American racer Brandon Cretu targets improvements at 2012 Isle of Man TT
Thursday 12 April 2012
TT
American racer Brandon Cretu will compete for HEL Performance/RevZilla.com at the 2012 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy.
It will be the third consecutive year the 27-year-old has taken on the TT and he returns with continued support from long time title sponsor HEL Performance plus new backing from RevZilla.com.
Cretu said:
“I am really excited to be back at the TT for a third year straight. Everyone says you start to really learn the course by the third year so I am hoping that rings true for me!”
“My main goal is just to enjoy the amazing event that the TT is to me, but I also have aspirations of further improving upon my results from 2011. I can't say how great it is to have HEL Performance back with me again for 2012 and to have a company like RevZilla.com pick me as their first sponsorship endeavour.”
“The TT is the perfect event for any sponsor to be involved in.”
Cretu is the youngest American to compete in the TT.
Last year Cretu rode a 2007 Yamaha R6 under the HEL Performance banner to a best lap of 116.7mph during practice. He was 33rd in the Monster Energy Supersport 1, but suffered a mechanical during the second Supersport race, resulting in a DNF.
However, 2011 did see him earn a bronze replica - the first new American to do so since Jeremy Toye in 2006 - and qualify ahead of many TT regulars during practice week.
This year he plans to step up to the 1000cc classes and hit the 120mph mark, as well as collecting more bronze replicas.
HEL Performance owner Simon Lane said:
“We are delighted to work with Brandon again this year at the TT. After working with him for the past two years we do not want to lose the momentum we have built up so we are looking forward to a third year.”
“The HEL Performance bike has become a recognizable staple at the TT with fans so it is a great opportunity for us to further market our brand.”
RevZilla Co-Founder Anthony Bucci added:
“RevZilla.com is very excited to help sponsor a young American up-and-comer at this year’s Isle of Man TT. Brandon Cretu’s passion for our sport energised us when we met him and we were that much more fired up to be part of his push for the 2012 TT when he finally asked this year.”
“In a way, he reminded us of ourselves when we were first launching RevZilla almost 5 years ago.”
Cretu will carry the number 73 plate for the Superstock, Superbike and Senior classes, and 57 for both Supersport races, if he can find the support to fund a ride in those races.