Barber to ride Lightweight TT in memory of Lee
When Rob Barber sets off in the Lightweight race at the Isle of Man TT 2013 fuelled by Monster Energy he’ll be experiencing more emotions than most.
His close friend Lee Vernon was just 24 when his life was sadly cut short in a crash at the Dundrod 150 race last year.
It will be on Lee’s Kawasaki ER 650 that Rob will be taking that nervestraining plunge down Bray Hill at the TT in June.
Rob first got to know Lee five years ago as they bumped into each other at various race meetings. Coming from similar backgrounds, both being part of a father/son racing team and both sharing a passion for motorbikes and racing they quickly became good friends.
After the accident, Rob kept in touch with Lee’s father Bob and, as is the way, talk often turned to bikes, the future and, particularly, Rob’s plans for this season. When it transpired that Rob, who is sponsored by Swinton Bikes, was still looking for a 650 to ride at the TT, Bob and Lee’s sponsor Brian insisted that he should ride Lee’s Kawasaki.
Rob said, ‘I miss Lee terribly, we were great friends and we had some great banter together. I feel privileged to ride his bike at the TT’ adding, ‘I hope I can do this bike justice and ride it half as well as Lee did.’
The three-lap Lightweight TT takes place on Friday, June 7 at 10.45 am.