By Mountain Course greats Bruce Anstey and John McGuinness look set to form part of Mugen’s, TT 2018 rider line up, which will be officially announced at the upcoming Tokyo Motorcycle Show.
Combined 35 times TT winners, now international roads veterans, the evergreen Anstey and new Norton signing McGuinness from 2014 on wards have between them won the last four TT Zero encounters on Mugen’s innovative electric machines.
With this in mind, it’s no surprise that the company set up by Hirotoshi Honda in 1973, are keen to work again with two of pure road racing’s most successful and respected competitors.
Outside of the multi TT Zero race winners, it’s not as clear cut as to who will be joining them at Mugen, to pilot one of the marques brand new Shinden Nana steeds.
Honda Racing’s Ian Hutchinson and Lee Johnston appear to be the most likely candidates, to secure the role. It’s going to be interesting to see whether Mugen plump for proven electric machine exponent Johnston, or provide 16 times TT winner Hutchinson with a maiden TT Zero mount.
We will all know soon, as the Japanese manufacturer on either the 23rd, 24th or 25th of March at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, unveils it’s three rider line up for it’s seventh TT Races expedition.
Words by Stevie Rial
