Star-studded line-up for Supertwins TT
08th March 2012
THE new look Lightweight TT catering for 650cc Supertwin machines has received an excellent response with more than 60 entries submitted.
As well as being high in quantity, the race is also set to be high in quality with six former TT race winners in the line-up
KMR Kawasaki’s Ryan Farquhar is an early favourite for honours, given his track record and the fact he’s been a major flag bearer of the class. He will be bidding for TT win number three but can expect tough opposition from a number of riders, not least his new team-mate Michael Rutter. Midlands-based Rutter - a double TT winner himself - will ride a Farquhar-prepared ER6 Kawasaki in what will be his only appearance of the year in the Supertwin class.
Other likely contenders will be the Dunlop brothers, Michael and William. Winner of last year’s Royal London 360 Superstock event, Michael will contest the new three-lap race on an ER6, while brother William will be chasing his first TT podium. Both are entered on Kawasaki ER6s.
Australian Cameron Donald and Welshman Ian Lougher are two more TT winners who have confirmed their entry in the class on Kawasaki machines, Donald riding for the DP Coldplaning team and Lougher in the colours of longtime sponsor Stewart Smith.
Kawasaki is by far the most popular choice of machine with James Hillier riding another bike prepared by Farquhar, although he will run it in his regular Bournemouth Pr1mo Kawasaki livery.
Last year’s fastest newcomer, Simon Andrews, three-times TT winner Adrian Archibald and Northern Irish aces John Burrows and Davy Morgan can also be expected to feature on the leaderboard on their ER6 bikes.
Although Kawasakis dominate the entry, Suzuki will have a strong presence with their hopes resting with Ben Wylie and Manxman Dan Kneen. The young duo not only have a great chance of spoiling Kawasaki’s hopes, but also claiming their first TT podium in Friday, June 8’s three-lap race.
Meanwhile, a number of leading privateers have, as hoped, embraced the new class with Ian Mackman, Ian Pattinson, Paul Shoesmith, Russ Mountford, Rob Barber, Stephen Thompson, Dean Harrison and the returning Olie Linsdell all entering.
TT Rider Liaison Officer John Barton will also contest the race, while Ulster newcomer Jamie Hamilton will be the third orange and black KMR Kawasaki lining up on Glencrutchery Road. Winner of the corresponding race at last year’s Manx Grand Prix, Willaston’s Dave Moffit is also among the entry.
TT and Motorsport development manager Paul Phillips commented: ‘We are really pleased with the quality of the line-up, which is exactly what we’d hoped for when we announced the race. We’ve had great response from teams and riders and this race already looks like being one of the highlights of this year’s event.’
As well as being high in quantity, the race is also set to be high in quality with six former TT race winners in the line-up
KMR Kawasaki’s Ryan Farquhar is an early favourite for honours, given his track record and the fact he’s been a major flag bearer of the class. He will be bidding for TT win number three but can expect tough opposition from a number of riders, not least his new team-mate Michael Rutter. Midlands-based Rutter - a double TT winner himself - will ride a Farquhar-prepared ER6 Kawasaki in what will be his only appearance of the year in the Supertwin class.
Other likely contenders will be the Dunlop brothers, Michael and William. Winner of last year’s Royal London 360 Superstock event, Michael will contest the new three-lap race on an ER6, while brother William will be chasing his first TT podium. Both are entered on Kawasaki ER6s.
Australian Cameron Donald and Welshman Ian Lougher are two more TT winners who have confirmed their entry in the class on Kawasaki machines, Donald riding for the DP Coldplaning team and Lougher in the colours of longtime sponsor Stewart Smith.
Kawasaki is by far the most popular choice of machine with James Hillier riding another bike prepared by Farquhar, although he will run it in his regular Bournemouth Pr1mo Kawasaki livery.
Last year’s fastest newcomer, Simon Andrews, three-times TT winner Adrian Archibald and Northern Irish aces John Burrows and Davy Morgan can also be expected to feature on the leaderboard on their ER6 bikes.
Although Kawasakis dominate the entry, Suzuki will have a strong presence with their hopes resting with Ben Wylie and Manxman Dan Kneen. The young duo not only have a great chance of spoiling Kawasaki’s hopes, but also claiming their first TT podium in Friday, June 8’s three-lap race.
Meanwhile, a number of leading privateers have, as hoped, embraced the new class with Ian Mackman, Ian Pattinson, Paul Shoesmith, Russ Mountford, Rob Barber, Stephen Thompson, Dean Harrison and the returning Olie Linsdell all entering.
TT Rider Liaison Officer John Barton will also contest the race, while Ulster newcomer Jamie Hamilton will be the third orange and black KMR Kawasaki lining up on Glencrutchery Road. Winner of the corresponding race at last year’s Manx Grand Prix, Willaston’s Dave Moffit is also among the entry.
TT and Motorsport development manager Paul Phillips commented: ‘We are really pleased with the quality of the line-up, which is exactly what we’d hoped for when we announced the race. We’ve had great response from teams and riders and this race already looks like being one of the highlights of this year’s event.’