Isle of Man TT stars Michael Dunlop and Conor Cummins will race at the inaugural Classic TT next year.
The pair will compete for Team Classic Suzuki, which has announced its support for the event by outlining its intention to contest the races and participate in a parade lap.
Dunlop and Cummins will be joined in the line-up by Maria Costello and John Simpson.
Team Classic Suzuki, owned by Northamptonshire businessman Steve Wheatman, is one of the foremost attractions on the international classic motorcycle scene with its vast collection of authentic Suzuki Grand Prix racers from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Some of the most famous names from Suzuki’s racing history regularly ride for the team in parade events, including Randy Mamola, Wil Hartog, Phil Read MBE, Graeme Crosby, Mick Grant and Kevin Schwantz.
Team Classic Suzuki also has a successful racing pedigree, with former Grand Prix ace Sean Emmett leading the team’s short circuit effort and scoring numerous wins in the 2012 Classic Racing Motorcycle Club series.
Dunlop has been heading up their road race effort, taking Manx Grand Prix victory for the team in 2010 and 2012.
Three-time TT winner Dunlop will again lead the team at the Classic TT, contesting the Formula 1 Race, where he will be joined by Manxman Cummins. Both riders will be on board the latest specification 16 valve XR69 Suzuki machines.
TT regular Costello will be out on a Harris framed GSXR750 Suzuki, while 2012 M GP Senior Race winner and former British Supersport Cup Champion Simpson will race an iconic RG500 machine, which will no doubt delight the fans of true thoroughbred Grand Prix racing motorcycles.
Mick Grant, a 7-times TT winner, will take on the role of Team Coordinator for the event, with former Suzuki race team mechanics Paul Boulton and Nathan Colombi and XR69 development guru John Sims of Trident Engineering in charge of machine preparation.
The team will have a permanent presence in the Classic TT Paddock with a host of exotic race bikes on display for race fans to enjoy, and will also feature in the Classic TT Lap of Honour, with the full line up of riders and machines for the parade lap due to be confirmed in due course.
Team Principle Steve Wheatman said:
“We are excited by the plans for the first Classic TT and proud to be able to play our part in making it what we all believe will be a huge success.”
“So far as the racing is concerned, in Michael Dunlop and Conor Cummins we have two of the fastest riders ever to lap the Mountain course and we are confident that either one of them can win the Formula 1 race.”
“Maria is an ever-present in our team these days and continues to impress on the big XR69, whilst John Simpson is one of the most exciting young talents around, and we know the fans are going to love seeing him out on one of our RG500 machines.”
Dunlop added:
“It is a real honour to ride for Team Classic Suzuki and their machinery and back up is second to none. It’s going to be good going head to head with Conor and hopefully we can take the top two steps on the podium between us.”
Cummins commented:
“The XR69 is a beautiful machine and I'm really looking forward to racing it on the Mountain Course. It's definitely going to be different to what I'm used to but the Classic TT is looking really exciting and as a local lad I couldn't miss out.”