Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. British Superbike championship regular Martin Jessopp to make TT debut in 2014

   Posted on 8:57am Thursday 5th Dec 2013

   British Superbike Championship competitor Martin Jessopp has confirmed he will make his much-anticipated Mountain Course debut at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

   The 28-year old will campaign a BMW S1000RR in the Dainese Superbike, Royal London 360º Superstock and Pokerstars Senior TT Races for his regular Riders Motorcycles team, owned and run by father Phil.

   With the exception of 2012 – when he contested the World Supersport Championship – Jessopp has been an ever present in the British Championship paddock since 2004 when he entered the British Superstock Championship on Ducati machinery. The Yeovil rider moved to the British Supersport Championship for the following three seasons enjoying his best season in 2007 when he finished 11th overall with a best result of fifth.

   A switch to Honda and a move to the premier British Superbike series followed and Jessopp took second and third in the 2008 and 2009 Privateer’s Cup before making the step up the BSB series proper. Back on Ducatis, and with Michael Rutter as team-mate, Jessopp impressed in 2010 with five top ten finishes from the first eight races including a maiden pole start at Thruxton before a broken leg at the fifth round halted his charge. However, he bounced back in style in 2011 to claim 11th overall with a best finish of fourth at Donington Park and 11 top ten finishes.

   However, it’s his road racing results that will have made the most impact on TT fans with excellent performances at both the Macau Grand Prix and North West 200. Having made his debut at Macau in 2007, he proved his talent in 2011 when he took second to Rutter, pushing his more experience teammate all the way, and he repeated the result in 2012 for another superb result.

   He made his North-West debut in 2006 and has had numerous top fifteen finishes although cancelled races have prevented him from finishing higher than the 11th he took in the 2008 Superbike race. Indeed, he qualified in second place for the 2011 Superbike Races before becoming the fastest ever man through the speed trap the following year at a phenomenal 208mph on his way to qualifying fifth.

   Speaking about the news that he will make his TT debut Martin said: “Having gained road racing experience at the North West 200 and the Macau Grand Prix, I now feel ready to make my TT debut. The TT is the pinnacle of road racing and I am very excited about the opportunity to finally race there. My plan is to work hard and learn the circuit without any pressure to get a result. Hopefully after a few years I’ll have learnt enough to push on and start to challenge towards the front as I have been able to do at the North West 200 and Macau Grand Prix.”

   Paul Phillips, TT & Motorsport Development Manager, Isle of Man Government added: “Martin is a rider we have been talking to for a number of years and we are delighted that he feels the time is right to come and take part in our event. He has proven quality on the roads and will add real quality to an already superb entry. It’s also fantastic to have another top quality team in the paddock with Riders Motorcycles who have had such a significant presence in the British Superbike paddock for so many years.”

2. STEVE MERCER CONFIRMS 2014 TT RACES CAMPAIGN WITH KEITH FLINT'S TEAM TRACTION CONTROL

   Posted on 8:17am Saturday 30th Nov 2013

   Prodigy frontman Keith Flint's Team Traction Control has confirmed that Kent rider Steve Mercer will ride for the team at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

   The Maidstone based racer who finished 12th in the 2013 Dainese Superbike Race, has a fastest ever lap on the Mountain Course of 126.323mph (17:55.24), which he set in the 2012 Superbike Race. He achieved his highest placed TT finish - 8th - in this year's Royal London 360 Superstock TT Race.

   The thirty-one year old first competed on the Mountain Course in 2009 where he won the coveted Best Newcomers Trophy and also raced at this year's inaugural Classic TT when he retired on the fourth lap of the Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 Race, having featured in the top three.

   Mercer will race in the Dainese Superbike, RL360 Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT aboard the team's TAS Racing supported Superbike and Superstock machines as well as riding a Suzuki GSX-R 600 in the two Monster Energy Supersport Races, which will be the first time that Mercer has raced in the class at the TT.

   He will also compete for Team Traction Control in the North-West 200, Ulster Grand Prix and Macau Grand Prix as well as selected Superstock rounds at BSB.

   Commenting on his 2014 campaign, Mercer said: "Although it's a fledgling outfit they have an experienced crew with the likes of Grant Bunting who worked with Shaun Muir's team last year and we've already got some races under our belts."

   He continued: "I think that this is my chance to kick on and get into the top ten in the Superbike races at the TT. I'm also really looking to get out on a 600 for the first time on the Mountain Course and I think that doing the extra races will help with my overall preparation."

   Keith Flint, Team Principal, Team Traction Control is looking forward to the team racing on the Isle of Man. He said: "After racing myself for several years I know what's needed to compete on two wheels but I think taking on the mountain course is something I couldn't dream of doing myself. I believe it's one of the biggest motorcycle races the world has to offer and I'll put the best team out there possible. Doing the TT is not just something I want to cross off my bucket list. We are going there to do a job with a very capable rider using some top notch bikes and I can't wait."

3. Dean Harrison and Alan Oversby to ride 4 Cylinder MV Agustas at 2014 Classic TT for Black Eagle Racing

   Posted on 9:17am Tuesday 26th Nov 2013

   Dean Harrison and Alan Oversby are set to delight classic racing fans when they line up for the Black Eagle Racing Team at the 2014 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts, on board fabulously exotic MV Agusta 4 cylinder machines.

   Dean Harrison is one of the most exciting new talents on the road racing scene, achieving his debut TT podium in the 2013 Lightweight Race. He also took victory at the inaugural Classic TT, crossing the line first in the Motorsport Merchandise Formula Classic Race. Dean will ride in both the Bennetts 500cc and Okells 350cc Classic TT Races for Black Eagle Racing.

   Alan Oversby is one of the UK’s most prolific riders on the Classic Racing scene with a glittering CV of race victories. Alan was in contention for top six finishes in both the 500cc and 350cc Classic TT Races earlier in the year before retiring with mechanical issues. Alan will ride a 350cc machine for the team.

   After years of involvement in the racing world, David and Mark Kay formed the Black Eagle Team in 2008. Given the high specification of their machines their race outings are limited, so a two rider effort at the Classic TT is a large commitment on their part and a major coup for the Classic TT.

   Team Manager for the Black Eagle Race Team Brian Richards commented: “We visited the Classic TT this year and were very impressed with what we saw. It is clearly the event to be at and win, so we are coming armed with what we believe are the best possible machines with two top notch riders on board. Dean is turning into a big star in road racing and he will lead the line for us in both the 500cc and 350cc Races. Alan has ridden successfully for us for a number of years and will ride in the 350cc Race. Both riders are capable of winning as are the machines and we can’t wait to get started.”

   TT & Motorsport Development Manager Paul Phillips added: “We are delighted to welcome Black Eagle Racing to the Classic TT. People love to see and hear MV Agusta's being ridden on the TT Course in anger and to have such a top quality team with two first rate riders is great news for the event. We are keen to make sure that the Classic TT continues to grow in 2014 from its successful first year and this news is evidence of this.”

4. JOEY DUNLOP TRIBUTE PLANNED FOR 2014 ISLE OF MAN CLASSIC TT RACES

   Posted on 12:28pm Monday 25th Nov 2013

   Following on from the success of the inaugural sixties themed 2013 Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts, the Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development has confirmed that the 2014 Classic TT Races, part of the fortnight-long Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling, will pay tribute to Joey Dunlop and will have an 'eighties' theme running throughout the event.

   Entitled 'Joey Dunlop - Road Racing Legend’, the Classic TT weekend will celebrate the career of Joey Dunlop, not just at the TT, but also during the F1 World Championship days as well as his career in Ireland, with the 1980s a particular focus when Joey was at the height of his career.

   Big hair, shoulder pads, ripped jeans and neon clothes are expected to be the order of the day with the fancy dress themed Paddock Carnival at the Grandstand on Friday 22nd August, while the paddock will turn back the clock and echo to everything from grunge to Madonna with live music and DJ's reflecting the best of the decade.

   The Department of Economic Development is working with Joey's family to curate an exhibition of his racing machines from throughout his career, which are currently being researched. The free entry exhibition will be situated at the heart of the event in the paddock throughout Classic TT.

   There will also be a parade lap sponsored by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company featuring Joey’s 26 biggest career rivals, with appropriate representatives when a rider is unavailable. This will include some of his leading fellow competitors from the 1980s F1 World Championship days as well as his earliest rivals from the Irish Road Racing scene not to mention his many TT rivals.

   The Classic TT weekend will again feature two race days on Saturday 23rd and Monday 25th August with this year's programme again including Formula 1 and 2 machines, a 350cc Race and the 500cc Race. It will also feature the hugely popular VMCC's Festival of Jurby on Sunday 24th August.

   Trevor Hussey, Head of Motorsport, Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development believes that the Classic TT is changing the perception of Classic Racing. He commented: "There seems to be an unwritten rule that Classic Racing is just pre-1960's machines but we are looking to change that with the Classic TT. The 1980's not only gives us a rich motorcycling theme but was also a strong cultural decade and we will look to really expand on that."

   He continued: "It also gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to one of the greatest names in the TT's long history and we are really keen to develop an appropriate celebration of Joey Dunlop's racing career as his name is synonymous with the TT Races."

   John Watt, Commercial Director, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company commented: "We are delighted to be supporting the 2014 Joey Dunlop Road Racing Legend Parade celebrating one of the greatest names in road racing history and are looking forward to working with the Department of Economic Development on building on the success of the inaugural Classic TT and the Festival of Motorcycling as a whole.”

   VIP Hospitality, Grandstand and Classic TT Party tickets can be purchased on-line at www.iomtt.com or via phoning Duke Marketing on 01624 640 000 from Saturday 23rd November.

    

5. McGuinness and Cummins to compete on the roads for Honda

   Posted on 10:24am Saturday 23rd Nov 2013

   Honda Motor Europe today announced its rider line-up for the 2014 Isle of Man TT and North West 200 road racing events. Twenty-time TT winner John McGuinness will be joined by Manxman Conor Cummins to form a two-strong team competing aboard the 2014 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in the Superbike and Senior races. Cummins will also ride for the team in the Superstock class.

   The new road racing squad was revealed as McGuinness and Cummins appeared as team-mates for the first time on the main stage at Motorcycle Live in the UK. The duo promises to pose a serious threat on the roads with the combination of McGuinness’s unrivalled experience and Cummins’s undeniable talent and ambition.

   The 2013 Isle of Man TT proved that at 41 years old, McGuinness is still the man to beat on the mountain course as he set a new outright lap record during the Superbike race and took an epic Senior victory to rack up his 20th win and 41st podium. The Morecambe Missile also has six NW200 wins under his belt and shows no signs of slowing down.

   Cummins – who will make his debut for Honda – was fastest newcomer at the TT and the NW200 in 2006. He secured the first of four TT podiums in 2009 and is the third fastest rider in the history of the event, as well as holding the record for the fastest lap from a standing start at 131.5mph. A career-threatening crash during the 2010 TT has done nothing to dampen the 27-year-old’s ambition as he aims to come back fighting with the Honda team.

   Honda Europe’s revised commitment to road racing represents a new direction following the successful three-year Honda TT Legends project, which has seen the manufacturer compete in both road racing and the Endurance World Championship under the same banner. The 2014 road-racing team will continue to be run from Louth in Lincolnshire and managed by Neil Tuxworth. Honda’s plans for the 2014 EWC season will be announced shortly. 

   Neil Tuxworth

   We’re pleased to announce our 2014 line-up for the roads and very happy to welcome Conor Cummins to the team. He’s an Isle of Man lad whose father and uncle have raced on the island so the TT in is in his blood. He has a great work ethic and a determination to succeed and I have a lot of admiration for him. He’s back to full fighting fitness following his 2010 crash and as one of the fastest men ever around the mountain course, he definitely has the ability to win races. The relationship between John and Honda is well-established and proven to bring results. He is by far the most successful current TT rider in terms of wins and podiums and he showed at this year’s event that he is still the quickest rider around the Isle of Man. We are of course very happy to have him with us again. With John and Conor on board, I believe we are in a very strong position for the 2014 road racing events.

   John McGuinness

   I’m really glad to be staying with Honda to continue the strong relationship we’ve built up in road racing over the years. The team is like family to me and it’s important that I have support that I know I can rely on 100%. It’s great news that Conor will be joining the team. I have a lot of respect for him – he’s young, he’s hungry for it and he has so much passion for racing. It will be a pleasure to be his team-mate. This year proved that there’s life in the old dog yet, so I can’t wait to get back on the Fireblade and see what we can do.

   Conor Cummins

   I am thrilled to bits to be with Honda in 2014. In my eyes this is the absolute pinnacle of road racing. Riding for a team like Honda has been something I’ve been aiming for my whole career so for me this is a huge deal. The team has so much experience and I just want to make the most of the opportunity I’ve been given. I’m really looking forward to racing the new Honda Fireblade and hopefully bringing home some good results.