Jack Valentine is bringing the MV Agusta name to the 2013 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy, with TT winner Gary Johnson in the saddle.
More than a decade after pioneering the successful return of Triumph to Supersport racing, the vastly experienced and well respected Valentine returns MV to the TT under the ValMoto banner.
The MV Supersport project, in partnership with the Italian marque, will see Johnson racing the Pirelli-shod MV Agusta F3 675, supported by a highly experienced team of technicians.
The team will work closely with the ParkinGO World Supersport MV Agusta team to share development and set-up knowledge and Valentine will bring his wealth of road racing experience to the team. Having masterminded victories in the Island for David Jefferies and Bruce Anstey, Valentine is returning to the course this year with his mind set on a successful TT result with Johnson.
He said:
“This is a project that I’m extremely passionate about and I am only embarking on it because I’m confident that victory is within our reach.”
“Having spent the last few years working for manufacturer teams in BSB and WSBK, it feels good to be bringing ValMoto out of retirement and returning to the roads seems a fitting and high profile way to make our return.”
“Gary is an extremely talented rider and the F3 675 is a great bike – I’m sure the pairing of the two will be a recipe for success and a reason for me to celebrate another successful TT.”
Johnson added:
“I’m really looking forward to this year’s road racing season running the MV Agusta F3 675 under the ValMoto banner. Jack is one of the most experienced team owners in the industry with a first class reputation and a proven success record on the roads.”
“I’m honoured to be part of the team and am confident that together we can achieve some positive results this year.”
Isle of Man Government TT and Motorsport Manager Paul Phillilps concluded:
“Everyone in the Isle of Man will be delighted to see the return of a competitive MV outfit to the TT races and the combination of Jack Valentine and Gary Johnson has the potential to be a winning team.”
“It's also great to see another leading manufacturer on the starting grid which further reflects the growing strength and profile of the event.”