Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. Busy season ahead both on and off the track for Crowe with Isle of Man TT Races debut

   Posted on 8:08am Wednesday 5th Feb 2014

   Multiple UK Club Championship winner Phil Crowe is preparing for a busy schedule during the 2014 season. The man from Market Rasen is set to make his debut at the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy this year, as well as the Ulster Grand Prix. As if the race schedule were not enough, Crowe also plans to develop young motorcycle talent through his Lincolnshire based PCR Motorcycle Developments company.

   Phil has announced that he will continue with his short circuit commitments with Thundersport GB in the GP1 class and selected British Superstock 1000 rounds, but the main focus in 2014 will undoubtedly be the roads campaign.

   “It’s an exciting time for me” said Crowe. “While I will continue with the short circuit commitments, my focus and aim has always been to develop on the roads and this year I will make my eagerly anticipated debut at the Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix,” said the Lincolnshire rider.

   “My plan is to run in the RL 360 Superstock, Dainese Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT Races and I will be returning to the North West 200. Oliver’s Mount remains part of the race schedule for me this year and I am looking forward to running the BMW S1000RR at Dundrod, a circuit that I have always wanted to race,” said Crowe.

   “Additionally I am really looking to build on the plans to support young racing talent and inject something back into the sport. We have some exceptional riders that we are working with, including bright young stars Tom and Tim Neave, who I believe have a very promising future. If I can help them along the way, it will be extremely rewarding,” said Crowe. “I am also working with Carl Simpson who is already demonstrating his skills and talents on the bigger machines. He will only improve and get faster this year.”

   “I have prepared carefully this year for the TT and Ulster, with some sound advice from experienced road racers. With the strong package behind us, I will be looking to be at the sharp end of the newcomers."

   Phil would like to thank his friends, family and sponsors, notably PCR Motorcycle Developments, Holbeach Motorcycle Tyres, B&C Express, Fleetwood Grab Services, Objektum Modernisation, Astle BMW, WK Bikes, Merlin Leathers, Arrow Exhausts, Renthal and Tsubaki.

   Tickets are now on sale and selling fast for the 2014 TT Races. Glencrutchery Road Grandstand race day tickets are sold out but there are still TT Fan Zone Grandstand tickets available at Ballacrye, Creg Ny Baa and Nobles Park during practice and race days. Grandstand tickets are also available by purchasing VIP or Platinum Hospitality tickets. All tickets are available from www.iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.

2. AJ Venter and Top Gun Racing join forces for TT 2014

   Posted on 4:21pm Monday 3rd Feb 2014

   South African rider AJ Venter will return to the Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, in 2014 as part of the Top Gun Racing team.

   It will be Venter's second year of competing on the Mountain Course and this time he will compete in all solo races, riding Hondas in the 600cc and 1000cc categories and a Kawasaki in the Lightweight Race.

   The former British Supersport Championship front runner made his debut appearance at the TT last year, lapping in excess of 116mph, before going on to ride at the Macau Grand Prix for the first time and is determined to come back to the Island this year and continue to build on his road racing career.

   AJ will also be competing in the South African Superbike Championship onboard a BMW S1000RR, which he will prepare himself under the AJ Venter Racing Team banner. The team's plan is to keep racing at home, remain injury free, and focus on the TT for 2014

   Top Gun Racing is run by former racer and TT competitor Adrian Cox, the RAF man hanging up his leathers after last year's Formula 1 Classic TT when he took eighth on his 600cc Honda, winning the privateer category in the process. After making his debut at the Manx Grand Prix in 2010, Cox moved up to the TT in 2012 and went on to win two bronze replicas with a best finish of 15th in last year's Lightweight race. Other riders to benefit form the support of Top Gun Racing include former Senior Manx GP winner and fellow RAF man Michael Russell.

   The team will be competing with support from the RAF, Breitling, Silkolene, Energy and X Bikes and further information can be found on their website www.topgunracing.co.uk

   Speaking about his forthcoming TT campaign, Venter said: "I am over the moon to be joining Adrian Cox's team, as he is close friends with the team I rode for at last year's TT where I was treated like royalty. What really excites me this year is that I'll be able to do a lot more laps as I will be competing in 6 races rather than three. I learnt a lot from last year's event, and this year I will be coming back more focused physically and mentally. One thing that has bugged me since last year is that I wasn't able to get my final flying lap in the Senior Race, and on my previous lap I had just done my quickest time of the event."

   "I am confident in Adrian and his team as he is coming off 18 years of racing experience as well as riding himself around the TT, and if there is one thing money can't buy, it's experience. I must say a big thank you to Paul Phillips and his whole team, Full Throttle Racing Accessories, Minopex, Wiesehof Coffee, Arai, Ultimate Fitness Centre and SBK Sunglasses for making it possible for me to travel halfway across the world to continue pursuing a dream of standing on that TT podium one day. If it was not for any of them, the TT would still just be a Playstation game."

    

3. SMT Racing and Stewart team up again for Isle of Man TT Races 2014 campaign

   Posted on 9:58am Saturday 1st Feb 2014

   Leading International road racing team and National Superstock 1000cc Championship front runners SMT Racing will return to the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy in 2014 with former TT Privateer's Champion Dan Stewart again the rider on board.

   The Cumbrian has long been one of the most consistent performers around the Mountain Course and enjoyed a strong first year with Robin Croft’s team last June, posting two top ten finishes and recording a new personal best lap of 129.077mph in the Dainese Superbike Race. Indeed, only cruel luck when a stone pierced the radiator prevented him from at least matching his best ever result of sixth.

   The Lancashire-based team has increased its presence on the roads in recent years, with Tim Reeves and Daniel Sayle providing them with their greatest moment with their first ever TT win when they took the opening Sure Sidecar Race last June. They also achieved their maiden International victory with Michael Rutter win at the 2012 Macau Grand Prix, a result he followed up with second at the corresponding race last November. SMT Racing also gave Karl Harris his road racing debut at the 2012 TT.

   The team has also had a strong presence on the short circuits for many years, running regularly inside the top ten of the British Superbike Championship and more recently has been contesting the National Superstock 1000cc Championship with Adam Jenkinson only missing out on the 2013 title by three points. Swedish rider Filip Backlund will spearhead their short circuit challenge for the forthcoming season.

   Stewart will have a full array of machinery for this year’s TT where he will be looking to increase his impressive tally of 18 top ten finishes. The motorcycle dealer from Barrow-in-Furness will ride a Honda CBR1000RR in the Dainese Superbike and Pokerstars Senior TT Races and he will also be Honda mounted for the two Monster Energy Supersport Races. He will contest the Royal London 360° Superstock race on either a new Honda or his regular National Superstock Championship Kawasaki ZX-10R.

   Wilcock Consulting, long time backers of Stewart, will again continue with their support and the 38-year old will no doubt be a thorn in the side of all the factory-backed riders as he looks to better the sixth place finish he’s achieved on three occasions to date.

   Team owner Robin Croft commented: “We are delighted to be returning to the TT in 2014 with Dan Stewart. I’m a massive fan of the TT and it is the highlight of our year. Dan did a superb job for us last year and we plan to build upon that experience in 2014 and hopefully cause a few shocks. Dan’s not far away from a 130mph lap now and we are sure he will achieve that this year and will be a regular feature at the top of the leader boards.”

   Tickets are now on sale and selling fast for the 2014 TT Races. Glencrutchery Road Grandstand race day tickets are sold out but there are still TT Fan Zone Grandstand tickets available at Ballacrye, Creg Ny Baa and Nobles Park during practice and race days. Grandstand tickets are also available by purchasing VIP or Platinum Hospitality tickets. All tickets are available from www.iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.

4. Isle of Man TT Races Legend John McGuinness inducted into Motorsport Magazine's Hall of Fame

   Posted on 9:07am Friday 31st Jan 2014

   John McGuinness was last night inducted into Motorsport Magazine's Hall of Fame in a glittering ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London.

   The twenty time Isle of Man TT race winner joins the eight founding members and 17 past inductees including Ayrton Senna, Enzo Ferrari, Sir Stirling Moss, Michael Schumacher, Sir Jackie Stewart and Nikki Lauda, Last night's ceremony also added engineer, technical director and team principal Ross Brawn, 1976 Formula 1 World Champion James Hunt and four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost to the prestigious list.

   The fifth annual Motor Sport Hall of Fame was opened by host and Sky Formula 1 presenter Simon Lazenby before Magazine editor Damian Smith took the stage to wish the magazine a happy 90th birthday.

   Morecambe Missile John McGuinness was fresh back from his first race of the year in Australia and became the third motorcyclist to join the illustrious Hall of Fame club. In 2012 both John Surtees and Giacomo Agostini were inducted and it was the former that was on hand to present McGuinness with his trophy. The six-time Isle of Man TT winner won the Formula 1 World Championship exactly 50 years ago.

   “I’m nearly 42 and I look pretty average,” McGuinness said, “but in my head I feel pretty good. I’ll carry on for one or two more years yet. I felt a bit nervous to be honest, there are so many champions on four wheels and two, but to see my name up there with the greats is a massive honour.”

   The evening also featured an auction in aid of the Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust in association with RM Auctions, which raised £23,000 for the Trust. Some of the lots included mounted Ferrari F1 fuel cap, which sold for £1250 and a signed Michael Schumacher shirt, which went for £5000.

   The Motor Sport Hall of Fame Awards show will air on Sky's F1 channel (Channel 406) at 8.30pm on Friday January 31 after a review of the Jerez test.

5. Keith Amor to ride Dunnell Nortons at 2014 Classic TT

   Posted on 8:08am Thursday 30th Jan 2014

   Fresh from announcing his return to TT competition as Ryan Farquhar's teammate, Keith Amor will also contest the Classic TT presented by Bennetts in August.

   The Scots ace, who retired from racing at the end of the 2011 season, will continue his comeback riding Tony Dunnell-prepared Nortons in both the 500cc and 350cc Classic TT events.

   It will be the 42 year-old's Classic machinery debut but the Dunnell machines have plenty of experience around the Mountain Course and Dunnell is one of the most respected classic bike builders in the UK. Former factory Honda rider Amor takes over the seat vacated by Conor Cummins, who rode for Team Dunnell at last year’s inaugural event.

   Cummins was forced to retire from the 500cc event last August but took a solid seventh in the 350cc race and whilst he has a lack of Classic race experience, Amor’s diminutive stature and knowledge of the Mountain Course should mean he’ll be challenging for podiums in both races.

   Adding his name to the provisional entry list for the 500cc and 350cc Classic TT Races, the five-times TT podium finisher adds further spice to an already mouthwatering line up that promises to be even better than the line up in the inaugural year's event.

   Dunnell himself has a long association with the Isle of Man, first as a competitor in the Manx Grand Prix and, in later years, as a sponsor and entrant. After a four year layoff, Tony returned to the Isle of Man in 2013 and has clearly embraced the Classic TT movement as he will be providing Keith with the latest specification 500cc and 350cc Manx Nortons along with spare bikes for each class.

   Speaking about his Classic TT plans Keith Amor commented: “I was at the Classic TT last year and was gutted to see all the other guys having so much fun out there and I really wanted to be involved. In fact, it was one of the key reasons behind my decision to come back to racing. I feel honored to get the chance to make my debut on a classic bike with Tony Dunnell who builds some of the best Manx Norton's around.”

   Tony Dunnell added: “We really enjoyed the Classic TT last year despite having to endure a number of mechanical issues throughout the fortnight. Conor (Cummins) was a joy to work with and whilst we are disappointed that he has to miss the event this time around, Keith Amor is an ideal replacement and we look forward to working with him. We managed to find the problem that plagued our Classic TT once we got home and we will be giving Keith bikes that should be capable of finishing on the podium.”