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Year in year out, producing exhilarating racing on the fabled, mythical Mountain Course, you’d be brave to accurately predict who will emerge triumphant from next month’s four-lap, Monster Energy Supersport races.
Hitting the 130-mph lap mark last year, 25 times TT winner Michael Dunlop, has his ambitions set on more victorious TT odysseys.
In contrast to 2023, the Ballymoney racer is astride for his own team (MD Racing), Carl Cox Motorsport/Quattro Group supported 765 Triumph apparatus.
Unbeaten this decade in the Supersport class, the mixture of fierce unrelenting determination, shrewd race tactics and the ability to ride harder at times than many of his rivals, makes him a formidable exponent of middleweight class machinery.
Elite names out to stop ‘Maverick’ include outright lap-record holder, Peter Hickman.
Although as widely stated, nursing niggly hand injuries, one must not write off the Trooper Triumph mounted rider, he knows what it takes to conquer the Supersport category.
Additionally in contention for honours is Hickman’s consistent big-bike TT rival since 2018, Honda Racing UK’s Dean Harrison.
The fast-talking Yorkshireman, whilst not aboard Honda’s British Supersport front running CBR600RR model at the Northwest 200, notorious turn of speed, talents make him a top contender.
Speaking recently about TT 2024, the Oliver’s Mount lap record holder stated:
“Heading to TT 2024 I am feeling really good and I just can’t wait to get going to tell the truth.
The anticipation has been building for so long and now we are nearly there. I won’t be approaching the event any differently to how I do every year, I’ll keep things the same – head out in practice and get a feel for things on the first night, see where we are and then build from there.
You have to ride differently across the three classes to maximise the potential and adapt your style to suit each bike.”
Northwest 200 Man of The Meeting, Davey Todd looked at one with the rasping Powertoolmate Ducati.
Ducati’s V2 Panigale is something of an unknown around the historic TT roads, how will it fair in terms of reliability, as an all-round package?
One aspect is for definite, eight plate holder Todd is ready for that next step, next level, he heads to IOM shores in an extremely sound frame of mind.
Don’t discount as well Conor Cummins (Milenco by Padgetts), Jamie Coward (KTS Racing Powered by Steadplan), Duke Road Race Rankings leader Michael Browne, Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing team-mate Josh Brookes plus James Hillier and the returning Bournemouth Kawasaki squad from sealing top three finishes.
Others not to be discounted for strong results include No.1 plate occupier Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing), twice class winner Gary Johnson, Craig Neve (Bathams Racing Triumph), Ian Hutchinson, Julian Trummer (Jackson Racing), Dominic Herbertson (BE/RK Racing), former Privateers Championship runner-up Sam West, Joey ‘Yorkshire’ Thompson.
Jim Hind (North Lincolnshire Components), Shaun Anderson (Butterfields of Skipton/ARD), Rob Hodson (SMT Racing), Michael Sweeney, Pierre Yves Bian, Michael Evans, 2019 Superbike Classic TT victor David Johnson.
Added confirmed participants include TH Racing’s AJ Venter, Michael ‘Jack’ Russell, Tom Weeden, Mike Norbury, Paul ‘Buzz Lightyear’ Cassidy, Dafabet Racing’s Matt Stevenson, Bishop Castle’s Barry Furber.
Brian McCormack (Roadhouse Macau by FHO), Stephen ‘Trevor’ Parsons, Jorge Halliday, the Cringle’s Ryan & Jamie, both racing for Parker Transport Racing, ensuring representation for Japan, Masayuki Yamanaka (Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments).
Plus, Manx GP to TT graduates, Joe Yeardsley (Spin Arena), Marcus Simpson, Darryl Tweed (Never Be Clever Racing).
Newcomers wise just four TT first timers are entered in what are shaping up to be Monster Energy Supersport thrillers, Daracore Racing’s Kevin Keyes, and Croatia’s first TT entrant of the 21st century, Loris Majcan.
Photo credit: Derek Wilson, Nick Wheeler, Mark Corlett
Quotes courtesy of Honda Racing UK press team.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
Unbeaten this decade in the Supersport class, the mixture of fierce unrelenting determination, shrewd race tactics and the ability to ride harder at times than many of his rivals, makes him a formidable exponent of middleweight class machinery.
Elite names out to stop ‘Maverick’ include outright lap-record holder, Peter Hickman.
Although as widely stated, nursing niggly hand injuries, one must not write off the Trooper Triumph mounted rider, he knows what it takes to conquer the Supersport category.
Additionally in contention for honours is Hickman’s consistent big-bike TT rival since 2018, Honda Racing UK’s Dean Harrison.
The fast-talking Yorkshireman, whilst not aboard Honda’s British Supersport front running CBR600RR model at the Northwest 200, notorious turn of speed, talents make him a top contender.
Speaking recently about TT 2024, the Oliver’s Mount lap record holder stated:
“Heading to TT 2024 I am feeling really good and I just can’t wait to get going to tell the truth.
The anticipation has been building for so long and now we are nearly there. I won’t be approaching the event any differently to how I do every year, I’ll keep things the same – head out in practice and get a feel for things on the first night, see where we are and then build from there.
You have to ride differently across the three classes to maximise the potential and adapt your style to suit each bike.”
Northwest 200 Man of The Meeting, Davey Todd looked at one with the rasping Powertoolmate Ducati.
Ducati’s V2 Panigale is something of an unknown around the historic TT roads, how will it fair in terms of reliability, as an all-round package?
One aspect is for definite, eight plate holder Todd is ready for that next step, next level, he heads to IOM shores in an extremely sound frame of mind.
Don’t discount as well Conor Cummins (Milenco by Padgetts), Jamie Coward (KTS Racing Powered by Steadplan), Duke Road Race Rankings leader Michael Browne, Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing team-mate Josh Brookes plus James Hillier and the returning Bournemouth Kawasaki squad from sealing top three finishes.
Others not to be discounted for strong results include No.1 plate occupier Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing), twice class winner Gary Johnson, Craig Neve (Bathams Racing Triumph), Ian Hutchinson, Julian Trummer (Jackson Racing), Dominic Herbertson (BE/RK Racing), former Privateers Championship runner-up Sam West, Joey ‘Yorkshire’ Thompson.
Jim Hind (North Lincolnshire Components), Shaun Anderson (Butterfields of Skipton/ARD), Rob Hodson (SMT Racing), Michael Sweeney, Pierre Yves Bian, Michael Evans, 2019 Superbike Classic TT victor David Johnson.
Added confirmed participants include TH Racing’s AJ Venter, Michael ‘Jack’ Russell, Tom Weeden, Mike Norbury, Paul ‘Buzz Lightyear’ Cassidy, Dafabet Racing’s Matt Stevenson, Bishop Castle’s Barry Furber.
Brian McCormack (Roadhouse Macau by FHO), Stephen ‘Trevor’ Parsons, Jorge Halliday, the Cringle’s Ryan & Jamie, both racing for Parker Transport Racing, ensuring representation for Japan, Masayuki Yamanaka (Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments).
Plus, Manx GP to TT graduates, Joe Yeardsley (Spin Arena), Marcus Simpson, Darryl Tweed (Never Be Clever Racing).
Newcomers wise just four TT first timers are entered in what are shaping up to be Monster Energy Supersport thrillers, Daracore Racing’s Kevin Keyes, and Croatia’s first TT entrant of the 21st century, Loris Majcan.
Photo credit: Derek Wilson, Nick Wheeler, Mark Corlett
Quotes courtesy of Honda Racing UK press team.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
