• Manx rider Conor Cummins takes prestigious number one plate

Michael Dunlop heads a stellar line up of some off the fastest road racers on the planet who line up among the top twenty seeded riders for the RST Superbike, PokerStars Senior and RL360 Superstock TT Races at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

Despite the withdrawals of John McGuinness on the SG7 Norton and Padgett Racing’s Bruce Anstey, all of the seeded riders have lapped comfortably over 128mph. There is a total of 52 TT victories and 140 podium finishes across the entire field, reinforcing the fact that the strength in depth and quality at the top end of the field is at an all-time high.

Conor Cummins and Padgetts Racing have the honour of being first down Glencrutchery Road. It is the first time the Manxman, who will be looking to get back to the form that took him to a brace of podiums in 2014, has taken the number 1 plate.

Ian Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop are set to renew their fierce rivalry. They are just twenty seconds apart for the third time in a row with the former at number four and the latter at six.The leading duo have switched teams for 2018 with 16-time winner Hutchinson lining up for Honda Racing and Dunlop on the Tyco BMW. A big question mark remains over Hutchinson’s fitness and although Dunlop is the favourite to add to his 15 wins, the determination of the Bingley Bullet cannot be underestimated.

The duo will certainly face strong competition from many of the other seeded riders including the three other 132mph+ men in the field – Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW), Dean Harrison (Silicone Engineering Kawasaki) and James Hillier (Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki).

Hickman, who retains the number ten plate that served him well in 2017, has been a revelation since he first tackled the TT in 2014. Last year saw him finish on the podium in all five of his races on the island and the Burton upon Trent rider will be looking for his first win at the TT.

Harrison took his first Superbike podiums last year, finishing third in both the Superbike and Senior TT races, clocking his first 132mph lap. Still only 29, he is well placed to take a race win. The Bradford based rider goes at number five, ten seconds ahead of Dunlop.

Hillier starts at number two and although he will need to get back into the 132mph bracket, which he last did in 2015, he could have been on the podium in last year’s Superbike Race but for a refuelling issue during his first pit stop.

Michael Rutter (3), Gary Johnson (7), Dan Kneen (8) and David Johnson (9) are the other riders in the top ten. Rutter (Bathams Racing BMW) is riding as well as ever around the Mountain Course. Last year saw him record a personal best lap of 131.709mph as well as his Lightweight TT race victory so should be amongst the leading pack while Johnson will be hoping to challenge for the wins on the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki after a disappointing 2017.

Kneen starts in the top ten in the 1000cc races for the first time and is expected to go well on the Tyco BMW. The Manxman has a great chance of adding to the single podium he’s taken to date. Australian Johnson adds to the BMW challenge in the new Gulf BMW team and will enjoy being in the pack as opposed to starting at number one as he did in 2016 and 2017.

In McGuinness’s absence, the Norton challenge will come from Josh Brookes who lines up at number 11. The Australianhas a great chance of improving on both his sixth place finish in last year’s Senior TT race and his personal best lap of 130.883mph.

Martin Jessopp, starting ten seconds behind Brookes, is another rider moving up the grid in 2018. Already a member of the 130mph club and a podium finisher in the Lightweight TT Races, the Yeovil man is looking to make an even greater impression this time around.

Lee Johnston, lining up with Honda Racing this year, takes his usual number 13. The Ulsterman will be determined to make amends in his first year as a factory rider after last year’s practice crash at Greeba Castle ruled him out of race week.

Fellow Northern Ireland rider William Dunlop, lining up in the colours of the Temple Golf Club on the only Yamaha in the top twenty, is next on the grid.Derek Sheils, riding for the Penz13.com BMW team,is ten seconds further back at 15.  The Dublin rider’s recent efforts are rewarded with a seeded berth for the first time.

The seeded riders are completed by Sheils’ team-mate Jamie Coward, Phil Crowe (BMW) and Steve Mercer with Mercer expected to take Hutchinson’s Honda ride if he loses his fitness battle.

There are plenty of talented riders to be found outside of the seeds though including Ian Lougher (Suter MMX), Horst Saiger (Saiger Racing Yamaha), Ivan Lintin (Dafabet Devitt Racing Kawasaki), James Cowton and Adam McLean (both McAdoo Racing Kawasaki), Sam West (PRL Worthington BMW) and Daley Mathison (Stobart BMW). The entire top 30 have all previously lapped at more than 126mph

As well as regular overseas competitors such as Stefano Bonetti, Kamil Holan, Xavier Denis, Raul Torras Martinez and Bjorn Gunnarsson, this year’s entry also includes a number of Manx Grand Prix graduates including last year’s double winner Michael Evans.

Eighty-one entries in total were accepted including newcomers Davey Todd, David Jackson and Adam Lyon.

You've Been Nabbed
Round the World on motorbikes talk at the Royal Geographical Society
32nd Biker Fest International
Despatch Rally
North West 200
Jeff Mountjoys Big Ride Out
Dover Classic Bike Show
NORTHERN ROCKERS RUMBLE
Garstang Autojumble
Silent Rumble
BRIMBO Classic Bike Meet and Autojumble
Weasel Rally
All Day BMW Bike Day @ Ace Cafe

See more details and events on THE BIKER GUIDE

www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerralliesshowmay.html

SCOTT REDDING IN THE POINTS

The hopes of Aleix Espargaró, comforted by his good qualifiers yesterday and especially by the good pace demonstrated both in FP4 and in the warm up, were dashed on the first lap when his V4 was stopped by a loosened screw on the pneumatic circuit. A problem that was as simple as it was decisive in compromising a race that, in light of what happened on the track and considering Aleix's pace and that of is closest rivals, could have ended with a good result for Aprilia Racing Team Gresini.

Scott, who is still trying to find the best setup for his RS-GP, finished in the points with fifteenth place.

ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"I want to take the Aprilia onto the podium. I am riding like I never have before in my entire career and I feel like we can succeed. Today we missed a great chance, given the pace demonstrated in the warm up and my feeling. Unfortunately, a DNF for technical reasons does not help my morale. This weekend we worked well and I am certain that we could have had a say in the race. Now, with the position in the overall standings compromised, I will always be giving 101% in every race from here to Valencia."

SCOTT REDDING
"We decided to take a risk choosing the hard rear that did not work in the right temperature range. In the race I had problems with grip again. With nothing to lose we took a gamble but things didn't work. Fortunately, we will be testing in Mugello in a few days where we will try to work on rear grip which is the problem that is slowing me down at the moment."

ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
"This week we'll be on the track at Mugello to improve the setup for Scott who is still not entirely sorted from this point of view, unlike Aleix who has good performance which once again proved to be in vain. We are having a series of problems that prevent us from reaping the fruits of our labours. This season has begun uphill, but it is time to hang tough because we know that, in terms of pure performance, we are not far from the leaders and we can come back and do very well."

FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
"I am absolutely convinced that we have a quality project and that the bike is worth much more than what we have been able to achieve. We need to dial in a lot of small things that are the ones that make the difference. It is not easy to do that in the race and when you have days like this one, but this is precisely the moment to demonstrate the value of the team. We need to grit our teeth for those who believe in this project, for the riders, the team and all those who are working back home."

The Breacon Becons

- Carlton Ailey 

The MK Bike Show returns to Milton Keynes this year for a celebration of all things motorcycling. With exhibitors including local bike dealers, training organisations, bike clubs and bike tour organisers, whatever your interest in bikes there’s something for everyone.

And best of all, the event, which takes place 10am – 4pm on Sunday 8th July at the MK Dons Stadium, is free to enter with free parking!

The event is run by Milton Keynes Advanced Motorists (MKAM) bike section in conjunction with Milton Keynes Council and Bucks Fire Brigade. The show aims to represent the interests of the motorcycling community of Milton Keynes and the surrounding area while bringing all those involved together for a day of talking, sharing and fun. “Our first event two years ago was so successful that we knew we had to do it again,” said Ian Souter, MKAM Chair. “This year is even bigger and better than before with more exhibitors, clubs and show bikes.”

The Inner Concourse, sponsored by Green-Mopeds.com, will house the specialist trades, clubs and the show bikes. The classic bike show will cover the last 50 years of motorcycling, coincidentally, the same age as Milton Keynes. All proceeds from the show will be donated to the Blood Bikes charity SERV.

MK Bike Show chairman, Dave Macey said, “We’re delighted to be able to hold the event at StadiumMK, the home of the MK Dons without whose support we could not have staged this event.” In line with the club ethos this will be a family event so bring everyone down to say hello. The 2016 show attracted an estimated 5,000 people and this year, with an additional indoor show area, we will be able to cater for even more.

Up to date information will be available on the website and social media.

www.mkbikeshow.co.uk

www.facebook.com/MKBikeShow