Just over four months, since announcing his retirement from International Road Racing, York’s Joe Thompson has announced that he will return to high level closed roads competition in August, sampling for the second time the Classic TT Races.
Multi times a race winner at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough, twice a podium finisher at last year’s North West 200, the Yorkshireman’s latest Classic TT stint will see him pilot Goathland Garage backed Paton machinery in the four lap Senior 500 race.
Photo by Tommy Vennard
He’s also secured a top class RS 250 Honda mount for the Lightweight class, with the machine supplied by long term pure road racing backer, huge racing enthusiast John Chapman.
Regarded amongst England’s most talented next generation roads competitors, it’s great to see ‘Joey Yorkshire’ returning to the roads scene.
Prior to the Classic TT, Thompson is Aberdare Park bound, competing under the Trickbits Racing banner.
An impressive newcomer to the tight, twisty, technical Welsh roads course last year, he’s a definite contender for the prestigious Welsh Open crown.
Commenting via his Facebook racing page, about his pure road racing comeback, he candidly stated:
“This is a fresh start for me and a new chapter to my career, I have a lot of support from friends and family behind me which are putting a lot into this but as everybody knows it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of money to be successful in this game.”
Words by Stevie Rial