number 2 whilst Conor Cummins, riding a Jackson Racing Honda, sets off from his regular number 10 slot.

   As with the 1000cc class, Dan Stewart, Dean Harrison and Lee Johnston take numbers 11-13 with Bradford’s Harrison surely having a great shot at a win on the Mar-Train Racing Yamaha, the team having taken Stuart Easton to British Championship success in 2013.

   David Johnson and Dan Kneen stay at numbers 16 and 17 respectively but, as expected, there are some changes in the top twenty compared to the 1000cc races with Jamie Hamilton, Daniel Cooper and Robert Wilson the final seeded riders being rewarded for some strong results in 2013.

   Outside the top 20, race order will be determined by qualifying times but numbers to look out for include Jamie Coward, Simon Andrews and Ivan Lintin at 23, 24 and 25, local rider Ryan Kneen (29), three-times British Supersport champion Karl Harris (35) and Jimmy Storrar (40).

   A number of former Manx Grand Prix riders will also be taking part for the first time most notably James Cowton (37), double Junior race winner Michael Sweeney (50), Colin Stephenson (58), Connor Behan (72), Christopher Dixon (73) and Rab Davie (75), the latter having been a stalwart at the Manx since 1998.

   With a notable 99 approved entries, a new record for the Supersport class, it’s proved to be the most popular class at TT 2014 although the only newcomers are Alan Bonner (98) and Laurent Hoffmann (99).

2. ALAN BONNER AND STEPHEN THOMPSON TO REPRESENT THEPEOPLESBIKE AT 2014 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES

   Posted on 9:43am Saturday 22nd Mar 2014

   Popular fan backed TT team thepeoplesbike has signed Southern Ireland based newcomer Alan Bonner to represent them in the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

   Bonner is the latest in a long list of riders to represent thepeoplesbike since their inception in 2009. This unique team is partly funded by race fans, who have their picture on the bikes fairings, as well as an open invitation to the team's awnings during the TT, in return for their support.

   Alan will be competing in the two Monster Energy Supersport Races, the Dainese Superbike, RL360 Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT. He will be riding a Honda Fireblade in the three 1000cc classes and a Yamaha 600 in the two Supersport Races.

   Alan won the 2010 Irish Road Race Senior Support Championship but followed that with a couple of seasons to forget after he broke both wrists in an accident in the Adelaide Masters round at Mondello Park. However, he is now firmly back on track and his career highlights to date include an impressive 127.9mph lap at the Ulster GP last year. He also performed notably in the 2012 Dundrod Challenge with a seventh placed finish.

   Commenting on the news, Alan Bonner said: "I am really excited to be coming to the TT and running under thepeoplesbike banner. I know it's a brilliant chance for me, and I can't wait to tackle the course. It's also really great to be part of a project that's backed by genuine race fans and I look forward to meeting our supporters at the 2014 event."

   Northern Ireland rider Stephen Thompson will be returning to the team in 2014, riding a Suzuki 600 in both Monster Energy Supersport Races. Thompson's TT career includes a highest placed finish of 15th, which he achieved in last year's PokerStars Senior TT, although he has not raced in the Supersport class to date at the TT. He has a fastest Mountain Course lap of 123.635mph, which he set in the 2013 PokerStars Senior TT.

   Team manager Mark Cubbon commented: "We are really pleased to be working with Alan for his TT debut. I believe he has the talent to have a great TT career ahead of him. We're also delighted to have Stephen back with the team again this year. His infectious sense of humour and ability makes him a big hit with the team as well as the fans who back us."

   The team will post their official T-shirt, cap and signed photo to team sponsors anywhere in the world. During practice and race week the team will be tweeting live from the paddock and grid. Photographs will be posted daily on the team's facebook page and website.

   Check out the team's website www.thepeoplesbike.com and keep up to date with their news at this year's TT and also see how you can become part of this unique team.

3. JOHN McGUINNESS REVERTS TO NUMBER ONE PLATE AT 2014 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES BUT FACES HIGH CALIBRE CHALLENGERS

   Posted on 9:44am Thursday 20th Mar 2014

   With the stunning entry assembled for the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, the excitement and anticipation is set to increase as the start numbers are now confirmed for the 1000cc solo classes. 2014 will again see riders in numbers 1-20 being seeded and it's a top twenty packed with established race winners, regular front runners and exciting new talent.

   After taking number three last year to honour Joey Dunlop's first TT win for Honda, twenty-times TT winner John McGuinness will revert back to number one on the grid, with the Morecambe Missile having won races in 2011 and 2012 starting from the head of the field. The experienced Honda Racing rider will be expected to use the advantage of the clear road to try and break the chasing pack.

   Ten seconds behind will be the man who shadowed him for much of last year's PokerStars Senior Race, James Hillier, and having lapped in the 131mph bracket to become the fifth fastest rider ever, the Quattro Plant Muc-Off Kawasaki rider knows he'll have to do more of the same and with McGuinness ahead on the road he'll have no better target.

   Number three will, arguably, be the most celebrated rider at TT2014 with Ian Hutchinson, the five-time winner of 2010, returning to a hero's welcome. The Milwaukee Yamaha rider has been to hell and back since that achieving that magnificent feat and will be determined to get back to winning ways immediately.

   He'll be pushing for his ninth TT race win with his first chance in the Dainese Superbike Race but behind him is a man challenging for his first with Guy Martin, as in 2013, heading off at number four. It's also the fourth year he's been with Hector and Philip Neill's Tyco Suzuki squad so could 2014 finally be the year?

   The potential race winners come thick and fast though with the next ones to set off down Bray Hill being Bruce Anstey, Michael Dunlop and Gary Johnson. Dunlop, of course, almost swept the board in 2013, taking four race wins and a second place, but now he's made the switch to the BMW Motorrad/Hawk Racing team all eyes will be on him to see if he can continue his winning spree.

   Anstey, now the second fastest rider ever, can never be ruled out and although he failed to add to his nine wins last year, he was on the pace and is still determined to take his first Superbike Race win. Likewise Johnson, who challenged for the lead in the early stages of both the Superbike and Senior Races in 2013 before technical gremlins intervened, will be looking for his first 'big bike' win.

   William Dunlop has made the move to the Tyco Suzuki team and gets his first 1000cc top ten start at 8 while the top ten is completed by Michael Rutter and local hero Conor Cummins, the latter looking to replicate his 2010 form when he led the Superbike Race for four laps. Now part of the Honda Racing squad, all of his rivals know he's one to watch.

   Dan Stewart, carrying the number 11 plate, will again be looking to get the SMT /Wilcock Consulting machines in amongst the factory riders while a strong lower order threat comes from number 12 in the shape of Dean Harrison. Now approaching his fourth year at the TT, Harrison is expected to be challenging for race wins on the RC Express Racing by MSS Performance Kawasaki.

   Another exciting youngster, Lee Johnston, the reigning TT Privateer's Champion, can be found at number 13 and is expected to make further strides forward while arguably one of the most exciting riders at TT2014 can be found at number 14 - Josh Brookes. Now riding for Milwaukee Yamaha, the Australian rider became the fastest ever newcomer last year when he set a scorching lap of 127.726mph, beating Steve Plater's six year mark, and many are predicting a130mph lap and possible podium for the BSB star this time around.

   Leading privateers Steve Mercer (15), David Johnson (16) and Dan Kneen (17) will be hoping to keep Brookes in their sights with Simon Andrews (18) looking for a strong run on Rico Penzkofer's BMW. The recent news that Cameron Donald will be back at the TT sees the double winner line up at number 19 on the Norton, echoing Steve Hislop's stunning 1992 race victory, meaning that there are three Australians in the top twenty. The final seeded rider, completing the top twenty, will be Ben Wylie, winner of the 2009 Newcomers Trophy.

   Outside the top 20, race order will again be determined by qualifying times but numbers to look out for include Ryan Farquhar who has opted to take his usual number 77, which indicates he'll be looking more for enjoyable rides rather than being in the competitive mix, and the returning American Jimmy Moore, riding again for East Coast Construction, at number 21.

   Jamie Hamilton, now riding for Wilson Craig Racing, will have the number 26 plate with Horst Saiger, who was second fastest newcomer behind Brookes in 2013, taking 28 while Ivan Lintin, contesting the 1000cc races for the first time, will have number 37 adorning the Taylor Lindsey Racing Honda's.

   The newcomers are spread out through the entry list with Martin Jessopp and Peter Hickman taking their regular British Superbike numbers of 40 and 60 respectively. Others to look out for include former Grand Prix regular Danny Webb (66), Canadian ace Dan Kruger (71) and leading IRRC riders Vick de Cooremeter (92) and Laurent Hoffmann (93).

   The RL 360° Superstock entry sees most of the riders given the same numbers although Hutchinson, Brookes and Donald have all decided not to take part which will see riders below them moving up the grid. A number will also be in different livery including McGuinness (Padgetts Motorcycles), Michael Dunlop (MD Racing) and Cummins (RAF Reserves Racing).

4. CAMERON DONALD TO RIDE FOR NORTON FACTORY TEAM AT 2014 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES

   Posted on 4:47pm Wednesday 19th Mar 2014

   Norton Motorcycles has confirmed that Cameron Donald will contest the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, with the Australian ace lining up in the Dainese Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT Races for the British manufacturer. Cameron will start both races from the number 19 position, made famous by the late Steve Hislop who took Norton’s last TT victory in the 1992 Senior Race.

   After three years with Wilson Craig Racing, there has been much speculation about Donald’s future since last year’s TT. However, while the change in teams will see his career take a different direction, it signals his intention to continue racing at the highest level and also his passion for competing on the Mountain Course.

   Hailing from Warrandyte, near Melbourne, Donald won the TT Newcomers Trophy in 2005 and set the paddock alight a year later when he took a stunning second place in the Senior TT. 2008 saw him claim a Superbike-Superstock double victory for Relentless by TAS Suzuki before setting the first ever 131mph+ lap in practice for the 2009 meeting although a spill a day later ultimately put him out of the races.

   Although he has yet to win another race, he now has an impressive tally of ten podiums with his most recent coming in last year’s Superbike Race when he took second place behind Michael Dunlop. With a fastest lap of 130.729mph, Donald is also the eighth fastest rider ever to have lapped the 37 and ¾-mile course and showed his versatility with second in the inaugural Okells Brewery 350cc Classic TT Race last August.

   Having made an unsuccessful return to the TT in 2009 with Michael Dunlop, Norton bounced back in 2012 with Ian Mackman on board their all-new machine although the Senior Race cancellation put paid to their hopes of a competitive finish. However, with further development, they came back stronger in 2013 with a two-man team comprising Mackman and Daniel Hegarty and the duo lapped at 122.277mph and 122.290mph respectively with Mackman claiming the best result of the fortnight with 18th in the Superbike Race.

   Over the winter, Norton have secured the services of both Mick Grant and Steve Plater to aid further development and progress and by signing a proven TT winner in Donald, in a three year deal, their intentions for the 2014 TT have clearly been set.

   Cameron Donald commented: "When Norton began talking to me about their plans for TT 2014 I knew it was an opportunity I didn't want to miss. With the enthusiasm and experience of the Norton team behind me and ex TT winners such as Mick Grant and Steve Plater now involved, this is sure to be an exciting year. Norton is synonymous with the Isle of Man TT and I can't wait to ride the new SG3 round the Mountain Course and add to their Isle of Man history."

   Stuart Garner, CEO, Norton Motorcycles commente d:"Cameron is a really great rider to have on board, not only as a racer but also as a brand ambassador for Norton. His support, feedback and endorsement will all be really important to us both as a company and a race team as we look to and we are all relishing the challenge of developing a strong bike and team around him for the long-term. We will also be working with Cameron within our road bike business, primarily to help develop our Australasian markets where Norton, Cameron and the TT all have a great following."

5. MARK MILLER TEAMS UP WITH ITALIAN TEAM VERCARMOTO FOR 2014 SES TT ZERO RACE

   Posted on 10:31am Tuesday 18th Mar 2014

   After finishing in fifth place with Chris McGahan in the SES TT Zero in 2013, Italian based Team Vercarmoto, who made their debut in the event in 2012, has announced that American Mark Miller will ride for them in the 2014 Race.

   The American rider is seen as a specialist in the category and boasts a respectable track record in the Isle of Man TT Zero class with the runner up position in 2011 and 3rd place in 2012 to go with his 2010 race victory. The American is also one of only three riders to break the prestigious 100mph mark around the iconic 37.73 mile TT Mountain Course on an electric bike, a feat he achieved in the 2012 race.

   "I'm very excited to be joining Team Vercarmoto for the 2014 TT Zero event," said Miller. "I met the team owner Carlo Gelmi a few years ago when he told me he was building a very fast electric race bike and indeed he has done it. After their Vercar R6E finished in 5th place in the 2013 TT Zero Race I had a close look at their bike, a heavily modified Yamaha R6 with a gearbox intact. With loads of carbon fibre and other trick bits, it definitely looks capable of doing the business to fight for the podium and this will be our aim."

   He continued: "I want to wish MotoCzysz and Michael Czysz all the best as they take a year off from racing and welcome this terrific opportunity to work with my new Italian team. I cannot wait to get the TT fortnight rolling again."

   Miller will compete riding the Vercar R6E, the only electric motorcycle with 6-speed gearbox, extremely compact dimensions and chassis borrowed from the starting bike: Yamaha YZF-R6.

   The performance is around 75 bhp with a weight of about 225 kg and a speed close to 250 km/h (155 mph), obtained thanks to an engine with drive control that allows the recovery of kinetic energy during braking. The Motorcycle batteries with lithium-ion technology are very high performance with a special electronic management system (BMS) that allows the optimization of the energy in any operating condition.