118 amcn.com.au
sport
RoadsHutchy and Johnston
confirmed for Honda
AS WE PREDICTED last
issue, 16-time Isle of Man TT
winner Ian Hutchinson has
signed to contest the 2018
road racing season with the
factory Honda squad, where
he will be joined by three-
time North West 200 winner
Lee Johnston in a two-rider
campaign.
The duo will use the
CBR1000RR SP2 in the North
West 200, the Isle of Man TT
and the Ulster Grand Prix, the
same schedule as last year’s
big-name pairing of John
McGuinness and Guy Martin
were set to contest, though
the late arrival of the all-new
Fireblade and consequent
gremlins made for a year
Honda would rather forget.But where does that leave McGuinness?
That doesn’t appear to
concern the Englishman
or the Northern Irishman,
however, with Hutchy calling
it “a fresh start” and Johnston
saying it’s the “most excited
I’ve been in years”.
“I have quite a bit of history
with Honda,” Hutchinson
said. “Ten years ago I rode
with this official team and
in 2009/2010 I rode with
Padgetts Honda, where I
scored five TT wins in a week,
so I know the Fireblade pretty
well.”
While Hutchinson is yet to
ride the new-for-2017 Blade,
new teammate Johnston is
a step ahead in that regard,
having ridden the bike during
his time as reserve for HondaEndurance Racing in the Le
Mans 24 Hour.
“I enjoy riding the CBR; the
tank fits me well and it isn’t as
big as it looks,” Johnston said.
“I can’t wait now for testing to
start in March and to just get
going with the new program
for the year.”
The news from Honda
leaves many wondering
where veteran Honda rider
McGuinness might pop up
for his 2018 campaign – or
if indeed the 23-time Isle of
Man TT winner is set to call
time on his glittering career
following the whopper off he
had in June last year, which
left him with a badly broken
right leg.
KEL BUCKLEYWho else?
While the moves of Hutchy,
Johnston and McGuinness
are capturing the most
headlines, there are some
more important signings for
this year’s roads campaign.
Derek Shiels has been
named as Team Penz13 BMW
Motorrad Motorsport’s rider
for the Isle of Man TT, while
Joey Thompson will have
a factory S1-R Paton at his
disposal at the Isle of Man,
North West 200, Southern 100
and Ulster Grand Prix.
Horst Saiger and his Saiger
Racing team will switch to
Yamaha machinery for the
2018 road racing season,
having signed a deal with
the Swiss Yamaha Importer,
Hostettler.