UK based tyre manufacturer Avon are hitting the road for the annual TT mecca as the only tyre manufacturer to have products in all classes of this year’s TT supporting both solo and sidecar racers.
This year Avon will be supporting three solo race teams. JHS Racing, Dave Molyneux Racing and Mark Parrett will all be racing on the manufacturer’s 3D Ultra Xtreme track day and hypersport tyre as available from Cambrian Tyres on the famous 37 mile mountain circuit seen by many as the ultimate challenge in motorcycle road racing. In the past Avon, who have a rich heritage particularly in road racing, have seen the likes of Barry Sheene and John Surtees using their products.
As well as supporting the various solo teams, Dave Molyneux will also be looking to add to his tally of 16 TT wins in the sidecar class this year again supported by Avon. The 2014 TT will also see another round of the TT Zero electric bike class and determined to get a piece of the action Avon have teamed up with Dave Moffit (pictured in 2012) in this race for cutting edge, battery powered superbikes.
The JHS Racing team have already had a taste of success on the Isle of Man when rider Dave Moffitt claimed the Supertwin title at the 2011 Manx GP, and this year the team are going for glory on their immaculate Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the Superbike race, a GSX-R600 in Supersport and a Gladius in the Supertwin event.
Dave Molyneux Racing rider Ryan Kneen will be hoping that his Kawasaki ZX-10R can put in the kind of performance that has been seen in the likes of BSB and WSBK of late in the TT Superbike class, and he will also be running the smaller ZX-6R in the Supersport round.
Mark Parrett will be opting for bikes from a range of manufacturers for his TT campaign including a BMW S1000RR in Superbike, a Yamaha R6 in Supersport and a Kawasaki ER-6 in Supertwin.
In the sidecar race, the recent change to the open engine rules should give Dave Molyneux and passenger Patrick Farrance the speed in their Kawasaki powered outfit that they lacked in 2013 when compared with their Honda-engined rivals. Also back are John Holden and Andy Winkle with a brand new LCR to try and win their second TT, while Conrad Harrison and Mike Aylott will be looking for their first victory after an excellent second and third place last year.
Avon Motorcycle’s global sales manager, Doug Ross, said: “Being the only tyre maker building products in the UK makes us totally in tune with the needs of a supersports tyre for British roads. The Isle of Man TT races are no stranger to wet weather, mixed conditions and a host of other challenges, such as white lines, street markings and even the odd manhole cover.”
