After various high profile announcements throughout October and November of 2019, it’s worth re capping how the 2020 international roads rider/team jigsaw is shaping up.
Senior TT winner Dean Harrison remains with Silicone Engineering Racing, respected rival, world’s fastest road racer Peter Hickman sticks with Smiths Racing who for 2020 will take on the mantle of BMW Motorrad UK’s official roads team.
Honda’s 2020 roads charge led by Honda UK, is headed by the exciting new rider line up of IRRC Superbike Champion Davey Todd and TT debutant Glenn Irwin.
Photo via https://www.hondaracinguk.co.uk/
Padgetts Racing look likely to retain the potent combination of Conor Cummins and Bruce Anstey whilst Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki revealed on Friday that Alastair Seeley will compete next year for the former BSB series winners, at the North West 200.
Pete Extance’s squad who are also set to return to the TT Races, TT 2020 challenge is likely to be led by 2013 Lightweight class victor James Hillier.
PreZ Racing, McAdoo Kawasaki respectively retain the services of TT Privateers Champion Jamie Coward and 2018 Ulster GP Super Twins winner Adam McLean.
Whilst additional confirmed 2020 rider/team combinations include Michael Evans (Wilcock Consulting), Joe Akroyd (Peoples Bike Team), Joe Loughlin (Team ILR), Matt Mylchreest/Jason Corcoran (Gorilla Racing/MWR Motorcycles).
As widely reported there appears a decent chance that Paul Bird Motorsport will run works Ducati’s at TT 2020, with 23 times TT winner John McGuinness tipped to pilot one of the exotic Italian machines.
Added paddock whispers of recent times include the possibility of Michael Dunlop returning to the Buildbase Suzuki fold, TAS Racing pulling out of roads competition and Richard Cooper linking up with Bathams Racing for the North West 200.
Previously reported by Road Racing News, RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki are keen to sample roads events in 2020, as stated by team owner Lee Hardy at Motorcycle Live:
“I’ve been talking to a few riders already for the roads and I was quite surprised that there’s still quite a few riders that are still available.
It’s been a big year this year and I think probably a lot of riders have looked at certainly some teams and probably thought that in the past they have been different, they have been constructed differently.
Looking at my team compared to some of the big name teams and I probably sort of knock myself a bit there and don’t think that we are a big name team. Obviously we are, we went there originally with Simon Andrews, we went back with Peter Hickman, first ever time he did 131 mph around there, so yes we have certainly put ourselves on the map.
We’ve been there with Conor Cummins, we’ve had some big names at the TT and as I say a lot of riders are starting to now look at our team as being one of those big name teams.
Obviously the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki team has been there since 2013, so it’s about time now we probably got the got the right rider to do the job and if we can get that rider we can get a good package put together, I ultimately think there’s a good chance of stepping on the box (podium) at the TT.”
Additional prominent teams still to unveil their roads plans for 2020 include BE (Burrows Engineering) Racing, KMR Kawasaki, Wepol Road Racing, PRF Racing, Norton Racing, TC Racing, RC Express Racing and Monster Energy Supersport TT winners Ashcourt Racing.
Words by Stevie Rial