Honda sign McGuinness, Rutter and Dunlop for 2013 TT
Sunday 02 December 2012
TT
John McGuinness will be joined by Michael Rutter and Michael Dunlop in the Honda TT Legends squad for the 2013 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy.
The 19-times TT winner will by joined by Rutter and Dunlop for a three-man Superbike campaign.
The TT Honda Legends team, entering its third year of racing, will also contest the North West 200 with the Honda CBR1000R. The team will also, once again, compete in the Endurance World Championship with McGuinness and Rutter being joined by Simon Andrews and Cameron Donald.
The new-look squad was announced at Motorcycle Live in Birmingham on Sunday. McGuinness was joined by Rutter, Dunlop and Andrews on stage to be interviewed by TT TV commentator James Whitham.
Donald was unable to attend as he is in Australia.
The updated livery for the Honda TT Legends machine was also revealed – a tri-colour design that replicates that of the 2013 production Fireblade, re-affirming the close affinity between the race machine and its road-going relative.
Team Manager Neil Tuxworth said:
“We’re very pleased to have a really strong team both for World Endurance and the road races this year. The team that we’ve put together for both disciplines means we are in a much stronger position than last year.”
“Looking at the road racing, we’ve haven’t run a three-man squad for a number of years now. It’s quite significant that not only are we running three riders, but we are bringing Michael Dunlop in as one of those three.”
“He’s a young rider that already has three TT wins under his belt and we feel that he is the future of road racing. With Dunlop, McGuinness and Rutter – who of course have both been very successful on the roads – we have a very strong line-up for 2013.”
McGuinness added:
“I’m really pleased to be involved with the team again. For EWC, I know the tracks, I know the bike and we’re ready to start upping our game even more. We’ve done well during the development stage over the last couple of years, but this is the year for us to fight for the podium and challenge for the championship.”
“As for the roads, it’s second nature for me now. I love working with the same crew that I’ve been with for so many years. The whole package just works and I don’t want to change that. I’m ready to get stuck in and hopefully get some more wins.”
Three-times TT winner Rutter is pleased to be returning to Honda.
He said:
“I’m really excited to be riding with the Honda TT Legends next year. Endurance is not something I have done before so that’s going to be a great experience and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do there.”
“I’ve obviously got a history with the Louth-based team as I did BSB and the roads with them for a couple of years in 2004/2005, so I’m familiar with the Fireblade and I know the crew well.”
“It will be good to be back with the team and I’m really happy back with Honda.”
Dunlop, already a three-time winner at the TT, added:
“This is a big opportunity for me with both Honda and Dunlop and it’s an honour to be riding for them so I’m looking forward to getting started.”
“People are asking me how it will be for me having John as a teammate, but when we get on the bike it will be the same. I get on well with John, but I don’t worry about anybody else when I’m on track.”
“As a team we’ve got a great line-up with Rutter as well so it’ll be a pretty good show.”
Isle of Man Government TT and Motorsport Manager Paul Phillips concluded:
“It's great to see a three-man factory backed Honda outfit at the TT Races again.”
“Their chosen riders have multiple TT victories and are definitely going to be one of the teams to beat in 2013. The team represents a real commitment by Honda to the TT and this will only make the Superbike and Senior races even more competitive.”