Press release: Iconic tyre manufacturer Pirelli has planned a major ‘road-race’ assault on the Superbike class at the forthcoming Isle of Man TT, with an awesome line-up of top International riders. The world renowned TT is seen as one of the greatest challenges of man, machine and rubber with each lap of the 37.73 mile long course containing over 200 corners!
Heading Pirelli’s elite line-up is Cameron Donald, who returns as one half of a super committed Antipodean duo from the Relentless Suzuki by TAS team. The Australian took victory in last year’s opening Superbike race and will be looking to add yet more TT wins to his ‘road racing’ CV in 2009.
Cameron’s Kiwi team-mate Bruce Anstey already has seven TT wins under his belt and proved his form with some strong podium finishes at the wet and blustery North West 200 road races. Who would bet against the unassuming and astonishingly fast New Zealander, who will surely be a favourite for all the major classes.
Michael Rutter is the unknown quantity in this his first TT in two years. The recent replacement for Sylvain Guintoli in the ViSK British Superbike round at Thruxton is running his own team with the help of other BSB racers including Scotsman Stuart Easton. Competing for the first time in his TT career on a Suzuki, the ‘Blade’ will be looking to improve on his last visit to the TT in 2007 and show that he still has form on the ‘roads’.
The determined Guy Martin, who is still hunting for his maiden TT victory, has hopefully shaken off his run of bad luck on the Island. The Kirmington rider would like nothing more than a TT win and how sweet it would be if he put his Hydrex Honda on the top step of the podium this year, during Honda’s 50th anniversary TT celebrations. He will be another Pirelli-shod rider aiming to get the better of ‘King of the Mountain’ John McGuinness.
Adrian Archibald is a man on a mission having set-up his own team, AMA Racing Suzuki, he holds the distinction of fastest Irishman round the course but faces stiff competition on that front this year. His race machines are prepared by TAS and are running Pirelli slicks so are definitely capable of good pace and durability.
Tall Manxman Connor Cummins will be after a podium on his McAdoo Kawasaki which proved to be extremely competitive at the recent International North West 200, where he ran comfortably with the factory bikes in the dry.
Jenny Tinmouth, one of only two women competing at this year’s Isle of Man TT races, is on the Island for the first time but is all set to beat the current female lap record of 114.73mph aboard her Sorrymate.com Racing Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.
International Pirelli riders are represented at this years TT races by Italian aces Stefano Bonetti and Alessio Corradi and high calibre newcomers, Marc Fissette (Belgium) and Rico Penzkofer (Germany) from the Macau Racing Team.
Neither are strangers to road racing, Fissette finished second to Joey Dunlop at the Ulster Grand Prix in 1997 and more recently gained the accolade of highest placed newcomer at the 2008 Macau Grand Prix. The latter, Rico, is, like his team-mate, a regular on the World Endurance scene and his road racing achievements include an impressive second place finish at the Macau GP in 2007.
Practice for this year's Isle of Man TT races has begun in almost tropical temperatures with the only major problem being the vast amount of flies distorting the rider’s vision. The first timed practice commenced on Monday evening and will continue all week with the first race of the TT Festival, the Dainese Superbike TT kicking off the proceedings on Saturday June 6.
Racing continues on Monday June 8, with the Royal London 360 Superstock TT and the first Relentless Supersport race. On Wednesday June 10 the second Relentless Supersport race and the Sure Mobile Sidecar showdown take place, and to round off the week, the big one, the Pokerstars Senior TT, will take place on June 12.
June 12 will also see the TT play host to a world first, the TTXGP. This is a one lap race for clean emission motorcycles intended to demonstrate the potential for non-petrol fuelled bikes.
A very special newcomer to the event is multiple MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi who will be completing a parade lap of the 37.73 mile (60.7 km) circuit before the start of the six-lap Dainese Superbike race. He will ride behind the course car on a 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1, flanked by eight of the famous Travelling Marshalls.
Jason Griffiths, Pirelli Racing Manager:
“Pirelli has a long-term relationship with what’s considered to be the greatest road race in the world and we massively look forward to this event. For us it is the perfect place to showcase the performance of our tyres as they are put to the ultimate test around this 37.73 mile long road course. We believe we have the strongest line-up of riders we’ve ever had and combined with our British Superbike developed slicks we should be in for some great results! We wish everyone a fast and safe 2009 TT.”
