Photo by Road Racing News
Lee Johnston was victorious in both super twin races at North West 200 and the East Coast racing rider is confident of another top result this time at Isle of Man TT. General Lee’s best finish to date on the mountain course is 9th place in last years lightweight TT, for this years race the East Coast racing rider who is also backed by Pirtek is competing on a good spec ER6 Kawasaki.
Photo courtesy of Louis Porter, Lap Concepts
Ryan Farquhar’s KMR Kawasaki team have a superb line up for 2014 lightweight TT which includes Ryan bidding for his fourth TT win Keith Amor who’s on form on KMR Kawasaki super twin and rising star Connor Behan. Plus runner up in newcomers B Manx Grand Prix in 2013 Joe Faragher is competing for the team as is high profile TT newcomer Danny Webb.
KMR Kawasaki will be hard to beat in this years lightweight TT but there are many riders including Ivan Lintin who are more than capable of race victory. Ivan competing for Mckinstry racing is reigning Ulster Grand Prix super twin winner and is one of the leading super twin riders in road racing, 4th place in 2013 lightweight TT is currently Ivan’s best TT finish, a podium finish or better is on the cards for Ivan in this years race.
Photo by Road Racing News
Michael Dunlop isn’t known for his prowess on a super twin bike but the seven time TT winner has being in good form on Mcadoo racing ER6 Kawasaki this season with victory at Cookstown 100 and runner up in super twin race two at North West 200.
Currently Michael’s best result in lightweight TT was from 2012 with 15th place finish expect in 2014 Maverick to be able to fight near the front for victory. Current lightweight TT winner James Hillier will be aiming for his second TT win when competing on Quattro Plant Muc off Kawasaki super twin.
James is current lightweight TT lap record holder with a brilliant lap speed of over 119 mph, if weather conditions are right a 120 mph lap is on the cards. Dan Kneen has rode superbly this season and for 2014 lightweight TT is Kawasaki mounted competing for Cookstown/Burrows engineering.
One of stars during both super twin races at North West 200 was James Cowton. James achieved two third place finishes and is full of confidence going into TT 2014 knowing he is capable of securing a top result and has a good chance of a podium finish.
The last time a Paton competed at the Isle of Man TT was back in 2007 when Steve Lindsell competed on a ex 500gp Paton from 2000, Steve’s son Ollie is competing for the iconic manufacturer in 2014 lightweight TT and is confident the bike has good potential for a top result.
Dean Harrison and RC Express racing are dark horses for victory in 2014 lightweight TT. Dean competing on the teams new ER6 Kawasaki is 2013 lightweight TT runner up and has lapped on a super twin on the mountain course at over 117 mph.
CF moto’s súper twin made its TT debut last year and after positive testing sessions Gary Johnson believes the bike is superiorly more capable than the bike from 2013. Gary although not known for his results on super twin bikes will be giving it everything when competing on factory backed WK bikes/CF moto super twin.
Also competing on a CF moto bike this year is Dan Cooper for Tsingtao racing whilst TT newcomer Callum Laidlaw is mounted on the super twin built in China. Suzuki’s challenge for for 2014 lightweight TT is lead by JHS racing who are running Dave Moffitt on a SV650F Suzuki.
Michael Sweeney moves up to Isle of Man TT this year for the first time and could spring a surprise or two when competing on a ER6 Kawasaki, Shaun Anderson and Roy Richardson are competing on 550 Aprilia’s which add more variety to the line up.
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Jamie Hamilton finished in 5th place in 2013 lightweight TT and is hoping to secure a personal best TT finish when competing on Stewart Smith racing ER6 Kawasaki. CMS racing have a three rider line up for TT 2014 with Davy Morgan being joined by Michael Rutter and Steve Mercer.
Photo by Road Racing News
Between them all three are all capable of securing top results for the team ran by Tony Morris. David Johnson on DP Coldplaning/TCR racing ER6 Kawasaki, Paul Shoesmith Ice Valley racing by Motorsave ltd ER6 Kawasaki and Timothee Monot Optimark road racing team could all record top ten finishes as could podium finisher in 2000 singles TT John Barton.
John is also Kawasaki mounted competing for Marks Blooms racing and is looking forward to TT 2014. AJ Venter, Tuukka Korhonen, Chris Sarbora and Michal Dokoupil add a international element to the race whilst Manx Grand Prix competitor for many years Rab Davie could be a surprise package.
With Kawasaki, Suzuki, Paton, CF moto and Aprilia all represented in 2014 lightweight TT it shows that the super twin is growing at Isle of Man TT with more manufacturers getting involved. Many riders will believe they can win their first TT in this race. The likes of Ivan Lintin, Lee Johnston, Dean Harrison, Jamie Hamilton and Keith Amor all have golden opportunities as they bid for victory for first time at the worlds greatest road race.