Going into TT 2019 in a great frame of mind, after enjoying without question his strongest, most tumultuous North West 200 campaign to date, Quattro Plant Wicked Coatings Kawasaki’s James Hillier excelled and some last week on the coast roads.
Third, fourth within Thursday’s Tides Restaurant Supersport, Bayview Hotel Superstock races, Saturday’s race day provided ultra contrasting course conditions, as wet weather a plenty embarked upon the Triangle course.
In spite of this, Hillier not widely regarded as a wet weather specialist, shrewd choice of using his Superstock Kawasaki instead of the full blown Superbike, worked a treat for the Anchor Bar Superbike race.
Quickly into a high quality battle for class honours, the six lap race went right down to the wire, with Hillier cooling keeping at bay team mate Glenn Irwin, prior to Juniper Hill Chicane on lap six, as Irwin grabbed the race lead, which he maintained to the chequered flag.
Photo by Tommy Vennard
Second place though still represented a great result for Hillier, who went onto finally join the NW200 winners circle, after dominating the CP Hire Superstock race.
Reflecting on his second International Road Race victory, the 2013 Lightweight TT winner, stated:
“I’m delighted to finally get my first NW200 win and to do it in such a manner is brilliant. I didn’t believe my pit board when I saw plus 20 seconds, as I never expected to have such a big lead but conditions were getting worse as the race wore on.
I eased the pace slightly which was almost too much as they closed right in, but I got the job done and the bike and tyres were faultless.”
Photo by Tommy Vennard
Hillier who holds the five plate for the RST Superbike, Royal London 360 Superstock, Dunlop Senior races at TT 2019, went onto add:
“I thought the win may have come earlier in the Superbike race, when I was again on the Superstock bike. It worked really well, there were definitely some parts of the track where it was stronger than the Superbike.
I felt really comfortable on the bike compared to the Superbike, which I’d struggled a bit with in practice and I can’t really complain about coming second.
The top step would have been nice but I’m so pleased for the team that we got a 1-2, and it’s put me in a great place ahead of the TT.”
Words by Stevie Rial