Conor Cummins will line up at the 2024 Isle of Man TT Races for the Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles team, having agreed a deal to ride with the Batley-based team for an eighth successive year.
The Manxman completes an impressive looking line-up alongside the returning Ian Hutchinson, with the pair riding Honda machinery in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock, Milwaukee Senior and Monster Energy Supersport Races.
Cummins will be looking to increase his tally of twelve TT podiums, six of which have come with Clive Padgett’s team, with the ultimate aim of taking a much yearned for maiden victory.
Conor Cummins
The 37-year old first joined the Padgetts outfit in 2017 and enjoyed a string of podium results in the headline Superbike and Senior races from 2018 to 2022, only missing out on the rostrum on one occasion. 2022 also saw him take second in the Superstock Race, setting a personal best lap in the process at an average speed of 133.116mph. That lap speed sees Cummins as the fourth fastest rider in TT history, behind only Peter Hickman, Michael Dunlop, and Dean Harrison.
Last year’s campaign was severely hampered by illness which saw him miss half of practice week and the opening Superbike and Supersport races, but he showed both his talent and resilience once more with a pair of fourths in the Senior and second Superstock races where more 132mph+ laps were chalked up.
“I’ve taken my time over the off-season to understand what I wanted to achieve in the year ahead and now that all the pieces of the jigsaw are in place, I’m delighted to be staying with the Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles team. I’ve had a bit of a reset, analysing everything both on and off track, and I want to go racing properly and be committed to try and win races with the TT being at the top of the list. I’m keen to get back racing and push for wins in 2024. The desire and passion are still very much there, and after discussing everything with Clive, he’s brought everything to the table so together we’ll be throwing the kitchen sink at the TT. I know what I want to do and that’s win. I made a good step forward in 2022 with the 133mph lap and was looking forward to doing more of the same last year only for a virus to scupper that. I missed a lot of track time and in the races I did, I could only really push hard on the first lap; after that the head and body were exhausted. Obviously, that was out of my control, but I’ll be doing everything possible to put in my best ever TT performances.”
Conor Cummins – Image Jim Gibson
Clive Padgett – Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles Team Principal
“Conor’s part of the Padgett family so it’s great to continue our relationship for an eighth year. The four Superbike and Senior podiums across 2018 and 2019 were incredible and the Senior and Superstock performances in 2022 were amazing, especially his 133mph+ lap in the latter. Last year was obviously affected by illness and I’m not sure people realised just how poorly Conor was, so for him to finish fourth in the Senior was nothing short of a miracle. That just goes to show how talented he is and with him and Hutchy on board for 2024, we’re very excited about the season ahead.”
Conor Cummins
Cummins and the team have several pre-season tests planned before contesting a number of British Championship rounds and the North West 200 prior to the 2024 Isle of Man TT Races.
Now that the Superbike TT is over, we finally have a chance to catch our breath. The past seven days have been intense and Monday’s rest day provides some much-needed respite for all involved.
Parc ferme at the IoM TT
Fans have sizzled trackside while riders have toiled in the summer heat. Records have been smashed and history has been made. TT ‘23 has come to the boil and a day off gives everyone a welcome chance to simmer down and gather their thoughts.
Right from the start of practice it was clear that lap records never stood a chance this year, especially with the island basked in Mediterranean conditions. Resurfacing on the run to Sulby and at Tower bends has allowed smoother, faster riding.
The Department of Infrastructure or ‘Bun Troggalys’ (as they are known in Manx Gaelic) have been busy during the winter months and that has been reflected in the lap times.
Dunlop with the Supersport TT trophy
Of course, the riders are also pushing bloody hard, which helps. The holy-trinity of Dunlop, Hickman and Harrison have been visibly fast wherever you have seen them on the course. All three have looked so aggressive and determined, yet smooth with it. Quite rightly, they are making all the headlines and receiving the plaudits.
Such is their dominance, you could quite easily forget that there is a whole field of riders plugging away behind them, each on a personal mission, fulfilling life-time ambitions and creating their own history.
Three of that supporting cast are Aussies and they’ve each been having a tough time trying to tame their machines so far.
Davo Johnson is away at No. 1 which for some can be a great honour but for others, a poisoned chalice. Unless the first man away is on race winning pace from the outset, he is the rabbit for the dogs to chase and can quite often be mercilessly hunted down.
David Johnson – Image Jim Gibson
Unfortunately for the Adelaide man, set up issues have hampered his progress on his favoured Fireblade Superbike and he struggles with his size on the smaller 600.
Johnson dubbed the Supersport contest the ‘mini-bike race’, stating that he would be happy with a top-eight which is exactly what he got. So, it’s not all bad… the 40-year-old is still collecting silver replicas and has time to turn things around.
Davo Johnson
Hopefully the Jackson Racing boys (who are receiving help from the injured Lee Johnston’s crew) can crack the code and put something more stable under him for the later big bike races with Davo searching for shock settings that will get him comfortable enough to really press on.
There’s no doubting that he can recapture his 2019 form if they can. Pre-Covid, Davo stuck a Fireblade on the podium in the Stock TT before going on to win the Superbike race at the Classic TT.
Josh Brookes has been plugging away on the FHO BMW, quietly going under the radar and getting back up to speed. The double British Superbike champion hadn’t taken part in the TT since 2018 (and that was on the much-maligned Norton).
Josh Brookes – Image by Jim Gibson
Much has been made of Hickman’s stability woes with his Superbike and Brookes is riding for the same team, but he’s been tight-lipped on any issues he may be having… However, Josh is in a different situation in that he won’t be expected to push the envelope far enough to smash lap records and win races, and he is riding a Superstock bike across all the big bore contests and not the full fat fire-breathing monster that Hickman has underneath him.
A solid seventh today equates to a good start to the week and Brookesy will enjoy another go during the Stock TT tomorrow before getting onto the little Dafabet Kawasaki later in the afternoon. After so many years away, he would have to be happy if he took home a fresh bundle of silver replicas for the collection.
Peter Hickman – Image by Jim Gibson
Poor Rennie Scaysbrook has had a torrid time. He eventually split with Wilson Craig after a disastrous practice week. Thankfully, the Kibosh BMW team stepped in at the last minute to save the Pike’s Peak winner’s TT.
Unfortunately, an electrical fault put Scaysbrook out on the fifth lap of yesterday’s Superbike TT, “It was like someone had pulled the plug out of the wall…”
Rennie Scaysbrook
Rennie did the warm-up lap and so was actually on his seventh lap of the day when it all came to an end. But it will all be welcome track time for the the Aussie who only raced in the shorter Supersport races last year, and he at least now has something to build on.
Other stories of the day include Dominic Herberston’s first 130 mph lap. The Northumberland arborist was absolutely speechless when told his lap time after the big six-lapper. “Say that again,” was all he could muster when Beth Espey relayed the news post-race.
Those who are familiar with Herberston’s “Chasing the racing” podcast will know just how much joining that 130 club means to him… they will also be aware of the significance of him being described as speechless.
Michael Rutter – Image by Dave Gibson
Herberston had a race long battle on the road with Michael Rutter and his wailing RCV. It was quite the sight to behold, with Herberton coming home eighth and Rutter eventually finishing ninth.
Austria’s Julian Trummer became the fastest ever rider from continental Europe when he clocked a lap of 128.14 MPH during the SBK race. “What a day! … We’ve known this for a long time, now it is on paper,” he quipped.
Dominic Herberston – Image Jim Gibson
Trummer came home a respectable 18th in the big race. Germany’s David Datzer, Italy’s Stefano Bonetti and Spain’s Raul Torras Martinez will be gunning for that time for the rest of the week now that Trummer has laid down the marker.
The local Manx rider’s are having no luck and were down to the bare bones by Sunday morning. The injured Nathan Harrison was ruled out before the event began after a heavy crash at the NW200 and Conor Cummins ended up on a drip in hospital mid-practice week due to a mystery virus.
The Padgett’s rider will be hoping to be fit enough to take part when racing resumes on Tuesday, but it’s an unfortunate situation for him and the local fans. The only Manx man to finish the SBK TT was Michael Evans from Santon.
If there is one man who could possibly gate-crash the Dunlop-Hickman-Harrison party, it is Cummins’ team-mate; Davey Todd. Coming into the event, based on his performances at the North West 200, many would have believed that the Saltburn rider was a genuine challenger.
Davey Todd
Indeed, in the early stages of the Superbike TT he headed Hickman, circulating in third before retiring in the pits with bike problems. Todd scored a slightly lacklustre fifth in the opening Supersport contest and it will be interesting to see if he can make the leap and get in amongst the hustle and bustle of these high-speed podium battles.
As things stand, James Hillier and Jamie Coward are fighting it out for fourth position and hoping to pick up the pieces if the usual podium men should suffer misfortune.
Jamie Coward – Image by Jim Gibson
John McGuinness plugs away behind them. Although it’s unlikely McPint can get in amongst the lead men, he is showing that he can still do the business and is absolutely deserving of a factory Honda, despite being in his 50s.
For many it’s a great privilege to see a man who set the bench mark for so long still out there lapping as fast as he is.
John McGuinness
But for now, the island sleeps. Monday will see some teams frantically strip and rebuild motors while other enjoy some down time and relax; the roads will be open all day and some sort of normality will return to the Isle of Man for 24 hours.
We do it all again on Tuesday with the Stocks and the Twins… Surely Dunlop can’t win them both? Can he?
TT 2023 Top 20 seeded riders With just over 60 days to go, anticipation for 2023 Isle of Man TT Races has been ramped up a notch with the race organiser confirming the top 20 seeded riders for the 1000cc RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock, and Milwaukee Senior TT Races. Leading the field away at number […]
Prior to this year, the only way to catch the TT live has always been on the wireless, via Manx Radio, broadcasting as they always have since 1964.But the TT is set for a revolution in 2022 with the first ever live telecast beamed across the world with over 40 hours of live coverage. Every qualifying and race shown live and uninterrupted.
Isle of Man TT to launch own digital channel (TT+)
And at $14.99 GBP for the year, inclusive of access to 70 races in the archives from day one on the TT’s very own digital channel (TT+) , it looks like pretty good value, especially when organisers are promising no adverts.
There will be 25 live camera crews, more than double the number that normally cover the TT, and two broadcast helicopters to help provide the footage.However, no onboard footage will be used in the live broadcasts at this early stage of the operation.
Matt Robers is a familar face and voice at the TT
Presenting the TT live broadcast is an experienced team, including TT regulars, Matt Roberts and Amy Williams, both hugely respected presenters thanks to their work in motorcycling and the Winter Olympics respectively.
A new face to the TT, however, is Jennie Gow. The highly acclaimed journalist and broadcaster makes her debut covering the TT after a career spent working on the world’s biggest motorsport events such as Formula 1, MotoGP and Formula E.
Jennie Gow joins the broadcast team
Also joining the presenting team is regular BBC sport correspondent, Rick Faragher, who will be delving deep into the race awnings to bring you all the breaking news and behind-the-scenes developments.
The commentary team features TT regular, Dave Moore, who will be sharing the role of lead commentator with Andrew Coley, whose credits include FIA World Rally Cross, MotoGP and the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Joining Dave and Andrew as pundits are double TT winners Cameron Donald and Steve Plater.
Cam Donald
Cam Donald
“The Isle of Man TT Races have always been a massive part of my life, firstly as a competitor and now as a member of the broadcasting team and it’s hugely exciting. Although I have to say I’m not sure what I’m more nervous about: working on a live broadcast or hurtling down Bray Hill on a superbike. They both get the adrenaline going and that’s what the TT is about, excitement. Living in Australia, I’ve been able to experience first-hand the potential of international broadcasting. It’s hard to believe a love of the TT is already so deep rooted across Australia thanks to existing television highlight coverage, so live coverage via TT+ will really broaden the opportunities in a lot of countries. It’s going to take the event to the next level and I can’t wait to be part of it.”
Cameron Donald – TT 2014
Informing and entertaining fans since 1964, Radio TT will also make its return in 2022 with full live coverage of every qualifying session and race. The new-look radio team will have near-complete and continuous oversight of the whole course for the first time, thanks to the introduction of the live television broadcast.
Following in the footsteps of motorsport broadcasting icons such as Murray Walker, Peter Kneale and Geoff Cannell, the TT’s radio coverage will be anchored by the highly respected Steve Day, whose voice will already be known to fans of MotoGP and World Superbike. Joining Steve in the control tower as chief-analyst is Chris Boyde, who has been commentating on Manx motorsport for years and has an unrivalled knowledge of the facts and figures behind TT racing.
Reporting from pit lane will be Isle of Man radio personalities, Chris Kinley and Beth Espey. Chris will need no introduction to TT fans, having covered the event since 2003, while Beth is likely to be a new voice to race fans. An expert interviewer, she brings an instinctive understanding of how proud the Isle of Man is of its greatest event.
David Johnson in the pits on the Superbike at TT 2019
The TV and Radio broadcasts will also benefit from an expanded team of pundits who will be working across both platforms. Former TT competitors, Mark Miller, Horst Saiger, Jenny Tinmouth and Patrick Farrance, will be joined by leading journalist, John Hogan, and current TT competitor, Maria Costello MBE, with each providing some respective expert analysis and unique insight.
There is also expected to be an eight-part DocuSeries produced and expected to air early in 2023 in the same vein as Formula One’s highly successful ‘Drive To Survive’ series and the newly announced MotoGP Unlimited production. An annual feature length documentary is also promised each year and expected to air around October.
All these initiatives should help propel the TT to new heights in the years ahead.
10 – 14 May – North West 200 28 May – 11 June – Isle of Man TT Races
Honda has today confirmed that ‘TT Legend’ John McGuinness will return to Honda machinery in 2022 lining up alongside Glenn Irwin on the roads, as the team looks forward to debuting the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP at both the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT races.
John McGuinness
John, who needs no introduction to road racing fans, has a vast and hugely successful history with Honda, having won 12 of the 20 TT wins the CBR1000RR Fireblade has amassed, where Honda still holds the accolade of the most successful manufacturer in the history of the Isle of Man TT Races, with 189 wins, 65 clear of their nearest rival.
John returns to Honda with the brand celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade. Updates to the 2022 Fireblade centre on mid-corner acceleration and drive, plus an iconic colour scheme in homage to the original ’92 Fireblade, which John will line up on at the TT as the ‘Morecambe Missile’ celebrates his 100th TT race start.
John McGuinness
“What can I say really, it’s like coming back home to the family! I’ve been in talks for a while with Neil and Harv and it’s just something that feels right; it’s the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade, I’ll be 50 years old and also celebrating my 100th TT start, so it feels like it’s meant to be. I’ve enjoyed a lot of success on the roads with the Honda and worked with Harv back in the day with HM Plant Honda, so I’m looking forward to getting back into the set-up and getting going. I had a little go on the Fireblade earlier this year and was impressed with it on-track, so looking forward to getting on the roads and seeing how it goes. It’s going to be a special year with everything going on and also just getting back to the North West 200 and the TT and everyone racing there again – I can’t wait to get stuck in!”
John McGuinness
Joining John on the roads is four-time North West 200 Superbike race-winner and TT newcomer Glenn Irwin. Originally due to have made his Isle of Man debut in 2020, Glenn has had to wait two years with the event being cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic, where with no international road racing, Glenn has been developing the Fireblade SP in the British Superbike championship with multiple wins and podiums.
John McGuinness and Glenn Irwin
Glenn Irwin
“Finally, I’ll be making my long-awaited TT debut with Honda! We’re now more familiar with the new Fireblade and the team is more familiar; I like to have home comforts as such and continuing with the bike and the same team I think puts us in a better position with frame of mind. We still have no targets set and no expectations for the Isle of Man TT, we’re going there to learn and enjoy. It’s incredible to have someone like John as my teammate on the roads, he’s someone I have looked up to and is probably the second greatest TT rider after another Honda-man Joey! To have that opportunity to be able to learn off him, and able to be part of the team, see everything first-hand and to learn off him experiencing the ‘McGuinness-factor’ is something I am really excited about! On the flip side, we go to the North West 200 where we can work together and I think we can realistically set targets there – I would love to achieve Honda’s first international road race win on the new Fireblade at the NW200 and add to my Superbike wins there. We’re fully aware we’ve not been there in a few years, but like everyone else, we’ll go, and we’ll do our homework. For sure the Honda team are the best to go road racing with, and BSB, and hopefully we can find out feet during practice and if we’re feeling confident look towards adding to the NW200 wins.”
Glenn Irwin won in BSB this season on the Fireblade SP
The Honda Racing UK team will be taking part in both the Superstock and Superbike classes at the NW200 and IOMTT Races, as well as the blue-riband Senior TT, which John last won in 2015 aboard the Fireblade.
Havier Beltran – Team Manager, Honda Racing UK
“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to work with John on a deal for 2022, it’s going to be an exciting season for us all with the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade and John’s 100th TT start, and for him to do this back with Honda just made complete sense. Honda has so much history with John at the TT and 12 of the 20 wins for the CBR1000RR Fireblade have been with him, so for us all this is very much a homecoming. We also have Glenn, who will finally make his debut at the TT, which has been a long time coming, but we’re all really excited for this and to see how he gets on. There’s absolutely no pressure on Glenn, it’s about learning and finding his way at the TT, and with John’s experience, I don’t think he could ask for a better teammate to learn from. From a Honda point of view, this will be Honda UK’s first time back at both the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT races since 2010, so we’re all excited to get back on the roads with the new Fireblade.”
John McGuinness
Neil Fletcher – Head of Motorcycles, Honda UK
“We’re absolutely delighted to be returning to the international road racing programme following the challenges of the last few years, particularly as 2021 would have been the 60th anniversary of Honda’s first TT win with Mike Hailwood in 1961. Quite simply, the Isle of Man TT has been an integral part of Honda’s DNA and to continue this story with a returning ‘TT Legend’ like John who can also help and support Glenn in his first year is a really exciting period for us. With all the success that John has had with Honda, it only feels right that his 100th start on the Isle of Man is on the latest Fireblade. We are also really looking forward to heading to the North West 200 and are confident the combination of Glenn and John aboard the latest Fireblade will be at the sharp end having both won the race on multiple occasions. I’m thrilled that our 2022 racing plans, including the recently announced BSB rider line up, is now complete and I just can’t wait for both the roads and short circuit seasons to get going!”
When I left the Isle of Man after TT 2019 little was I, or anyone else to know just how long it might be before the likes of Peter Hickman, Dean Harrison, Michael Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson and our own David Johnson would lap the Mountain Course again. COVID brought on the cancellation of TT 2020 then TT 2021, and many were starting to question if TT 2019 might actually be the last ever TT held on the Isle of Man.
John McGuinness might not have raced on the roads last year due to COVID but he did contest the Ducati TriOptions Series run at BSB events – Image Dave Yeomans
Isle of Man TT promoters though are determined to adapt, improvise and overcome the recent challenges and have revealed extensive plans to kick-start the TT back into life at TT 2022.
Among the plans for the iconic event is the planned introduction of live TV coverage. A tenative schedule has also been released along with confirmation that the Lightweight TT, a long running staple of TT week, will now have a new name to go with a rewriting of the eligibility criteria for the class to better reflect the current machinery on offer. The Sidecar class also sees an evolution of its rules and eligibility.
Michael Dunlop – Lightweight TT 2019
The TT is hoping to provide uninterrupted live coverage of every qualifying session and every race so fans the world over can look forward to two weeks of TT action, with all the stories and talking points – both on and off track – streamed directly to their homes and devices.
Peter Hickman on the 2019 Supersport TT winning Trooper Triumph 675 Supersport machine – Image Pacemaker Press
Visitors to the Isle of Man will be able to enjoy the richest interactive experience they have ever had, combining the live sporting experience from their favourite vantage point with real time footage from around the course.
Launching in the spring of 2022, the TT’s very own digital channel will be the exclusive home of live race coverage, accessible via the live pass. However, the channel won’t be limited to the TT fortnight with year-round original content that includes an eight-part docuseries and a feature-length documentary film in the vein of fans’ favourite, Closer to the Edge.
James Hillier
Running from Sunday 29 May to Friday 10 June, the 2022 schedule boasts a number of small, yet noteworthy changes.
Qualifying for TT 2022 once again stretches over six days, with the first qualifying session – a newly expanded session – getting underway on Sunday afternoon. Qualifying then returns to its regular evening time slot for four consecutive nights starting on Monday 30th May.
The final session of the fortnight, however, now takes place on Friday afternoon, echoing the popular Thursday afternoon sessions of the past and giving competitors more time to prepare ahead of racing.
David Johnson in the pits on the Superbike at TT 2019
The most significant change is a revamped race-day programme, which will see a single warm-up lap for competitors taking place each morning before racing gets underway. By replacing the midweek qualifying and practice sessions, the change allows for a more streamlined daily schedule with roads opening earlier than currently scheduled.
The biggest changes are to be introduced for the 2023 Isle of Man TT Races, with the launch of an expanded race programme that promises more race days, more races and more opportunities to see that racing.
Peter Hickman leads David Johnson
Designed following feedback from thousands of TT fans, the 2023 schedule would see the number of race days increase from four to six and the total number of races increase from eight to ten with the introduction of a second race for the Superstock and Supertwin classes.
Its introduction will coincide with the arrival of a brand-new, additional vessel for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, increasing travel capacity to-and-from the Island and allowing for more fans to visit the fabled races.
The new Yamaha YZF-R7 will be eligible to race the Supertwin TT
The Lightweight TT will get a new name and a new rulebook for 2022, with the latest regulations allowing both Yamaha and Aprilia to compete in the category for the first time in the modern era. The regulations for the newly badged Bennetts Supertwin TT will permit twin-cylinder machines up to 700cc such as the Aprilia RS660 and the Yamaha MT-07 and YZF-R7.
For the first time, the sidecar class will also be permitted to use 900cc parallel twin-cylinder engines such as those found in the KTM 890 Duke and the BMW F900R. In what will be the biggest shake-up in the class for three decades, the newly eligible powerplants will run alongside the 600cc four-cylinder and 675cc three-cylinder outfits that have long been the mainstay of sidecar racing at the TT.
New twin cylinder powerplants will join the three and four-cylinder mainstays
For those making the pilgrimage to the Island, the introduction of the TT Fan Park is set to transform rest days and time away from the track by gifting fans even greater access to their heroes. Boasting full and uninterrupted live coverage on the big screen, fans can anticipate two whole weeks of lively entertainment, including live music, signing sessions, games, competitions and more.
Sixteen times TT winner, Ian Hutchinson, has unveiled the YZF R6 Yamahas of the Boyce Precision Engineering by Russell Racing team he will ride in the Supersport class at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT in 2022.
“I have been waiting two years to ride these bikes.” Hutchy smiled during a visit to Co. Armagh on Monday. “I managed to test and race one of them at Donington last season but it has been frustrating not to be able to use them for the purpose they were built.”
Ian Hutchinson hoping to extend Supersport record at TT 2022
Backed by George and Brian Boyce’s Portadown-based company, BPE, the new Northern Ireland race team is the brainchild of Alister Russell. The Glenavy man was crew chief to Keith Amor, Cameron Donald, Guy Martin and the late, William Dunlop with various teams.
“Running my own team is something that I have always wanted to do and I had approached Ian at the end of 2019.” Russell explained.
“We had a deal in place for the Supersport races at all of the international road races in 2020. We did the pre-season Spanish BSB tests at Monteblanco and Jerez at the start of the year but five days after we got back to the UK the first Coronavirus lockdown was imposed.”
Ian Hutchinson at Macau 2019
With international road racing wiped out by the virus in 2020 and both the NW200 and TT already cancelled for 2021, Hutchy will ride a Raceways/Edwards Vodka Yamaha R1 in this year’s British Superstock championship but will have to wait until next May to race the R6s between the hedges.
“I want to get back to winning at the North West and TT and these Yamahas have everything that I need to do that.” the Bingley Bullet said.
Ian Hutchinson – TT 2016
The only rider to win five TTs in a single year, Hutchinson is also the most successful Supersport rider around the Mountain course, with eight victories in the class. A three-time North West 200 winner, he claimed his first victory at Portrush in 2006 on a McAdoo Kawasaki ZX-6R.
Having battled his way back to winning ways on both the north coast Triangle circuit and at the TT following his serious leg injury in 2010, Hutchinson’s road racing career was derailed for a second time when he broke the same leg in a fall during the 2017 Senior TT. The Yorkshireman struggled to regain his previous form on his return to action with Honda in 2018-19 but the 41 year old says there is still more to come.
“I still love racing at the TT and I know that I can still win there.” Hutchy said.
“It breaks me that I’ve missed so many TTs but it is what it is and I’ve still got the hunger to win there again.”
Ian Hutchinson disappears in a cloud of tyre smoke as he celebrates Supersport Race 2 victory in 2015. Credit Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press Intl.
It is that desire to succeed, plus Hutchinson’s vast experience, that made him the number one choice to lead his new race squad, Alister Russell explained.
“Ian is a proven winner and probably the most determined rider on the grid after all that he has been through.” he said.
“His determination to win is second to none and he can help steer us as a team because he knows what it takes to win. It is up to us to supply him with what he needs and no corners have been cut with these bikes.”
Ian Hutchinson on his way to victory in the 2010 Senior TT on a Honda Fireblade
The engines of both R6s have been prepared by Yamaha tuning specialist, Marcus Eschenbacher and will be shod with Metzeler rubber. Alongside backing from BPE, the new team will also have support from Caffrey International and Ivan
After what had been a tumultuous first week of TT 2019, race action finally got underway at 1105 on Monday morning. Even Monday’s schedule had to be amended numerous times from the planned 1045 start. Firstly a medical emergency at Ramsey involving a member of the public put us back ten minutes as an ambulance was on course to attend that person. Then some problems with spectators at some parts of the course, and a motorcycle on fire at Creg Ny Baa added another small delay but Conor Cummins launched out of the hole at 1105 and TT 2019 was finally underway!
David Johnson was cool as a cucumber ahead of the Superbike TT as his mechanics fuelled his bike only moments before the race start
Preparation for many of the Superbike runners had been problematic with the extremely limited track time. Any motorcycle problems had caused riders to miss an entire session, thus many of the riders participating in this four-lap Superbike TT had hardly completed a lap of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course.
#1 Conor Cummins was the first rider off the start-line for TT 2019
Still, it would be fair to say that the smart money today would be on Peter Hickman or Dean Harrison. That form guide proved true early on with a 132.48mph from a standing start for Dean Harrison saw him take the lead early but Peter Hickman was only 1.088-seconds behind as they crossed the line at the end of that first lap.
Conor Cummins was in third place ahead of James Hillier and Michaell Rutter, while Michael Dunlop was sixth on the Tyco BMW ahead of Gary Johnson and South Australia’s David Johnson.
John McGuinness came in to the pits on the Norton at the end of lap one with an oil pressure light indicating that not all was well with the British machine.
Dean Harrison
Dean Harrison was on fire and nudging sector record times to extend his lead over Hickman to almost five-seconds at Ballaugh Bridge on lap two. Shortly after that sector he passed Conor Cummins on the road, the Honda man had started first, ten-seconds head of Harrison, but the Kawasaki man had closed him down.
Peter Hickman was now wound up though and he clawed back those five-seconds on Harrison in that latter half of the second lap.
Peter Hickman
Conor Cummins had also got the better of Harrison between Ramsey and Bungalow, that tussle perhaps a factor in slowing down Harrison a little on that second lap.
Into the pits
Conor Cummins and Dean Harrison the first riders into the pits, but still out on course, after starting from #10, Peter Hickman was the new race leader ahead of his pit-stop. In the final sector before his pit-stop Hickman had extended his buffer out to a 1.78-second lead over Harrison.
David Johnson was up to seventh place on the Honda Racing Fireblade.
The final two laps…
Through the first split after the pit stops Hickman’s advantage had been trimmed to 0.690-seconds over Harrison, but the pit stops had seen the Kawasaki get away in front of Conor Cummins, who while just over ten-seconds behind him on time, was running with him on track, while holding down third place in the race.
Conor Cummins
Michael Rutter was in fourth place ahead of Michael Dunlop while David Johnson had moved up to sixth place. Lee Johnston then retired from the race.
Red Flag
An incident on the circuit at Snugborough, just before Union Mills, then caused officials to put the red flag out. It was some time before we got an update as to whether the race would be started again, or if it would be declared as results. They were past the halfway mark thus declaration was an option for officials. It was around 45-minutes later that officials finally made the call to declare the race, presumably the incident was very serious and the clean-up time deemed to be lengthy.
Peter Hickman declared winner
Results for the race were declared as at the end of lap two, at which point Hickman had a narrow lead over Dean Harrison.
Conor Cummins takes the final step on the subdued rostrum ahead of James Hillier and Michael Rutter.
Michael Dunlop finishes sixth ahead of David Johnson and Jamie Coward. Gary Johnson ninth and Davey Todd rounded out the top ten.
Peter Hickman also carded the fastest lap of the race at 132.947 mph.
After four full days of inactivity due to the weather on the Isle of Man, the third solo qualifying session at the 2019 IOM TT races, fuelled by Monster Energy, finally got underway on Sunday afternoon.
The mist on the Mountain cleared sufficiently for the session to take place after a delay of an hour and a half, although there were still damp patches from the earlier rain and strong winds around the course, particularly on the Mountain section.
TT Sunday Qualifying Results
Superbike
Conor Cummins 128.92 mph
Dean Harrison 128.29 mph
David Johnson 128.24 mph
Michael Rutter 127.55 mph
Jamie Coward 127.22 mph
James Hillier 125.36 mph
Peter Hickman 125.04 mph
Sam West 124.96 mph
John McGuinness 124.72 mph
Brian McCormack 124.33 mph
Philip Crowe 124.31 mph
Daley Mathison 124.22 mph
Gary Johnson 123.75 mph
Stefano Bonetti 123.48 mph
Derek Sheils 123.10 mph
Paul Jordan 122.84 mph
Jay Lawrence 122.47 mph
Shaun Anderson 122.35 mph
Lee Johnston 122.27 mph
Ian Hutchinson 121.95 mph
Superstock
Peter Hickman 128.50 mph
Conor Cummins 127.17 mph
Gary Johnson 124.97 mph
James Hillier 124.33 mph
Michael Rutter 123.53 mph
Rob Hodson 123.39 mph
Davey Todd 122.94 mph
Horst Saiger 121.30 mph
Derek McGee 120.98 mph
Philip Crowe 119.85 mph
Supersport
Lee Johnston 122.93 mph
Gary Johnson 122.59 mph
James Hillier 122.02 mph
Jamie Coward 121.33 mph
Dean Harrison 121.17 mph
Ian Hutchinson 121.13 mph
Paul Jordan 120.48 mph
David Johnson 120.35 mph
Derek McGee 119.64 mph
Derek Sheils 119.58 mph
Daley Mathison 119.11 mph
John McGuinness 117.77 mph
Michael Sweeney 117.70 mph
Mike Browne 117.55 mph
Xavier Denis 116.53 mph
TT Zero
Michael Rutter 117.16 mph
Ian Lougher 95.36 mph
Sunday TT Qualifying Report
Conor Cummins on the Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles Honda set the quickest lap of the session, clocking 128.92mph although Peter Hickman posted the fastest opening four sectors of the session – indeed the week – on his Superstock machine before slowing over the final two sectors.
Conor Cummings quickest on Sunday
Michael Rutter (Bathams Racing Honda), Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) and Dean Harrison (Silicone Engineering Kawasaki) led the Superbike, Superstock and Supersport classes away and all three were out on their Superbikes. Gary Johnson opted to take out his RAF Regular & Reserve Triumph Supersport machine.
Lee Johnston (Ashcourt Racing BMW) and Ian Hutchinson (Honda Racing) were both out on their Superbikes while James Hillier headed down Glencrutchery Road on the Quattro Plant Wicked Coatings Superstock Kawasaki.
Lee Johnston
Harrison was the quickest to Glen Helen, by four and a half seconds, from Michael Dunlop (Tyco BMW) with Hickman half a second further back in third. Cummins was close behind in fourth with Jamie Coward and Rutter completing the top six as Hillier and Johnson topped the early Superstock and Supersport times respectively.
Cummins set the quickest sector time on the run to Ballaugh before Hickman had the honour of getting from Ballaugh to Ramsey the quickest but as they completed the opening lap, Harrison was initially the quickest overall with a lap of 126.53mph.
Peter Hickman
That was nine seconds quicker than Rutter (125.42) with Hickman slotting into third at 125.04mph as he completed his first lap of TT2019 on his Superbike before pulling straight in to switch to his Superstock BMW.
However, Cummins went to the top of the leaderboard with a lap of 126.54mph, which was a tenth of a second quicker than Harrison. Hillier (124.33) and Johnson (122.59) were the quickest of the Superstock and Supersport machines but 18-time TT Race winner Dunlop was in trouble and he stopped at the Mountain Box.
Dean Harrison
Coward (124.82), John McGuinness (123.33) and Derek Sheils (123.10) were the other riders to lap at more than 123mph whilst Hutchinson lapped at 121.95mph as he got back on track after his spill at the 11th Milestone on Tuesday evening.
The second lap saw Cummins and Harrison set near identical times on the run to Ramsey but the Manxman edged it and with an improved speed of 128.92mph on the Milenco by Padgetts Honda, he remained at the top of the Superbike leaderboard.
Harrison (128.29), Rutter (127.55) and Coward (127.22) all upped their pace although the wind and the damp patches, combined with the lack of track time, continued to keep speeds down.
Hickman was another rider impressing on the second lap and he set the quickest Superstock lap of the session with a speed of 128.50mph.
Hillier (125.36) moved up to fifth place on the Superbike leaderboard with Gary Johnson (123.75) slotting into seventh while Davey Todd (122.94) moved up to third overall in the Superstock class. Newcomers Lucas Maurer (117.13) and Raymond Casey (113.27) also set their best laps of the week so far.
The big news of the session though came on the third lap as Hickman, still on his Superstock machine, set the fastest sector times on the run to Ramsey but just as it looked like he’d set the first 130mph lap of the week, he lost time between the Bungalow and the Grandstand and cruised across the line at 126.82mph. His Bungalow to Bungalow time was in excess of 130mph.
He remained quickest in the Superstock class ahead of new second place rider Cummins (127.17) and Gary Johnson (124.97) with Cummins (128.92) and Harrison (128.29) the two quickest riders in the Superbike category. There was a change for third though towards the end of the session as David Johnson pushed Rutter down to fourth after an impressive lap of 128.24mph on the Honda Racing machine.
Rutter, Coward and Hillier completed the top six in the Superbike class and, along with Hickman, were the only other riders above 125mph but Sam West (124.96) wasn’t far behind as McGuinness, Brian McCormack and Phil Crowe posted late laps of 124.72mph, 124.33mph and 124.31mph respectively.
Understandably, most riders focused on the big bikes but Lee Johnston (122.93) moved ahead of long time leader Johnson (122.59) as Coward (121.36) ended the session in third overall.
Michael Rutter – TT Zero
Michael Rutter also took the opportunity to go out at the end of the session on his TT Zero bike and posted a strong 117mph although John McGuinness ran out of time to get out for the session.
Sidecars
After four full days of inactivity due to the weather on the Isle of Man, the second qualifying session for sidecars at the 2019 Isle of Man TT races, fuelled by Monster Energy, finally got underway on Sunday afternoon.
The mist on the Mountain cleared sufficiently for the session to take place after a delay of an hour and a half, although there were still damp patches from the earlier rain and strong winds around the course, particularly on the Mountain section.
With bright skies and sunshine at the Grandstand, the Formula Two Sidecars were first to take to the Mountain Course with Ben and Tom Birchall leading the field away, closely followed by Holden/Cain, Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes, Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley, Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney and Dave Molyneux/Harry Payne.
Ben and Tom Birchall
Holden/Cain were the quickest to Glen Helen, three seconds quicker than the Birchalls, but newcomers Ryan and Callum Crowe, who set a stunning 109mph lap in their opening lap on Tuesday night, stopped early at Snugborough and although they made adjustments, they were unable to continue. Two of the favourites were also in trouble with Reeves/Wilkes and Blackstock/Rosney retiring at Churchtown and Sulby Bridge respectively.
Holden/Cain continued to set the pace on the Silicone Barnes Racing Honda, overtaking the Birchalls on the road, and they were first to complete the lap with a speed of 114.99mph, which was almost identical to their lap from Tuesday evening.
The Birchalls lapped nearly twenty seconds slower at 113.19mph with Founds/Walmsley on 111.80mph. Founds/Lowther went fourth quickest with a lap of 110.49mph followed by Molyneux/Payne at 109.43mph.
Allan Schofield/Steve Thomas slotted into sixth on the leaderboard with a lap of 107.77mph with Gary Bryan/Phil Hyde and former race winners Conrad Harrison/Andy Winkle also lapping in excess of 107mph.
Second time around it was the Birchalls who were in the ascendancy and with three of the quickest sector times they increased their pace to 114.93mph. Holden/Cain were slightly slower than their opening lap with a speed of 114.30mph but Founds/Walmsley lapped quicker at 113.36mph. Harrison/Winkle (108.24) and Estelle Leblond/Franck Claeys (106.96) also upped their speeds but Molyneux’s second lap was a more sedate 104.22mph.
2019 Isle of Man TT Tuesday Qualifying Report / Results
After rain prevented play on Monday TT competitors were raring to go on a fine Tuesday evening to further fine tune themselves and their mounts ahead of race week which kicks off this Saturday, June 1st.
Superbikes were out first and it was Dean Harrison, continuing his form from Sunday’s Supersport session, quickest on the night with a speed of 129.53mph while Conor Cummins and James Hillier also figured highly in the Superbike class.
Harrison also topped the Superstock leaderboard but it was a night that saw a number of the other front runners hit trouble including Peter Hickman, who was forced to stop twice on his Smiths Racing BMW Superbike. Hickman did though top the Supersport session after swapping to his 675cc Triumph.
Peter Hickman
16 time TT Race winner Ian Hutchinson was another rider to be experiencing problems and the Yorkshire rider came off his bike at the 11th Milestone although fortunately was reported to be unhurt.
South Australia’s David Johnson was second quickest in Superstock on Tuesday evening and seventh in Superbike.
Aussie sidecar duo Mick Alton and Steve Bonney were 18th in the sidecar session while compatriots Darryl Rayner and Wendy Campbell did not complete a full lap.
Tuesday’s sessions might prove even more important than normal as the weather forecast for the next few days on the Isle of Man is far from favourable.
TT 2019 Superbike Tuesday Qualifying Results
Dean Harrison – 129.53 mph
Conor Cummins – 128.09 mph
James Hillier – 128.07 mph
Michael Dunlop – 126.93 mph
Michael Rutter – 126.48 mph
Jamie Coward – 126.39 mph
David Johnson – 126.19 mph
Philip Crowe – 125.52 mph
Ian Hutchinson – 125.39 mph
Daley Mathison – 125.17 mph
Stefano Bonetti – 124.49 mph
Derek McGee – 124.40 mph
Davey Todd – 124.29 mph
Brian McCormack – 124.18 mph
John McGuinness – 123.73 mph
TT 2019 Superstock Tuesday Qualifying Results
Dean Harrison 129.34 mph
David Johnson 126.63 mph
Sam West 124.89 mph
Lee Johnson 124.49 mph
Michael Dunlop 124.11 mph
Daley Mathison 124.09 mph
Peter Hickman 123.08 mph
Derek Sheils 122.78 mph
Michael Rutter 122.42 mph
Davey Todd 122.19 mph
James Hiller 121.11 mph
Horst Saiger 120.08 mph
Charles Hardisty 118 mph
Gary Johnson 117.96 mph
TT 2019 Supersport Tuesday Qualifying Results
Peter Hickman 123.92 mph
Derek McGee 122.04 mph
Lee Johnson 121.38 mph
John McGuinness 119.93 mph
Paul Jordan 118.88 mph
Dominic Herbertson 118.35 mph
Mike Browne 118.29 mph
Daniel Cooper 117.73 mph
Barry Evans 117.71 mph
James Chawke 117.58 mph
TT 2019 Sidecar Tuesday Qualifying Results
John Holden 114.99 mph
Peter Founds 114.40 mph
Alan Founds 112.35 mph
Tim Reeves 112.29 mph
Lewis Blackstock 111.80 mph
Ben Birchall 111.55 mpg
Ryan Crowe 109.76 mph
Conrad Harrison 108.95 mph
Gary Bryan 108.54 mph
Estelle Leblond 108.38 mph
Tuesday Qualifying Report
The island was blessed with sunshine throughout Tuesday but there were strong winds all round the 37.73-mile circuit again although riders were informed that they would reduce as the evening wore on. After a slight delay, the session got underway at 6.31pm. Harrison’s Silicone Engineering Kawasaki was at the front of the pack on the grid but lost power before he had even set off and the Bradford rider eventually got away mid-pack on his second Superbike.
Michael Rutter (Bathams Racing Honda) and James Hillier (Quattro Plant Wicked Coatings Kawasaki) were first to head down Glencruchery Road – the pair both on Superbikes – followed by Honda Racing teammates Hutchinson and David Johnson, the latter on his Superstock Fireblade.
James Hillier
Gary Johnson (RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki) and Michael Dunlop (Tyco BMW) were next to go with Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) and Lee Johnston (Ashcourt Racing BMW) on their Superstock mounts. However, outright lap record holder Hickman was soon in trouble and, after pulling off the circuit at Quarter Bridge, he immediately returned to the pits where he went back out on his Triumph Supersport machine.
Lee Johnston
Conor Cummins was the early pace setter, posting the best sector times on the opening lap while John McGuinness stopped at Sulby to make adjustments on his opening lap. Dunlop was the first to complete a lap with 126.65mph but then came into the pits to check tyres and gearing. Hutchinson lapped at 125.39mph with Rutter at 124.22mph but Cummins went quickest on the opening lap on the Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles Honda with a speed of 128.09mph.
Conor Cummins
Both Dunlop and Hutchinson pulled straight into the pits at the end of lap 1 while Derek McGee was posting the quickest Supersport lap at 122.04mph. Gary Johnson was another leading rider to have problems on the first lap with his speed of 112.55mph slightly slower than McGuinness’ lap of 113.50mph.
The second lap saw Cummins increase his pace and he looked to be on course for a 129mph+ lap before crossing the line at a leisurely 104.96mph after being black flagged out on course at Brandywell with the Honda reported to be smoking. Gary Johnson another be stopped, due to a loose camera.
Conor Cummins
Rutter and David Johnson set the pace on lap two, at 126.48mph and 126.63mph respectively, but Harrison topped that with a speed of 126.68mph on his ZX-10RR Superstock machine. Hickman put in two laps on the Supersport bike, the second of which was 123.92mph which made him the quickest 600cc machine on the night ahead of McGee.
Hickman went back out on the Superbike but again hit trouble and pulled off the course for a second time, this time at Douglas Road Corner at Kirk Michael which signalled the end of his night.
On the fourth lap, Harrison went quickest in the Superstock class with a lap of 129.34mph with Hillier the third rider to break the 128mph barrier with a speed of 128.07mph on his Superbike. McGuinness went out on the Padgetts Supersport machine before returning to the action on the Norton where he lapped at 123.73mph.
Harrison continued to make the headlines though and he put in a lap right at the end of the session to move to the top of the Superbike leaderboard with Cummins and Hillier ending the evening in second and third. Harrison remained on top of the Superstock times as well with David Johnson in second and Sam West lapping at just under 125mph to slot into third.
David Johnson
Strong winds were clearly keeping speeds down but there were impressive performances from Jamie Coward (126.39), Stefano Bonetti (124.48) and Brian McCormack (124.03) while Kiwi rider Jay Lawrence also again went well on the Buildbase Suzuki with a lap of 122.56mph.
There were three incidents in the Supersport class. Paul Williams came off at Governors but was reported to be unhurt while Jason Corcoran (Glen Helen) and Emmett Burke (Gooseneck) were taken to Nobles hospital with reported neck and leg injuries respectively.
TT 2019 Sidecar Qualifying
Sidecar racers got their first outing on the TT Mountain Course this year on Tuesday night after a rain interrupted schedule prevented their earlier sessions from going ahead.
The Formula Two Sidecars went out just after 2000 and there was little to choose between Ben and Tom Birchall and John Holden/Lee Cain in the early sectors on the opening lap but the latter set the best opening lap with a speed of 114.99mph.
John Holden/Lee Cain
The Birchalls slowed towards the end of the lap and finished with 111.55mph which put them fifth quickest with Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley (112.90), Alan Founds/Jake Lowther (111.89) and Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney (111.80mph) all slotting in ahead of them.
Two of the front runners had problems though with Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes stopping to make adjustments with Dave Molyneux/Harry Payne retiring at Laurel Bank but arguably the biggest story came from newcomers Ryan and Callum Crowe, the sons of former five-time TT Race winner Nick Crowe lapping at a stunning 109.76mph on their 675cc Triumph.
Second time around and Founds/Walmsley upped their pace to 114.40mph, which was only 2.2 seconds off their best ever lap of the Mountain Course, whilst brother Alan went slightly quicker with a speed of 112.35mph. Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes also clocked a 112+mph lap (112.291) at the end of the session on their second lap.
Estelle Leblond/Frank Claeys and Gary Bryan/Phil Hyde both lapped in excess of 108mph with the returning Allan Schofield, with Steve Thomas in the chair, also going well at 107.88mph. Maria Costello/Julie Canipa enjoyed a couple of laps with their best (99.369) just shy of the 100mph mark on Maria’s first full laps as a sidecar competitor.
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