Once again, the TT boasts a high quality field of newcomers.
For the last three years, an influx of high quality newcomers have been pitting their wits against the rigors of the Mountain Course and rider recruitment has again been high on the agenda for this year’s event.
Since 2004, no less than five riders have broken the 120mph barrier on their debut and many have not only won silver and bronze replicas but also finished comfortably inside the top 20. Perhaps more tellingly, 70% have returned the following year thus vindicating their participation and proof that this is a long term initiative. The last three recipients of the Newcomers Trophy have been Guy Martin, Cameron Donald and Conor Cummins, which speaks for itself. Throw in the likes of Les Shand, Jeremy Toye, Mark Miller, Mark Buckley, Tim Poole, Michael Dunlop, William Dunlop and Stefano Bonetti and it’s clear to see that rider recruitment has been an unqualified success. Oh yes, let’s not forget former World Sidecar Champion Klaus Klaffenbock, now a potential race winner!
More and more riders are approaching the organisers about riding in the greatest motorcycle race in the world and this year again sees some excellent names, half of them under the age of 30, making their debut with World, European and National Championship success under their belts. 2007 may just see the best crop of newcomers to date and when you see the list of riders, and their achievements, it really is an impressive array of talent.
Steve Plater
A four time British Superbike race winner, Plater is without doubt the biggest of all the newcomers and finally realises his long ambition of competing on the Island. Twice a runner up in the British Supersport Championship, since 2000 Plater has ridden in the British Superbike Championship for the works Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki teams and his debut is a mouth-watering prospect. Although he was without a full time ride in 2006, it proved to be one of his most successful years with a superb double at the North West 200 and victory at the prestigious Macau Grand Prix. Plater lines up for the official AIM Racing Yamaha team whilst he will also be competing in the World Endurance Championship for the works Kawasaki team.
Keith Amor
Scottish rider Amor was one of the revelations of 2006 and he shot to people’s attention at the North West 200 when he qualified his private Suzuki on the front row. He backed this up with sixth in the Superstock race but it was his debut at the Ulster GP that ultimately won him his place with the Uel Duncan Racing squad. Amor was on the pace immediately and ended the week with a win to his name as well as a number of top ten finishes in the UGP races, battling all the way with far more experienced and better financed rivals. Perhaps more telling was the fact he became the fastest ever newcomer at Dundrod beating the previous best mark of a certain Cameron Donald.
Jimmy Moore
Jimmy Moore hopes to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countrymen Mark Miller and Jeremy Toye and is the latest top flight American to make his TT debut. Indeed, Moore has the best pedigree out of all of them having taken the 2001 AMA Supersport 750cc and 2002 AMA Superstock Championships. He has ridden for many of the top American privateer teams and has also been a regular top fifteen finisher in the AMA Superbike Championships. Extremely experienced, Moore is sure to excel and emulate, if not better, the achievements of his countrymen.
Ryan Rainey
One of Northern Ireland’s best short circuit performers in recent years, Rainey has been contesting the British Superstock Championship since 2004, regularly finishing in the top 8. He has already proved himself on the roads with some excellent finishes at the North West 200, including sixth and eighth place finishes in last years Superbike and Superstock races, despite competing with a broken leg! Forced to sit out the majority of last year, Rainey has all the attributes to succeed at the TT and at just 25 he still has a lot of time on his side.
Bob Collins
Like previous newcomers Conor Cummins and James Edmeades, Collins first came to people’s attention in the televised Virgin Mobile R6 Cup but he soon moved onto the 1000cc machines, impressing immediately. Forced to miss out on his debut last year, Collins’ potential was realised when he won the 2006 National Superstock Cup with 5 wins and 9 podiums to his name. He also made his real road race debut at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough and proved his natural talent with a pair of sixth place finishes. Full of youthful exuberance and flair, Bob is an exciting talent and is sure to become a TT regular in the years ahead.
Marc Ramsbotham
A former top runner in the MRO and Aprilia Mille Championships, Ramsbotham switched to the roads in 2005 when he contested all of the Scarborough meetings. Just a year later he was already on the podium and only being defeated by Guy Martin and Ian Lougher, such was the progress he had made. He made his debut at the Ulster Grand Prix last year and was immediately on the pace, lapping in excess of 118mph and scoring a series of fine results.
Ian Mackman
Another former MRO contender, Mackman clinched the 2004 400cc Championship before moving onto the Superstock class a year later. He soon got to grips with the bigger machine, finishing seventh in the Superstock Cup and spent all of 2006 competing in the Superstock Championship proper. Four-time TT winner Bill Smith is aiding the Cheshire rider in his preparations.
John Nisill
Lancastrian rider Nisill has already impressed on the roads with some solid performances at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix and he finally gets to make his TT debut. Still only in his mid-20’s, he has considerable experience of both Superbike and Supersport machinery as well as being a regular front-runner in the Darley Moor, Oulton Park and Aintree club championships.
Christer Miinin
Multiple Swedish champion is not strictly a TT Newcomer having previously entered in 2005, but his first TT was extremely short lived. Miinin lapped at 111mph on his very first lap of the Mountain Course but that would prove to be his only lap as he withdrew from the event after the loss of team mate Joakim Karlsson. He finished 3rd overall in the 2006 World Endurance Championship riding for the illustrious Phase One team and scored two podiums and five top six finishes in the seven rounds. Miinin’s full debut is eagerly awaited and this time he lines up with the ultra-professional Martin Bullock squad.
Gary Johnson
26-year old Johnson burst onto the scene in 2004 as a raw novice but he dominated club racing and finished 2nd in that season’s 600cc MRO Championship. He immediately progressed into the British Championship class and just a year later he clinched the British Supersport Cup, also scoring a number of top 15 finishes in the Championship class proper. A terrible back injury in pre-season testing at Snetterton wrecked his 2006 season but he lines up this season in the British Superstock class on an R1 Yamaha, which he will be on both at the TT and the North West 200.
Jehan D’Orgeix
D’Orgeix was the World Endurance champion in 1999, alongside Britain’s Terry Rymer, and won numerous races for the official Kawasaki and Suzuki teams throughout the 1990’s, riding with riders like Gregorio Lavilla, James Whitham and Brian Morrison. As well as being a multiple French national champion, he has also scored numerous top ten finishes in World Superbike and World Supersport races. Without doubt, one of France’s finest riders in recent times, D’Orgeix has an impressive pedigree and is sure to tackle the Mountain Course with complete professionalism and dedication.
Dave Hewson
26-year old Hewson worked his way through the club ranks on the UK circuits before making his mark in the 2005 British Superstock Cup, where he placed 9th overall. Staying with Kawasaki machinery, the Lincolnshire rider has been a mainstay of the Superstock Championship proper since 2006 and continues to ride strongly in one of the most competitive and fiercely fought British Championships.
Rob Barber
Rob is a multiple club championship winner and was one of the selected British riders chosen for the 2006 GSXR Suzuki World Cup series. The 27-year old, like a number of other riders competing at the TT, impressed in the British Superstock Cup and, after scoring podium finishes, he moved on to the Championship itself where he has had a number of points scoring finishes.
Angelo Conti
Angelo was the European Supersport 600cc Champion in 1997 and scored a number of top ten finishes in the following years’ World Championship, in a period when the World Supersport series was one of the most competitive in the world. The Italian rider has been a multiple winner in his national championships, primarily in the 600cc class, and has experience at a number of the world’s best circuits.
Roger Maher
Eire’s Roger Maher has based himself on the continent, primarily in Germany, for much of his career and has been a regular competitor in the World Endurance Championship, recording many point scoring finishes. In the last few seasons he has competed in more pure road races at home and has recorded podium finishes in the Superbike class, sharing the rostrum with the likes of Martin Finnegan and Raymond Porter. He has also impressed at the North West 200 and Ulster GP and is sure to do similar at the TT.
Antonio Maeso
Maeso becomes the first Spanish rider to compete at the TT for almost 20 years and he arrives with an impressive record. The 28-year old has competed against riders like Ruben Xaus and Fonsi Nieto and has progressed from being a regional champion of Andalucia and Murcia through to being a double Spanish Superstock Cup champion. He has also ridden in the national Formula Extreme Championship, with strong results, and is relishing the opportunity to compete at the TT, with the aim of being a regular in the years ahead.