Joining accomplished IRRC exponents Lukas Maurer, David Datzer and Jonathan Goetschy, plus Cork’s Ray Casey, rising New Zealand roads talent Daniel Mettam, is the latest racer to announce his intention to make his first foray into Mountain Course competition at TT 2019.
Fourth within last December’s Robert Holden Memorial feature race, at the Whanganui based Cemetery Circuit Races, Auckland resident Mettam is widely regarded as one of the brightest pure road racing prospects, to emerge in recent times from New Zealand.
Amongst last year’s leading Cookstown 100 debutants, his maiden Orritor Circuit tenure saw him finish runner up within the Super Twins (A) race, plus claim a popular Supersport B race victory.
Photo by Rod Neill
Additionally in 2018, a top 20 finisher at the North West 200, Mettam caught the attention of many astute roads aficionados with his pace, application, consistent array of competent performances.
Feeling ready to tackle for the first time, the fabled, mythical Mountain Course, Mettam’s first TT voyage will see him join forces with the highly respected DP Coldplaning/TC Racing squad, piloting a high spec CBR 600RR Honda in the four lap Monster Energy Supersport races.
No strangers to running high profile overseas event newcomers, Mick Charnock’s team most notably have worked over the years with the likes of Robbin Harms, works Honda rider for TT 2019 David Johnson and 2008 Superbike TT champ, Cameron Donald.
Now running newly crowned New Zealand Superbike champion Mettam, there’s no doubt that they will provide the next gen racer with the tools for the job, as he joins the TT racer ranks in just over thirty days time.
Words by Stevie Rial