JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Hillier made up for the disappointment of Sunday’s Superbike TT race to claim second in today’s Supersport TT race for his tenth TT podium in total.

Overnight rain had left the 37.73-mile Mountain Course damp and the race was delayed by over two hours, eventually getting under way just after 1pm, but when it did, James was again the quickest rider on the nine-mile run to Glen Helen and an opening lap of 124.743mph gave him a slender 0.397s lead over eventual winner Michael Dunlop.

Conditions were far from ideal as a number of damp patches still existed around the course but the pace quickened on lap two and although Dunlop nosed ahead, a lap of 125.678mph meant there was still only 2.4s in it at half race distance.

A superb pitstop by the team kept James in contention but Dunlop was extremely strong in the closing stages to take his 14^th TT win but James was comfortable in second and final lap of 125.756mph gave him his first podium of TT 2017 and his tenth in total.

Hillier said: “I tried to forget what happened in the superbike race and with the weather forecast being what it was, I didn’t think we’d be racing today so probably slept better than I normally would. We’d found a really good setting with the bike during practice, hardly having to make any changes at all, but it was a bit tricky on the first lap as you couldn’t be sure where the damp patches were.

“You were riding a bit blind and I perhaps played it a bit too safe through the damp stuff so as soon as Michael started to edge away, I realised I had a good gap to third and concentrated on looking after the bike on the final lap. The wind was strong over the mountain but I felt comfortable and wanted to be on the podium again. It’s what I want every time I go out and you never tire of being waved into the winner’s enclosure.”

Pete Extance, Team Owner, said: “James made another fantastic start in today’s race especially as conditions were quite tricky in places, and although Michael overhauled him on lap two it was still very close. We knew a good pit stop was imperative and the boys in the pits didn’t disappoint as we got ready for a battle in the second half of the race. Michael was very strong but we ended up with a superb second place and our first podium of TT 2017. ”

There’s no rest for the team with the four-lap superstock race scheduled to take place at 12.15pm on Tuesday (6^th June).

To keep up to date with the latest news from JG Speedfit Kawasaki you can follow the team on Facebook @JGSpeedfitBournemouthKawasaki on Twitter @JGSpeedfitKawa or visit the website www.jgspeedfitkawasaki.co.uk

Ends

Notes to Editors

• The line-up for JG Speedfit Kawasaki consists of British Superbike riders Leon Haslam and Luke Mossey, road racing specialist James Hillier and sidecar champions Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood.
• The team is owned by Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing. Title sponsor for 2017 is British plumbing and heating engineering firm JG Speedfit which is a world leader in push-in fittings, as well as plastic plumbing systems and underfloor heating.
• Derbyshire-based Leon Haslam finished runner-up in the 2016 British Superbike Championship while Cambridgeshire-based Luke Mossey secured his highest ever British Superbike Championship season finish last year in sixth place.
• The team’s 2017 International Road racing events at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT will be contested by James Hillier. Last season, Hillier secured three podiums earning him fourth overall in the 2016 TT riders’ championship.
• 2016 British F1 Sidecar Champions Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood are being retained by Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing for a second year and will be going for their third championship win in a row this year.

For further information about this news release please contact:

Kate Strawson

Director, Shooting Star

kate@weareshootingstar.co.uk

01522 528540

07733 230293

@KateStrawson