By IRRC Superbike front runner Erno Kostamo is set to tackle the fabled, mythical Mountain Course for the first time at TT 2020, having joined forces with the experienced Penz 13.com squad.
Widely regarded as Finland’s leading pure road racer, the well respected Kostamo has placed third, fourth in recent IRRC Superbike Championship’s, along the way securing 12 rostrum finishes including a race victory last year at Terlicko, Czech Republic.
Additionally last year amongst the fastest North West 200 newcomers, he went onto perform strongly at the Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, before been involved in an incident during the second race start, which resulted in him sustaining back injuries.
Firmly on the road to recovery, he’s confident he can get back to optimum race fitness ahead of the start of the 2020 IRRC season.
Photo by Stephen Davison
Commenting on linking up with Rico Penzkofer’s Penz 13.com team, Kostamo who’s 2020 roads challenge alongside the TT will also include sampling again his nations most famous roads circuit, Imatranajo, candidly stated:
“By joining the Penz team full time, I can now focus entirely on my riding instead of running my own team. This was a necessary step in order to become IRRC Champion, as the level of the Championship increased dramatically since the Penz team entered it.
It’s probably every road racer’s dream to race at the Isle of Man. I am fully confident that I have found the right surrounding to go and compete at the TT myself, as Rico’s crew has years of experience under their belt.
While some big names like Michael Rutter, Dan Kneen, Steve Mercer, Davey Todd and Daley Mathison have raced for them, they’ve also introduced a lot of newcomers to the TT course.”
He continued:
“Additionally, I am glad that my long-time mechanic and friend Pekka Oikkonen will be joining the team. I am currently still recovering from my fall at the Macau Grand Prix in November, breaking two vertebrae.
The healing process is going well and I am ahead of schedule. I have already started my intensive workout programme in order to get back to full strength and by April I should be able to go back on track in full race fitness.”
Kostamo’s new full time suitors Penz 13.com added recently that he could potentially have a team mate for the season ahead including at TT 2020.
Penz 13 Team Manager Rico Penzkofer stated that they are “talking to a couple of riders at the moment and hoping to make another announcement soon.”
Words by Stevie Rial, quotes via Penz 13 press release
