By ‘130 Mph Club’ alumni, 21st Century TT giants boasting 53 TT victories combined feature within the 2024 Classic Superbike Manx Grand Prix, seeded riders-list.
As stated on the Road Racing News podcast, it’s the Greenall Racing pair of Brian McCormack and Derek Sheils who kick-start yesteryear SBK thrills.
P2 plate holder is twice Super Twins TT podium finisher, former Irish Road Race Supersport Champion Michael Browne, piloting Key Racing’s rasping 916 Ducati vault.
Macau Motorcycle GP wins record holder Michael Rutter (Bathams Ales) departs ten seconds after Browne.
2022 class Champion Rob Hodson (Greenall Racing) will follow ‘Blade’ with another notable Michael, TT wins record holder Michael Dunlop (916 Ducati) next away.
Rounding out the first ten starters are new Mistral Racing signing David ‘Davo’ Johnson, Bathams Ales backed Craig Neve, Ian Hutchinson (Steadplan – ZXR 750 Kawasaki) and Ramsey Rocket Conor Cummins (HM Racing).
Eleven to fifteen plate numbers wise, these have been obtained by Nathan Harrison (RC 45 Honda), Paul Jordan, Lee Johnston and the Wiz Norton Racing duo of Shaun Anderson, Jim Hind.
Remaining seeded rider spots are taken by BHR Racing’s (Bob Henderson Racing) Dominic Herbertson, Joe Yeardsley, Julian Trummer realigning with Mick Charnock’s TC Racing squad, late Team York Suzuki squad addition Jamie Coward and Michael Sweeney (CSC Racing – ZXR 750 Kawasaki).
Non seeded riders to monitor closely include Barry Furber, Italian Mountain Course hero Stefano Bonetti, Sam West, Michal ‘Indi’ Dokoupil, Davies Motorsport’s Jorge Halliday, Oliver’s Mount Classic Superbike Championship leader Tom Weeden.
Classic Superbike Manx Grand Prix – first twenty starters re-cap:
1 – Brian McCormack
2 – Derek Sheils
3 – Michael Browne
4 – Michael Rutter
5 – Rob Hodson
6 – Michael Dunlop
7 – David Johnson
8 – Craig Neve
9 – Ian Hutchinson
10 – Conor Cummins
11 – Nathan Harrison
12 – Paul Jordan
13 – Lee Johnston
14 – Shaun Anderson
15 – Jim Hind
16 – Dominic Herbertson
17 – Joe Yeardsley
18 – Julian Trummer
19 – Jamie Coward
20 – Michael Sweeney
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
