By 2013 Lightweight TT winner, fourteen times on a TT affiliated podium, 2019 Northwest 200 Man of The Meeting, Dakar Rally competitor, James Hillier has many strings to an ever-expanding racing resume.
Third quickest in Wednesday’s Supersport qualifying session, the Ringwood rider speaking a few days ago to Road Racing News, stated the following about linking up again with old friends, current friends in Pete Extance’s Bournemouth Kawasaki team.
“I knew the bike was sat there in the showroom down in Bournemouth and hadn’t done anything since last TT, so I thought that’s at least one bike sorted, and it would be the easiest option to bank that 600 ride.
So, that was done quickly, haven’t ridden it since then and I don’t feel I need to really because it’s good to go, just engine refreshed, bit of polish, she’ll be good.
We have got potential to be on the box with that one.”
Going onto discuss hopes for the big-bike races, Hillier whose Muc-Off Racing equipment, comprises of Superstock, Superbike spec Fireblade Honda’s, stated:
“Try and enjoy it, be consistent and I just want to keep doing better than I did last year want to work on my personal, PB lap-times.
We’ve got sort of a plan with testing when we get out, just to refine a few areas, new bike to me, last time I was on the older model but shouldn’t be to different and hopefully we can hit the ground running with that and be biting on the heels of the top boys.”
One question I’ve always wanted to ask the 2015 Senior TT runner-up; is how did he get the nickname ‘Dynamite’?
The answer is:
“When I had an office job, really, boring, used to just bunk off and draw pictures of motorbikes and I drew that logo when in the era when Foggy had his eyes in his logo and I don’t know why but I just thought the dynamite would work as the eyes for mine and it’s just stuck, drew it out.
That was 2005, Tommy Hill made that logo for me, that’s twenty years, aged all right, just thought it was different, and it stuck.”
Outside the TT, Hillier revealed he is hoping to be taking part in the Classic TT Races in August and potentially next January, will be back at the world’s most notorious acclaimed rally-raid event, the Dakar Rally.
“Potentially, it’s on the cards, why I don’t quite know yet, it’s sort of addictive, a little bit like this job, there’s not a lot else on in January, it’s absolute hell but it also is satisfying if you can get through it.”
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
