Retiring Isle of Man TT star thanks fans for support
Monday 19 September 2011
TT
Isle of Man TT winner Klaus Klaffenböck has paid tribute to race fans while announcing he is retiring from racing at the TT.
The three-times TT Sidecar winner and former Wold Champion has confirmed he will not contest the TT again after exceeding his ambition for racing on the Mountain course.
Klaffi said:
“It was always my ambition to win a TT race so by winning three I have already exceeded my ambition.”
“I will maintain an involvement with the races in the future as it has always been such a special event for me and I am also extremely fond of the Island.”
He added:
“I’d like to thank my passenger Dan Sayle along with all of my personal sponsors; Manx Gas, A&J Groundworks, Manx Telecom, Home Strategic, GTC, Alpha Boilers and the Isle of Man Government.”
“I’d also like to offer my gratitude to all of the TT fans for their incredible support during my career, particularly when I won my first TT in 2010.”
Klaffenböck began racing at the TT in 2004. In 2010, with Manxman Sayle in he passenger’s seat, he took his outfit to victory in both sidecar races, becoming the first Austrian TT winner since Rupert Hollaus won the Ultra-Lightweight race in 1954.
This year the pair claimed victory in the Sure Sidecar 1 Race and were running strongly in the second race until mechanical problems hit.
Isle of Man Government TT and Motorsport Manager Paul Phillips said:
“Klaus has been a really popular competitor and supporter of the TT since he first stated competing.”
“The event was given a real boost by the participation of a current sidecar World Champion and it opened the door to the TT to other crews from the World Championship.”
“Klaus showed his ability, and persistence, in his double winning year in 2010 and he has been a real star and is rightly recognised as a TT hero.”