Manx Grand Prix stars to contest Isle of Man TT
Thursday 26 March 2009
TT
Top riders from the Manx Grand Prix have entered for the 2009 Isle of Man TT, it has been confirmed.
Leading the way is last year’s record-breaking triple winner Dan Kneen, the Manx youngster having swept all before him in the Newcomers, Junior and Lightweight 400cc race. The 21-year-old, who has entered four solo classes for the TT, showed great potential at the MGP in August and a number of leading teams are expected to follow the Braddan rider’s progress.
Joining him is another winner from the 2008 MGP, Tenby’s Adam Barclay who won the delayed and shortened 2-lap Senior Race. Barclay came close to the magical 120mph lap with a 119.996mph average speed on his 750 Suzuki and, armed with a 1000cc Suzuki this time around, he’ll be looking to achieve that particular milestone and make an impression on the results.
The experienced Barclay will line up in the Superbike, Royal London 360 Superstock and Senior events.
Runner up to Barclay was Irishman James McCullagh, and the 28-year old has joined forces with former World Sidecar Champion Klaus Klaffenböck for his TT debut.
McCullagh, a regular on the roads in his homeland, has rides in all five solo races.
Derek Brien, winner of the 2006 Junior MGP, makes a welcome return to racing and will take his place in a TT race for the first time having defeated Craig Atkinson in a photo finish back in ‘06.
Like McCullagh, he goes in five races while another Irishman, Andrew Neill, is also on the TT entry list for the first time having previously impressed at the Manx. Still only 26, Neill was one of the favourites for the 2008 event only for a practice spill to remove him from proceedings.
Mickey Fitzpatrick is yet another Irishman who has shone at the Manx and, after impressing greatly with third and fourth place results in the ‘08 Senior and Junior races, he steps up to the TT, again having entries for five solo races.
Wigan’s Russ Mountford, third in the 2007 Newcomers race, has already lapped in excess of 115mph and is one of the latest breed of youngsters switching his attention to the roads.
Jules Croft brings considerable racing experience to the TT. The 2003 ACU Star Champion placed ninth and 11th respectively in the Senior and Junior MGP races last year.
Other riders to make the move to the TT are Steve McDonald, Rodger Wibberley and Rod Lynn. McDonald has improved both his results and lap speeds in recent years as part of the impressive PRF Racing set up, while Manx-based Yorkshireman Wibberley has done the same, also chalking up many laps around Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough.
Lynn, meanwhile, made his debut at the 2008 MGP, having recorded up a number of points scoring finishes in last year’s Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup Championship.
Isle of Man Tourism and Leisure Minister Martyn Quayle said:
‘It’s great to see so many talented riders coming through the Manx Grand Prix and shows the strength and success of the event and the work that the Manx Motorcycle Club is doing to promote road racing on the Isle of Man.’