HARRISON AND JOHNSTON ON MV
Two of road racing’s hottest prospects, Dean Harrison and Lee Johnston, will line up at this year’s Classic TT presented by Bennetts on Black Eagle Racing three and four-cylinder MV Agusta. 2012 TT Privateer’s Champion Johnston had his first taste of classic action during the 2014 Classic TT and had an instant impact, shattering both the lap and race records in the Okells 350cc Classic TT Race. The Northern Irishman, now based in Hull, recorded a stunning lap at 105.239mph and took victory by an amazing 45 seconds, to take his first win on the Mountain Course. He’ll line up on the same three cylinder machine this year and will also campaign the team’s three-cylinder MV Agusta in the Bennetts 500cc Classic TT Race. Harrison, who was also due to ride for David and Mark Kay’s team at last year’s event but an injury sustained at the Ulster Grand Prix ruled him out. Winner of the 2014 Bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight TT, the Bradford rider – who will be Yamaha’s official entrant on the roads in 2015 with Mar-train Racing – has also tasted victory in the Classic TT, winning the inaugural Formula Classic Race. Like Johnston, Harrison will campaign a threecylinder MV Agusta in the 500cc Race but will be on board the team’s exotic four-cylinder machine in the 350cc event. The mouth-watering line up will give Classic racing specialists Black Eagle Racing, a terrific chance of success in both races and further emphasises their commitment and desire to succeed at the Classic TT, again their prime focus in 2015. Speaking about the Classic TT, Dean Harrison said, “I was gutted to miss out on last year’s Classic TT so I am delighted to have been offered the chance to ride these amazing MV Agusta’s again in 2015. They are incredible pieces of engineering and it still seems strange that David and Mark (Kay) are willing to give them to guys like Lee and I to thrash around the Isle of Man!” Lee Johnston added, “Winning the 350cc Race last year was a real highlight for me and I was delighted for the guys in the Black Eagle Team who put so much time, money and effort into making it all happen. Getting to ride the 500cc bike as well is something I am really excited about and hopefully we can go back to the Isle of Man in August and pick up some more silverware.” Commenting on his team’s line up, Black Eagle Racing Team Manager Mark Kay said, “As a team, we went through every emotion last year at the Classic TT which ended on a real high when Lee took victory in the 350cc Race for us breaking the lap and race records. We have not taken our feet off the gas since to make sure that both the 350’s and 500’s are in the best possible shape for the 2015 event and with the rider line up we have been able to secure, we expect to be a force to be reckoned with in both of the races.”
You’ve got to love this time of year! Despite the fact that it is brass monkey weather outside and the Lincolnshire Wolds have a covering of snow there is so much to look forward to. For the last few weeks my inbox has been loaded with news of great events; if we (Julie and I) have one regret it is that we can’t attend them all personally. By the time you read this we will have already enjoyed the Carole Nash Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show, one of my real favourites. As you will read on these pages the Daytona 200 is back on after speculation that the historic race wouldn’t take place in 2015. It would be unthinkable for such a great piece of history to drop off the calendar. It remains to be seen what effect the absence of the AMA has, but with a massive prize fund I’m sure there will be no shortage of riders wanting to be involved. With over six months to go to the Classic TT some exciting news is already emerging; we will keep you up to date with developments on these pages and on Classic Racer’s Facebook page as more becomes available, but the news that Peter Hickman will be on a competitive mount in the Classic Superbike Race has to be good. Lincolnshire lad Peter had a stunning debut on the roads in 2014, claiming the fastest evertt newcomer tag, with a stunning lap at 129mph, and looked as safe as houses while doing it. Check out the full story on these pages. And the tenacious Andy Molnar has pulled off another feat of engineering excellence by building a four-valve, dohc, G50 engine, which my old mate Brian Richards will run in a Seeley chassis, with another Lincolnshirett young gun, Ivan Lintin, in the saddle. As I said, it’s an exciting time of year, and I for one can’t wait for the season to begin. Enjoy this packed issue, with a bonus eight pages.