By Absent from TT 2024, Derek Sheils Irish Road Race Superbike Champion in 2013, 2016 and 2019 is super happy to be back sampling the fabled, mythical Mountain Course.
Speaking last week, the 2009 Newcomers A, 2019 Classic SBK Manx GP runner-up, stated:
“Obviously with not been here, looking at the lads having a great time, sort of missed it, so yeah was really looking forward to this event and getting back out.”
Riding again for Angus Greenall’s Greenall Racing outfit, Sheils is straddling the same ZXR-750 Kawasaki he’s rode since 2017. When asked whether a podium finish could be a beckoning, he admitted that it will be a tough ask.
“It’s going to be a tough ask, but you never know what happens over here, it’s a race of attrition. I think depending on how the bike’s feeling you know we should be reasonable enough lap times and try make the best of what we can, but you never know around here, you just don’t know.”
Sheils went onto chat about his love for the Manx GP.
“I like the meeting, it’s a bit more relaxed, the team are great, they are a family run team the Greenalls and they’re all 100 percent and everyone gets along, it’s a fantastic meeting, look forward to it every year.”
A non-entrant this year to Irish national road races, the Northwest 200, Sheils (PB TT lap speed 128.78 mph) has taken on a fresh new challenge, competing in the fiercely competitive F900R BMW Cup series with Team Art of Racing.
Summing up his series experience to date, he said:
“Sort of doing it backwards, road racing first then BSB. It’s something different, never really done any of those tracks in England, I done them twenty years ago.
It’s certainly a new challenge, it’s quite fast paced over there as well, so it’s helps with your riding, you’re having to ride hard for the whole race, rather than been able to sit at a comfortable pace.”
Planning to participate at next month’s Oliver’s Mount based Steve Henshaw Gold Cup with the Greenall crew, Sheils isn’t ruling out returning to the TT Races in the future but admits spiralling costs have made competing all the harder.
“The TT has priced me out a little, the cost of coming over here for the TT, especially with your own bikes is astronomical, it’s just gone to a point were it’s not viable.
I wouldn’t rule it out but wouldn’t say either way, unless a team came in or something like that but doing if off your own back you know with a small couple of sponsors and then price of ferries, tyres, just keeps going on, spirals out of control.”
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
