Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. John McGuinness and Guy Martin complete Honda Racing dream team

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 20th Jan 2017

   Honda Motor Europe has announced an exciting two-rider line-up for its 2017 Road Racing assault at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT in the Superbike classes. Re-signing for the Honda Racing team is TT legend John McGuinness, who will be joined by Guy Martin on the all-new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2.
   
   Making his return to racing after a year away, fan favourite Martin will form a formidable team with McGuinness and the brand new Fireblade SP2 on the roads. Martin has enjoyed huge success on the roads during his career securing wins at various races including the Ulster GP, Scarborough Gold Cup, Armoy, Cookstown and also the Southern 100. He has also stepped onto the TT podium 15 times and will be chasing his elusive maiden TT win with the Honda Racing team.
   Meanwhile, McGuinness will be looking to add to his impressive tally of 23 TT wins, and riding the new Fireblade SP2, will also be aiming to recapture his lap record which was broken during last year’s race.
   
   The Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade is the most successful 1000cc machine ever at the Isle of Man TT and Honda aims to add to its remarkable record with the new SP2 version, which is the ultimate expression of the Fireblade’s Next Stage Total Control concept.
   
   The SP2 is a road legal homologation special based on the Fireblade SP that is specifically developed for racing and features a revised cylinder head with larger valve sizes and lightweight Marchesini wheels for even greater performance.
   The all-new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 will make its road racing debut at the North West 200 in May.
   
   John McGuinness
   
   "I’m back with Honda for another year; really I’m part of the family, and I can’t wait to see what the new Fireblade SP2 can do! I know the old model like the back of my hand and have taken a lot of my TT wins with the old girl, so I can’t wait to get out on track and try the new machine out. I have a good feeling about this year and think we have a really good package to show that we mean business. I of course would like another TT win and I would quite like my lap record back! I always say when it’s broken that the lads are just borrowing it and I hope this year that this is the case. I am sad to say bye to the old Fireblade; I have a lot of history and good memories with that bike, but testing the new model can’t come soon enough and neither can the race season. I’m excited to have Guy as my new teammate; we’ve enjoyed many a racing battle over the years and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can both do."
   
   
   Neil Tuxworth, Team Manager
   
   "We have two new members joining the Honda Racing team this year with Guy signing and the new 2017 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2. John is part of the furniture really, but it’s great to have him back with us for another year – it wouldn’t be the same without him! I really feel with Guy and John, and of course the new Fireblade, that we have a strong team ready to tackle the roads this year. Guy is hungry for his first TT win and John wants another and his lap record back, so this mixed with the new CBR1000RR means we should be in for some exciting racing action. The new Fireblade SP2 is so important to the team and also Honda and it’s vital we continue its legacy at the TT and add more to its 23 wins. We’re all looking forward to testing and I think everyone from the riders and the team are all excited to get on track and put the new machine through its paces."
   
   Guy Martin
   
   "Neil [Tuxworth] has been talking to me for a while about joining the team, but I had a lot of thinking to do before I committed and said yes. I spent a lot of time on my pushbike to and from work, thinking about what to do. I didn’t want to grow old regretting not giving the Honda a go, and the more time passes since making the decision, the more I’ve thought it is the right decision. Honda is a great team and the Fireblade has always been a weapon on the roads, so with the new bike, I‘m keen to give it a go. We’ve got a busy testing schedule coming up and I’ve put some other stuff off to make time. John [McGuinness] is the man, I’ve got massive respect for him and I’m looking forward to racing on the Fireblade against him."

   

2. Norton Announces Two Rider Factory TT Team for 2017

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 19th Jan 2017

   Norton is set to field two all-star Aussie riders at the 2017 Isle of Man Senior and Superbike TT with its most exciting TT rider line-up yet after attracting the signatures of Aussie duo Josh Brookes and David Johnson to the factory team. Both riders will compete on the all-new SG6, derived from the recently launched V4 SS road bike.

   The SG6 is hand built at Norton’s Donington Hall factory and is currently undergoing a punishing development and testing schedule in the hands of two-times TT winner and Norton development rider, Steve Plater.

   Brookes returns to the TT following a year racing in World Superbikes and is no stranger to the TT. He claimed fastest newcomer at the TT in 2013 finishing a best place of seventh in the 2014 Senior race with his fastest ever TT lap, a staggering 129.859mph, set in only his second year at the Island.

   After a two-year absence on the challenging 37.73-mile Mountain Course, Brookes is looking to build on his TT success on the new 230bhp Norton.

   Speaking from his home in Australia, Brookes said:

   “Firstly I want to come back to the TT, after SMR said I couldn't ride at the TT over the last two years I’ve been desperate to get back and race at the island. I like the history of the Norton and it will be so great to be a little part of the Norton story. It's just something that interests me, and I’m really excited by the project. It's always hard to predict results, especially around the island so I think it's important that I let it come to me. I've not been for two years, and I don't know how much the Norton bike has improved, but I hear great things about the bike.”

   He continued:

   “My first ever race at the TT was in the Superbike and I got a top ten, so let's hope we are better than that at least, but realistically if we finish the races without a problem, and I'm in the 132mph club by the end of the fortnight then we’ll be celebrating.”

   Fellow Australian Davo Johnson makes his return on a Norton which he took to become the fastest ever British motorcycle around the TT in 2016, claiming a seventh place in the Superbike TT and a best lap of 130.87mph.

   He said:

   “As a team we did such a great job last year, we all worked awesomely as a team and I really felt at home with Norton. Without that sort of relationship with your team it's almost impossible to get good results. I knew the 2017 bike was going to be better again after what we learnt in 2016, so I wanted to stay and make the next step with Norton.”

   He continued:

   “This year I know if everything goes smoothly with no problems we can battle for the podium, I'm ready to be up there and I feel the bike will be too. But like I said, everything must be perfect as everyone is really flying these days. We had a small bike problem in the Senior TT last year which caused my concentration malfunction (laughs…)! But before that we were up dicing for a top 5 position and my ideal lap was 131.5mph, so I'm confident for good things this year.”

   So what will make Davo feel like he and the team have done a good job and crack a well-earned beer open at the end of the Senior?

   “The end of the Senior is a strange time for every rider I think it changes with every year too as the results play a huge part. If you had a shit race like I did last year in the senior, well I was pissed off a bit... But after the Superbike race last year where we had our best results, well that was an amazing feeling! It was a tough race and everyone in the paddock was so pumped for us as a team. We definitely shut a load of the haters up and yes, I wanted a beer after that!”

   The new Norton SG6 is a race-developed version of the Norton V4 SS road bike which was launched in November last year at Motorcycle Live to overwhelming success. All 200 of the V4 SS bikes have been sold and with features like a hand built billet aluminium frame, carbon fibre bodywork and an all new 1200cc, V4 motor its selling power speaks for itself.

   Norton CEO Stuart Garner is understandably delighted at the announcement of two first-class riders five years after the historic brand made its TT return.

   “There are a couple of reasons why we wanted to sign Josh Brookes. Firstly, he gives us the opportunity of a world class short circuit rider to move along the V4 road bike development, and secondly, with his TT rider experience and his achievement of being fastest newcomer in 2013, Josh is clearly capable of a 130mph-plus lap. Given the requirements of the team at this stage of the project this makes him a perfect rider for Norton.”

   Delighted that Davo has returned to continue his journey with Norton, Garner said:

   “To come in last year and move the development on and do all but a 131mph lap was a huge achievement and ground-breaking for the team. There’s a huge amount of respect from everyone in the Norton team for everything he has achieved and Davo has more than earned his place back on the bike in 2017.”

   The SG6 will feature the V4 Aprilia CRT motor with Norton’s own V4 engine being raced in 2018. Heavily based on the TT racer geometry wise, the V4 SS road bike is almost identical to the SG6 TT bike in terms of frame stiffness, weight distribution and chassis.

   Garner said:

   “With first deliveries of V4 SS bikes not expected until the second half of 2017 it’s too early in the engine’s development to race the new Norton V4 engine given the dangers and endurance involved in competitive racing at the TT.”

   He added,

   “We’ve further strengthened the team with the addition of former Norton Factory rider Ian Mackman joining the team as a race engineer. ‘Mackers’ rode for us in 2013 on the Norton SG1.”

   Ian will join experienced Norton Race Manager Johnny Cusack in the team along with TT legend Mick Grant who will continue in his role as Senior Advisor adding his extensive TT experience to the factory squad.

   Garner concluded,

   “They always say the Island gives you lessons so you have to curb expectations in the knowledge that the TT can deliver some very hard lessons and cruel luck. So, for 2017 we would of course like to build on our success of last year, but we don’t set ourselves any kind of hard targets other than making sure the bike and the team continue to move forwards! Then we’re happy!”

3. SMITHS SIGN HICKMAN FOR 2017 TT RACES CAMPAIGN

   Posted on 10:00am Saturday 7th Jan 2017

   Gloucester-based Smiths Racing BMW have confirmed that they have signed 29-year-old Peter Hickman to contest the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the other international road races. Hickman, from Louth in Lincolnshire, will also represent the team in the MCE BSB Series alongside Lee Jackson, riding the Smiths Racing BMW S1000RRs.
    
   The former TT winners and double British Supersport champions endured a difficult season in 2016 due to a number of factors and over the winter months, Team Manager Rebecca Smith has considered their options carefully.
   
   Rebecca Smith, Team Manager:
   
   “There’s no doubting 2016 was a very difficult season for us all at Smiths Racing and although everyone gave 100%, the results just didn’t come. This year, we are taking a slightly different approach with the help of the factory and we now feel we are in a position to challenge much higher up the leaderboard. Both Lee and Peter bring a wealth of BMW experience to the team and both are established BSB riders whilst we are equally delighted to be making a return to the roads with Peter.”
   
   Hickman made his TT debut in 2014 for the Ice Valley BMW team, taking a best finish of eighth in the RL360 Superstock race while he also won silver replicas for 11th place in the PokerStars Senior race and 14th in the RST Superbike. His results saw him win the prestigious Newcomers Trophy and his fastest lap of 129.104mph remains the fastest ever lap recorded by a Mountain Course newcomer.
    
   Continuing with BMW machinery in 2015, this time for Lee Hardy Racing, Hickman took fifth in the RL350 Superstock race, seventh in the PokerStars Senior and eighth in the RST Superbike Race to win three more silver replicas, improving his best lap to 131.626mph in the process.
    
   A switch to the GBMoto Kawasaki team in 2016 saw him take an excellent fourth place in the RST Superbike race where he lapped at 132.465mph to become the fourth fastest rider of all time.
   
   Hickman, from Louth, also won two MCE BSB races last season on his way to winning the Rider’s Cup title as well as taking victory at the Ulster Grand Prix and defending his Macau Grand Prix title. Very much in demand as one of the sport’s great all-rounders, Peter returns to the BMW marque with which he’s enjoyed so much success in the past.
   
   Peter Hickman:
   
   “I have another new challenge to look forward to again this season and I’m relishing it aboard the Smiths Racing BMW. All the dealings I’ve had with the team so far have been fantastic and they are very easy to work with. I know the BMW well having ridden it in the past and we’ve been promised the right support from the factory in Germany, which will make a difference. I’m pleased to be bringing my own crew into the team which is a massive bonus so I’m really looking forward to the season in both BSB and on the roads with Smiths Racing.”

4. DAN HEGARTY TO PILOT NEW HONDA FIREBLADE WITH TOPGUN FOR 2017 CAMPAIGN

   Posted on 12:45pm Thursday 5th Jan 2017

   2016 TT Privateer champion Dan Hegarty has joined forces with Top Gun Racing for the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.
   
   Dan will be piloting the new Honda Fireblade SP2 and CBR 600 at the TT as well as the North West 200, Southern 100, Ulster Grand Prix and Oliver's Mount.  The team will have support from Honda Racing and will be working with Maxton suspension.
   
   Dan’s 2016 campaign saw him firmly make his mark at the TT as the leading privateer, with four top 20 finishes including 11th place in both the RL360 Quantum Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT Races, which are his highest placed finishes to date at the TT.  He has a fastest lap of 128.431mph, which he achieved in the RST Superbike Race in 2016, that makes him the 25th fastest rider of all time around the Mountain Course.
   
   He was also fastest newcomer at both the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix, achieved a podium in the Southern 100 and scored a win in the Bob Smith Spring Cup at the Oliver’s Mount Circuit at Scarborough and pole position at the International Gold Cup.
   
   A former front runner in the British Superstock and Virgin Mobile R6 Cup Championships, Dan made his TT Mountain Course debut in 2011 with his best results being the two 11th place finishes achieved in last year’s Superstock and Senior races. In 2013, he rode as part of the factory Norton team and now has six silver and 11 bronze replicas to his name.
   
   The team will begin testing in February with their first outing planned for the Spring Cup at Oliver’s Mount at the end of April.
   
   Adrian ‘Wurz’ Cox, Top Gun Team Owner, said:
   “Dan was our number one choice for 2017 as his ability and his desire to win are unquestionable.  We believe that in Dan and the new Honda Fireblade we have a winning combination.”
   
   Dan Hegarty commented:
   “I am so happy to be riding with Wurz and the Top Gun team in 2017.  Wurz is not a salesman – he’s a hands on team manager and a very genuine guy. Already he has underpromised and over delivered in many ways – my kind of guy! How he has grown the Top Gun team over the last few years is a great story and it will be a real team effort to achieve good results.”

5. Molyneux teams up with newcomer Payne for 2017 Isle of Man TT Races campaign

   Posted on 5:00pm Wednesday 30th Nov 2016

   Seventeen-time TT Race-winner Dave Molyneux has teamed up with newcomer passenger Harry Payne for his 2017 Isle of Man TT Races campaign. 
   
   Payne, 24, from Colchester, has moved to the Isle of Man to prepare for his TT debut in the two sidecar races.
   
   Payne’s career began in sidecar motocross before switching to road racing in the BEMSEE championship. He impressed at Oliver’s Mount this year at the Spring Cup and Cock of The North meetings, as passenger to Dave Wallis and has also competed in the British Championship, partnering last year’s TT runner up Alan Founds to second place finish in the F2 British Championship round at Brands Hatch, narrowly outside Dave Molyneux’s 2015 lap record.
   
   Molyneux’s record-breaking TT career began in 1985 with his first win coming in 1989 and his most recent in 2014. His career included double race wins in 1993, 1996, 2004, the centenary TT meeting in 2007 and again in 2012. In 2017 the Birchall Brothers beat his outright lap record of 116.875, which was set in 2015.
   
   Commenting on his new teammate, Dave Molyneux said:
   
   “Harry is mad keen to do the TT. He’s the right build, the right weight and, for a passenger, the right age. It’s very physical on the Mountain Course these days, especially for a passenger.”
   
   He continued:
   
   “I’ve been really impressed with Harry’s commitment and that’s why I wanted to race with him. He’s already proved he’s incredibly dedicated to preparing for the TT and I have no doubt that despite being a newcomer he will be ready to race.”
   
   Harry Payne said:
   
   “I was all set to race last year before my plans fell through which was really disappointing but I’ve now been given an incredible opportunity with the best driver in the paddock. It will be a real honour for me and I’m determined to make the most of it and be as prepared as I possibly can for next year’s TT.”
   
   The team will shortly begin an extensive testing programme at Jurby and have a number of race meetings planned for 2017 including the first two British Championship rounds.
   
   The DMR outfit will be powered by Yamaha with backing from a number of Isle of Man based businesses including A&J Groundworks, Beaumanx Productions, Andreas Meat Co, Full Factory Menswear, CBG, Silkolene and Evo Moto with notable support from the Isle of Man Yamaha dealer Road and Track. It will be the first time since 1996 that Molyneux has used Yamaha engines.