Aiming to get back near the sharp end of the 1000cc encounters, twice Supersport TT winner Gary Johnson has confirmed that for the big bike races at TT 2018, he will link up with the well respected, RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki team.
No stranger to Lee Hardy’s outfit, having competed for them at last years Macau Grand Prix, where he earned a solid sixth place finish, the Lincolnshire racer is a definite dark horse for rostrum finishes in early June.
Having endured in recent years a mix of bad luck and teething problems, with new machinery, he’s ultra keen to show this year that’s he’s still one of the leading exponents, of the magical Mountain Course.
Speaking today about switching to ZX-10RR Kawasaki machinery for TT 2018, the rider known to many as ‘AKA Driver’ stated:
“I was really impressed by the bike in Macau and I know with a bit more time on it, we could have been pushing for the win there.
The team have been doing a great job in British Superbikes with Jake (Dixon) and hopefully we can transfer that success to the TT. I’m really looking forward to this year’s event now and hopefully I can add a few more wins to my tally.”
New employer Lee Hardy, who’s RAF team returns to the TT, for the first time in three years, candidly said:
“Gary rode for my team at the Macau Grand Prix and I was very impressed with his work ethic, and he did a great job for us despite having limited track time.
Gary showed me that he has the desire to win and he is hungry to get back to the top step at the TT. I saw enough to make a decision to come back to the TT with a rider who is a proven race winner, around the Mountain Course.”
Affable Team Boss Hardy, who’s team in recent times have starred in the British Superbike Championship, with Jake Dixon, plus have also enjoyed in 2015 Macau GP success with Peter Hickman, went onto add:
“I have missed competing at the TT, for the past few years and we’re delighted to be returning. The Royal Air Force are delighted to be the title sponsor for the team at this year’s TT, and it’s great to continue promoting our partner sponsors Briggs Equipment and Mother Hubbard’s of Swaffham.
Myself and the team’s sponsors are excited about the challenges ahead, we believe that we have the right environment to get Gary right back to the very top end of the results sheets and we can’t wait to get started.”
Words by Stevie Rial