TTXGP winner Rob Barber confirms 2011 TT plans
A popular TT rider, and winner of the first electric bike race held around the Mountain course, has abandoned plans to quit racing and will contest the 2011 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy.
Rob Barber almost retired after losing two friends in separate crashes during the second Supersport race at last year’s TT. However, he has reconsidered and now confirmed he will return to road racing in 2011 – starting with his Tandragee debut this weekend.
Barber intends to contest all five solo races at the 2011 TT, as well as TT Zero.
However, Barber, who won the TTXGP race in 2009, the first time clean emission machines had raced on the Mountain, is still looking for backing to ensure he is fully competitive at this year’s TT.
With a 12th-place finish in the 2009 Senior TT, victory in TTXGP and a fastest lap of 122.7mph under his belt, Barber feels 2011 could be his best year at the TT.
He explained:
“During the winter, with time for reflection, I struck up a conversation with a like-minded individual in Ohio, USA, by the name of Sean Ewing. He and a team of other students from Ohio State University were building a new bike with hopes to compete in the 2011 TT Zero.”
“The motivation from the team was just to win and no other commercial agenda other than to be the best. This ethos was exactly what I was looking for and I felt I really could contribute to the team.”
He added:
“At the same time I was also approach by a race-loving family whose son is James Shipley. Unfortunately due to injuries James sustained during a crash in 2010 at Glen Helen in the Superbike race, he was unable to race this year. They asked if I would like to ride their Honda Fireblade Superstock bike in the 2011 TT.”
“These two offers were hard to turn down as this made the TT 2011 package the most competitive package I have ever had.”
“So, armed with my own Suzuki GSX-R600, I will enter all six TT races for 2011.”
Throughout the winter Barber has been training hard and is lighter and fitter than ever. He has already shown good performance in testing and is set to race as a newcomer at the Tandragee 100, where he aims to ‘blow the cobwebs off’ and find a good base setting before arriving in the Isle of Man.
He said:
“I really feel if the Isle of Man TT coarse is kind to me this year I really could produce my best performance to date.”
Barber has retained backing from longtime friends and sponsors Kais Performance, MTC Exhaust, Carbon Innovations, Speedycom/Pazzo, Phil Morris, Dave Cottrill, Paul Keenan, Jock & Laura Bell and Phil Windrum.
However, he is still looking for more support.
Barber said:
“Even though I have these few loyal people I am still far from breaking even with this year’s racing budget and I am looking at a very expensive bill to pay at the end of the TT 2011. I am really looking for tyres and fuel to be paid for while at this year’s TT, which is no small sum as it is estimated to be around £3,000 due to the high cost on both items this year.”
“If I can’t find a title sponsor I would still like to appeal to bike lovers around the world who would like to be involved with the 2011 TT. If 300 TT fans gave just £10, that would cover this cost.”
To contact Rob Barber email Rbarber@prbracing.co.uk