By York’s Joe Thompson will make his Classic TT debut next month, having signed up to compete for Stafford Evans Celeres Racing run Oxford Products Ducati team.
Like new team mate 2013 Lightweight TT champion James Hillier, rising star Thompson will pilot an 888 Ducati within the four lap Superbike Classic TT race.
Presently racing for the first time this weekend at Aberdare Park, the extremely talented next generation road racer has caught the attention of many this year, in particular due to his consistent array of excellent performances on the factory supported Team ILR S1-R Paton.
A double rostrum finisher at the Vauxhall International North West 200, TT 2018 saw the Yorkshireman chalk up an impressive fifth place finish in the Bennetts Lightweight race, finishing in front of modern day machinery employer, mentor Ian Lougher.
Photo by Nick Wheeler
Hugely respected by his fellow competitors, it’s great to see another exciting rising talent like Thompson confirmed to sample the Classic TT.
Celeres Racing team owner Stafford Evans, speaking today via Facebook issued his delight at securing the Southern 100 Super Twins lap record holder services for their latest Classic TT tenure.
Stafford stated:
“Just between you and me as you already know one half of the team for this year’s Classic TT is James Hillier, on the other side of the garage I am delighted to announce will be Joey ‘Yorkshire’ Thompson.
After his first ride on a Ducati I can quote Joey as saying “It handles better than I expected”, as we’ve yet to tweak anything that sounds like good news to me.”
Words by Stevie Rial
