By Isle of Man TT 2013 – Superbike TT preview – Part 1
The Honda TT legends racing team are the standout team entered in this year’s superbike TT race. Competing for the team is 19 times TT winner John Mcguinness, 3 times TT winner Michael Dunlop and reigning TT zero winner Michael Rutter.
This year’s superbike TT race will represent the first opportunity for John Mcguinness to reach the TT milestone of 20 TT wins. Having won the superbike TT race 6 times John is pretty much once again starting favorite for this years superbike TT race.
But the challenge to John this year is greater than ever and it looks likely that the biggest competition will be from within the Honda TT legends team. Michael Dunlop is for the first time competing for a factory team at the TT and expect this move to take Michael to next level at the Isle of Man TT.
Already this season we’ve seen Michael show sensational form with double race wins at the Cookstown 100 and Tandragee 100 road races. Whilst at the North West 200 Michael took pole position for the superbike races, there’s no doubt Michael can take race victory this year in the superbike race at the TT.
Michael Rutter has his best chance in recent years to achieve a podium finish in the superbike TT race. Michael’s first TT win came in 1998 in the junior TT race when competing like this year on Honda machinery. There’s no doubt Michael is still one of the worlds best road racers this was proved at the Macau grand prix in 2012 when Michael took a comfortable race victory.
Wilson Craig racing have been close in recent years to winning the superbike TT race with Cameron Donald and for 2013 Cameron is back with the team aiming for more TT wins to his tally of 2 so far.
Team mate to Cameron in the Wilson Craig racing team is Jimmy Storrar. Jimmy at the TT last year as a newcomer lapped at over 122 mph and joining a top team like Wilson Craig racing will represent a great opportunity for Jimmy.
Guy Martin’s quest for a TT win continues this year competing for the Tyco Suzuki by TAS team. Guy has had a consistent start to the 2013 road racing season which has included winning 4 races at the spring cup at Oliver’s Mount. Always popular with fans Guy has another good chance this year of achieving a first TT win.
Conor Cummins is the second fastest rider in TT history and Conor’s speed and ability will give him a great chance of securing a debut TT win this year. Now joining up with the Milwaukee Yamaha team for this years TT Conor has a new challenge competing on Yamaha machinery in the superbike TT race.
Team mate to Conor in the Milwaukee Yamaha team, William Dunlop is like Conor still looking for his Isle of Man TT win.
But this may happen in 2013 and although William is more known for his performances in the supersport 600 class he’s a dark horse in this years superbike TT race for a podium finish.
The one and only Bruce Anstey is back once again for this years TT competing for the newly team named HM Plant Honda by Padgetts motorcycles team. Bruce has won virtually every class of racing at the TT but is still looking for a superbike TT win, the 2013 superbike race might give Bruce the win to add to his already superb racing CV.
Kawasaki has many top teams competing in this years superbike TT race which includes Quattro Plant Kawasaki, PR racing Kawasaki, RC Express racing Kawasaki by MSS Performance and Ryan Farquhar’s KMR Kawasaki powered by Vauxhall team.
Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s superbike TT line up is lead by James Hillier. James has already lapped at the TT at over 127 mph and for 2013 there’s the potential for James to lap into the 130 mph bracket.
Team mate to James is experienced road racer, Steve Heneghan. Steve who made his TT debut in 2009 is every year getting faster and improving his knowledge of the TT course.
Dean Harrison is competing for the RC Express racing Kawasaki by MSS performance team on a ex Michael Rutter MSS Kawasaki superbike in this years superbike TT race. Dean has lapped so far at the TT at a speed of 126 mph but now armed with a superbike it’s a great chance for Dean to set a super lap time alongside achieving a top result in the superbike race.
Jamie Hamilton, Brian Mccormack, Karl Harris, David Johnson and TT newcomer Jonathan Howarth will all be aiming for good results in the superbike TT race when competing on Kawasaki machinery.
