Irish road racer Lee Johnston will line up for Jackson Racing at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy, with the diminutive Irishman riding Nicky Hayden’s 2016 World Superbike spec Honda CBR1000RR.

The 27 year old will ride the Ten Kate prepared Fireblade that carried the 2006 MotoGP world champion to a World Superbike Race win last season at Malaysia and fifth overall in the Championship, in the RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT Races. He’ll also campaign Hondas in the RL360º Quantum Superstock and two Monster Energy Supersport Races.

Johnston made his TT debut in 2012 and won the coveted TT Privateer’s Trophy, riding Honda machinery, a year later. He was again Honda-mounted in 2014 when he took a best finish of fifth in the Superstock Race and a switch to BMW power in 2015 gave him his first TT podium with third in the Superstock Race. He recorded his best lap to date of 130.851mph in the race and backed it up by the same result in the SES TT Zero Race.

Winner of the 2014 350cc Classic TT, last season was ruined by leg injuries suffered in a crash at the Scarborough Spring Cup in April but he still had some fine rides on the Mountain Course with a brace of sixths taken in the two Monster Energy Supersport Races, eighth in the PokerStars Senior and tenth in the RST Superbike Race.

However, when his East Coast Racing team quit the sport at the end of the year the Fermanagh man was without a ride for 2017. The new deal though means Johnston will also have the new 2017 SP2 spec Fireblade available in stock trim but by opting to ride the 2016 spec ex-Hayden Honda he hopes to avoid any problems in finding a good set up with a brand new bike.

Jackson Racing has a wealth of experience at the TT with the Preston-based squad having previously run, among others, John McGuinness, Steve Mercer, Ian Lougher, Conor Cummins and Mark Miller. Former Manx Grand Prix outright lap record holder Alan Jackson jnr will again head up the team, with Johnston also contesting the North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix and Macau road races.

Lee Johnston said:

“I want to be back at the front again, winning races and I think this is the bike that can help me to do that. I had plenty of offers for this year and in the end it was all of the little things coming together that sealed the deal. We are getting help from Honda but with Alan and his team I can run my own choice of kit, bring some of my own people to work on the bikes and keep my own sponsors.”

“I was over in Holland last week at the Ten Kate workshop and they are super keen to be going back to the TT. Honda doesn’t bring out bad bikes and if the stocker is on the pace then we will have a go on it but realistically I should be winning a Supersport TT before I’m winning a superbike race. I hold the lap record on a 600 at the North West and the Ulster and I’ve won lots of races on that bike but I haven’t turned it into anything at the TT yet. I’m hungrier than ever and I just want to win more races than I did in 2016!”

Alan Jackson said:

“We’re not fazed by the challenge and we have run top road racers like John McGuinness, James Hillier, Ian Lougher and Chris Palmer on our bikes so we’re eagerly looking forward to Lee’s first test on the new bikes in March.  With Lee riding our bikes we think we’ve got a strong team with great potential and are keen to talk to potential sponsors and individuals who want to come on board.”

Tickets are now on sale and selling fast for the 2017 TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.  There is limited availability for the Glencrutchery Road Grandstand race day tickets apart from Senior Race day, which is already sold out.
There are still TT Grandstand tickets available at Creg Ny Baa and the two Nobles Park, grandstands during qualifying and race days.
Grandstand tickets are also available by purchasing VIP or Platinum Hospitality tickets.

All tickets are available from iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.

The full race schedule for the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy is as follows:

Saturday 3rd June               
1100hrs         RST Superbike TT Race
1400hrs         Sidecar TT Race 1

Monday 5th June                 
1045hrs         Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1
1415hrs         RL 360 Quantum Superstock Race

Wednesday 7th June                       
1045hrs         Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 2
1415hrs         Bennetts Lightweight TT Race
1620hrs         SES TT Zero Race

Friday 9th June                   
1015hrs         Sidecar TT Race 2
1230hrs         PokerStars Senior TT Race

Qualifying takes place from Saturday 27th May to Fri 2nd June between 1820hrs – 2050hrs

For more information on Jackson Racing go to jacksonracing.bike

Nick Sanders - Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man Launches on Dream Racer | Television

Film offerings on Dream Racer | Television have been expanded from the 7x Award Winning Dakar Rally Film - Dream Racer - and now include films produced by National Geographic and other talented film producers. 

The latest feature film added include multiple world record holder, Nick Sanders -  with his latest film The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man a 96 minute film that covers his life from the early family days though his most major adventures and world record breaking activities.

In 1997, Nick completed a record 32,070 km circumnavigation of the world in a record riding time of 31 days 20 hours. In 2005, he did it again, this time on a Yamaha R1 and in a new record time of just 19 days and 4 hours.

He has now circumnavigated the world 7 times on a motorcycle. Nick has also cycled across the Sahara Desert, the length of the River Nile and has also sailed 2 narrow boats from the UK to the Black Sea in Romania and back. Nick Sanders is the embodiment of what it means to be an adventurer.

The film includes cameo appearances from a glorious cast of characters such as Robert Dunlop, Martin Finnigen and in a spectacular fusion where racing meets adventure, they all mix with Nick’s world record journeys to rub shoulders with sponsors, coaches and industry insiders, discussing the merits of a lifetime of achievement from one man, Nick Sanders.

This latest film is a superb testament to a 35 year epoch of adventuring that as well as being truly historic, will almost certainly never happen again.

"Having someone the calibre of Nick Sanders as part of Dream Racer | Television is truly an honour and it reinforces Dream Racer's core value that anyone with a dream can accomplish anything. Where ordinary people can do extraordinary things and inspire others to achieve their own dreams. We look forward to promoting and making Nick's film available to a worldwide audience" says Christophe Barriere-Varju from the Dakar Rally Film, Dream Racer.

About Dream Racer | Television

Launched in July 2016, Dream Racer | Television is a digital video service available to viewers worldwide that features inspirational and true-life documentaries with an audience already covering 59 countries. Dream Racer | Television is a fully encrypted DRM digital video on demand platform that offers a content protected platform to film makers.

Ace Cafe London’s annual  Elvis “Jailhouse Rock” birthday party night, features the exceptional singer, songwriter and performer, Paul Ansell, frontman and “voice” of the rock n’ roll band “No.9” – Paul has worked with many of the rock n’ roll greats, including Elvis’ Sun guitarist, the legendary Scotty Moore.  With DJ Bill Guntrip on the decks, from 9pm – 2am Saturday 9th January, let’s rock the Ace with the “King”!

This evening includes opportunity to win a range of prizes to include, courtesy of the UK label Vee-Tone Records, “Elvis 75", the ultimate career-spanning 4CD that celebrates the 75th birthday of Elvis Presley and the life and music of the world's first rock and roll star.
"Elvis 75" demonstrates Presley at his best. The collection runs from "Heartbreak Hotel" - the classic that made Elvis' name in the UK back in 1956, to the hugely popular " A Little Less Conversation".
Offering fans an unprecedented range of essential material, "Elvis 75" provides a generous selection of the biggest UK smash hits, encompassing many genres and amazingly all these songs were Top 20 hits!

Additional prizes on this special evening include copies of Vintage Rock Magazine, pairs of tickets to attend the cafe’s annual Gene Vincent Tribute Night on Saturday 11th February, meal vouchers for two, and a selection of Ace goodies!

To be in with a chance of winning, just retain your door entry raffle ticket.  Draw will be held on the evening.

www.vintagerockmag.com
www.veetonerecords.com

Saturday 14th January, 9pm – 2am, Entry £10
Sorry no under 18’s

For more information about what's on at the Ace, check out the scrolling calendar at: www.ace-cafe-london.com

Gloucester-based Smiths Racing BMW have confirmed that they have signed 29-year-old Peter Hickman to contest the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the other international road races. Hickman, from Louth in Lincolnshire, will also represent the team in the MCE BSB Series alongside Lee Jackson, riding the Smiths Racing BMW S1000RRs.
 
The former TT winners and double British Supersport champions endured a difficult season in 2016 due to a number of factors and over the winter months, Team Manager Rebecca Smith has considered their options carefully.

Rebecca Smith, Team Manager:

“There’s no doubting 2016 was a very difficult season for us all at Smiths Racing and although everyone gave 100%, the results just didn’t come. This year, we are taking a slightly different approach with the help of the factory and we now feel we are in a position to challenge much higher up the leaderboard. Both Lee and Peter bring a wealth of BMW experience to the team and both are established BSB riders whilst we are equally delighted to be making a return to the roads with Peter.”

Hickman made his TT debut in 2014 for the Ice Valley BMW team, taking a best finish of eighth in the RL360 Superstock race while he also won silver replicas for 11th place in the PokerStars Senior race and 14th in the RST Superbike. His results saw him win the prestigious Newcomers Trophy and his fastest lap of 129.104mph remains the fastest ever lap recorded by a Mountain Course newcomer.
 
Continuing with BMW machinery in 2015, this time for Lee Hardy Racing, Hickman took fifth in the RL350 Superstock race, seventh in the PokerStars Senior and eighth in the RST Superbike Race to win three more silver replicas, improving his best lap to 131.626mph in the process.
 
A switch to the GBMoto Kawasaki team in 2016 saw him take an excellent fourth place in the RST Superbike race where he lapped at 132.465mph to become the fourth fastest rider of all time.

Hickman, from Louth, also won two MCE BSB races last season on his way to winning the Rider’s Cup title as well as taking victory at the Ulster Grand Prix and defending his Macau Grand Prix title. Very much in demand as one of the sport’s great all-rounders, Peter returns to the BMW marque with which he’s enjoyed so much success in the past.

Peter Hickman:

“I have another new challenge to look forward to again this season and I’m relishing it aboard the Smiths Racing BMW. All the dealings I’ve had with the team so far have been fantastic and they are very easy to work with. I know the BMW well having ridden it in the past and we’ve been promised the right support from the factory in Germany, which will make a difference. I’m pleased to be bringing my own crew into the team which is a massive bonus so I’m really looking forward to the season in both BSB and on the roads with Smiths Racing.”