Dan Cooper and James Hillier confirmed for TT returns in 2011
Two of the rising British motorcycle teams have confirmed they will contest the 2011 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy.
Bournemouth Kawasaki will field James Hillier while Dan Cooper will line up for Centurion Racing.
After backing the Gearlink and Hawk Kawasaki British championship outfits for several season, Bournemouth Kawasaki quickly became a credible competitor in the British Superbike EVO class and British Supersport Championship when it launched its own operation last year.
This will be the fourth TT appearance for 25-year-old Hillier, and he expects to be challenging for top 10 finishes in each of the five solo races. He has already managed 10 top 20 finishes from his first 12 TT outings, taking 17th and 19th in the two Supersport races in his debut year, when he also won the prestigious Newcomers Trophy, plus taking home an impressive seven silver and three bronze replicas.
Hiller, who is also campaigning a full season in the British Superbike EVO Championship in 2011, took ninth in the 2009 Senior TT – his best result to date – and secured 12th place in last year’s Royal London 360 Superstock race with a fastest lap of 125.344mph. That lap time made him the 25th fastest rider ever around the 37.7-mile Mountain Course.
Centurion Racing has enjoyed notable success in the British Superbike Championship paddock since debuting in 2005, winning that year’s British Supersport Cup with Pete Spalding.
James Westmoreland and Sam Lowes took the same titles for the team in 2007 and 2009, while Cooper rode with the squad between 2007 and 2009, taking a best position of fifth in the 2009 British Supersport Championship.
After a year out of the sport in 2010, the Cornwall-based team will make the 2011 TT the focus of its return to action.
Cooper made a solid debut on the Mountain last year. Riding for the experienced PRF Racing team, the 2006 125cc British Champion finished in 40th place in both Monster Energy Supersport Races, taking one bronze replica and posting a best lap of 115.383mph.
Still only 23, Cooper, who will again contest a full season in the British Supersport Championship, will line up in all five solo classes this time, riding a 675 Triumph and 1000cc Honda for Centurion Racing.
TT and Motorsport Development Manager Paul Phillips believes the teams are part of a growing trend.
He said:
“We are receiving more and more enquiries from professional outfits such as Centurion and Bournemouth Kawasaki.”
“It’s good to see new teams quickly becoming established and their professional approach will stand them in good stead.”
“They both have talented riders with long TT careers ahead of them and I fully expect both of these outfits to be challenging the more established teams for podium places in years to come.”