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Lee Johnston optimistic ahead of Wednesday's races

Tuesday 07 June 2016
TT
Lee Johnston on the East Coast Racing BMW Superstock bike at Union Mills

Lee Johnston can look ahead to tomorrow’s second Monster Energy TT Supersport race on the Isle of Man with optimism, having secured seventh place on Monday in the Supersport class aboard his East Coast Racing 675 Triumph.

Following his tenth place in Saturday’s six-lap RST TT Superbike race, where he posted a 130.692mph lap on the six and final circuit, he then stepped it up a gear in Monday’s RL360 Quantum TT Superstock race.

An opening lap of 129.942mph was followed up with a superbly executed lap of 130.549mph onboard his East Coast Racing BMW S1000RR. This put Lee in fourth place at half-distance, just 4 seconds adrift of third placed man at the time, Dean Harrison.

Unfortunately for Lee, he was disappointingly forced to retired his S1000RR at Sulby crossroads on the penultimate lap, but with the blue riband six-lap Senior TT closing the event for the solo classes on Friday, Lee is looking forward to having another solid couple of runs this week.

Lee Johnston:

"Monday's Superstock race was the first time I really got into a rhythm, and we maybe could have sneaked in for a podium, but that's the way it goes. We had a mechanical and it's no one's fault. Those opening two laps of 129.9mph and 130.5mph we did without a quickshifter, so it's a pity I suppose, as we had the pace to challenge for a third place. Hopefully our luck will change.

"On the Supersport bike we had a small oil leak problem, so the plan for tomorrow is to push on a try to challenge for the podium. That's the intention anyway, but we need a good start. I feel okay physically, I just struggle through the bumpy bits, but we're still learning, enjoying it and staying positive."

Jamie Ferguson – Team Manager

"The pace at this year's TT has been exceptionally high, so realistically anything inside the top ten in Superbike and top six or eight in the other classes are strong results. Taking everything into consideration, including the little setback at Scarborough with the crash, I think we are having a decent TT with the East Coast Racing team.

"We were in there battling for a podium in the Superstock race and with two opening laps that were pretty much 130mph efforts combined, Lee was looking strong. Unfortunately, as can happen at the TT, we had a disappointing mechanical problem.

"Tenth in the Superbike race and a 130mph was a good result to start race week and seventh in Supersport race one gave us more information for tomorrow's second race despite a small problem. Lee is confident of pushing further up the leaderboard and adding more pace to his lap times on the ECR Triumph and we are looking forward to it."

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