Strong field of Newcomers for TT 2008
Wednesday 20 February 2008
TT
Once again the Isle of Man TT has attracted a strong line-up of riders wanting to take on the challenge of the world-famous Mountain Circuit for the first time.
The Centenary TT featured many sensational debuts, and most of the 2007 newcomers are returning for another go.
At Monday night’s official TT 2008 launch party at the Villa Marina, Douglas, some of the talented riders who have decided to take on the TT were revealed.
They include Sean Emmett, Jamie Robinson, Alessio Corradi and James Hillier.
The rider recruitment programme that first kicked in 2004 has reaped rewards, and in those four years no fewer than 10 first-timers have broken the 120mph barrier, with five achieving the landmark last year.
The Newcomers Trophy has seen the names of Guy Martin, Cameron Donald, Conor Cummins and Steve Plater etched onto it, and all four come into this year’s event with a serious chance of winning races.
Other names to make their bow in recent times include Keith Amor, Gary Johnson, Jimmy Moore, Les Shand, Mark Miller, Jeremy Toye, Mark Buckley and William Dunlop – all of them picking up silver and bronze replicas, as well as recording countless top 20 finishes.
The rider recruitment can only be described as a resounding success.
Sean Emmett had four seasons in the 500cc Grand Prix before finding his home in the British Superbike Championship.
Since 1997, he has recorded a hugely impressive tally of 12 wins and 59 podiums, primarily on Ducati machinery, also finishing in the top six overall on six occasions.
The 36-year-old has been one of the UK’s finest Superbike riders for the last decade and a race win in the 2006 British Supersport Championship showed he still has what it takes.
The Surrey rider, who has previously competed at Macau, lines up for the Speedfreaks/Ice Valley Racing team.
Emmett was unable to attend Monday’s TT 2008 launch, but team boss and fellow racer Paul Shoesmith said:
‘We’re really excited about it. We all know what he’s done in the past and the calibre of rider he is.’
Yorkshire’s Jamie Robinson first shot to prominence in 1992 when, at the tender age of just 16, he finished eighth in the 125cc British Championship.
Three years later he claimed the 250cc crown and made a serious impression on the European Championship before moving into 250cc GPs in 1996. He never really got the breaks at the highest level and returned to the UK, initially on a Superbike before switching to the British Supersport series in 2003, where he has remained ever since.
One of the most professional riders in the paddock, Robinson continues to chalk up numerous podium and top six finishes and is sure to feature prominently on his TT debut.
He told Monday’s TT launch party riding the famous Mountain Circuit had been his ambition since childhood, when his dad was a Manx Grand Prix racer. He recalled trips to the Island, and camping at Noble’s Park in Douglas, near the TT Grandstand.
He said:
‘I loved the Isle of Man, I loved everything about it. The reason I started racing was to do the MGP.’
His career took him to the short circuits, where his ambition became claiming the 250cc GP World Championship. He never achieved that goal, but will now realise his ambition of racing in the Isle of Man.
‘It is an incredible course and I have got a lot to learn. Honestly I’m not setting any targets because I just want to be in the Isle of Man. I have been racing for quite a long time and I just love motorcycles.’
‘I got fed up racing around the British championship and my dream became to be 250 World Champion. Unfortunately that didn’t work out. Things changed and I am so happy to be over here.’
‘I am quite humbled to be here.’
Hampshire’s James Hillier is another rider to have emerged from the high-profile Virgin Mobile R6 Cup Championship, finishing fourth overall in 2004 with one win and four podiums. He made the smooth transition to the British Supersport Championship, finishing fourth in the Privateer’s Cup in 2005 and then moving into the Championship proper.
A regular points scorer in the last two seasons, Hillier, who will race for Martin Bullock’s team alongside Ian Pattinson, has also scored a number of top 10 positions in the tightly-fought Championship and has impressed greatly with his speed, style and professionalism.
The 22-year-old said Manxman Conor Cummins’ success had inspired him to take part, but he a long-held ambition to race in the Isle of Man TT.
Hillier said:
‘From a very young age there has been a hunger for it, but my parents put me off for quite a long time. Now I’m nearly a big boy and my instinct has taken over and we’re going for it.’
Italian rider Alessio Corradi has been a mainstay of the World Supersport Championship since 2001 and he arrives at the TT with an impressive CV and considerable world championship credentials.
Riding for well-funded Italian Honda and Ducati teams, he finished in the top 12 of the championship every year between 2002 and 2005.
The 31-year-old finished in the top six of a World Superbike race as a wildcard rider in 2005 and will be one of the most professional and talented newcomers this year.
Speaking through a translator on Monday night, Corradi said:
‘It is so exciting to be here because everywhere I see is what I have only seen on television before, now I have seen it here.’
The Italian said he will be happy just to start a race during the TT, and revealed how he is attempting to learn the circuit – by completing lap after lap at the wheel of a hire car during his visit!
Another TT newcomer was confirmed at Monday’s launch evening – Jenny Tinmouth.
She will race for the Speedfreaks/Ice Valley Racing team on the Billown Circuit, but will not make her Mountain Circuit debut until the Manx Grand Prix later in the year.
Tinmouth said:
‘It is all about circuit knowledge. I need to get some experience and the Manx is a good way to do that, and then hopefully the TT.’
There will be more news from Monday’s launch throughout this week, so keep checking the news page of the Official website of the Isle of Man TT.
Read all about the 2008 TT by downloading the Press Pack in Adobe PDF Format (1.8Mb). Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com.
Additional reporting by Phil Wain