Gary Johnson confirms TT return with East Coast Racing
Tuesday 25 January 2011
TT
Gary Johnson will return to the Isle of Man TT in 2011 it has been confirmed.
The 28-year-old has signed for East Coast Racing and will contest the TT alongside selected road racing events and a full season in the British Supersport Championship.
Johnson, from Broughton, has combined racing on the roads and sort circuits for the past few years, finishing third in last year’s British Superbike Evo Cup and taking four top 15 results during the 2010 TT.
This season he will run a full season in the British Supersport Championship riding the ex-GNS Racing Honda that Sam Lowes used to win the 2010 British Supersport title.
In addition he will race at the TT, North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix, Scarborough and Macau.
Johnson said:
“I can’t wait to get on the track with the East Coast Racing team. 2010 was a disappointment for me and I have points to prove and want to come back this year really strong and get some good results in the Supersport races and also on the roads and get everything back on track and going in the right direction.”
“I get on really well with Phil Reed – team owner and manager - and can’t wait to get started now.”
Team owner and manager Phil Reed, from East Coast Construction NE, is excited about his 2011 plans.
He said:
“2010 was a learning year for the team and we had a few riders come and go, Karl Harris and Tom Grant rode for us briefly, Jason O’Halleron joined us at Knockhill and his results were never out of the top six for the remainder of the year.”
“I have been watching Gary on the track and on the roads and got to know him well in Macau, where we managed to sort out a deal. I think we’ve got a very good little team for our assault on the 2011 Championship. We will be going testing in March and getting the riders comfortable with the bikes and team and ready to race at Brands at the end of April.”