We sat down with David Johnson before the start of the Isle of Man TT races, and the Australian explained to us the pressures that come with a factory ride.
On Thursday though, Johnson took his factory-backed Honda CBR1000RR to the podium in the Superstock TT race, thus fulfilling a major goal in his road racing career.
It wasn’t an easy feat, especially considering the horrid weather that has been hammering the Isle of Man for the past fortnight.
With the weather play havoc at the Isle of Man TT, Monday’s schedule saw a slew of races run. The Superbike TT, Sidecar TT Race 1, and Supersport TT Race 1 all taking place on the same day (Thursday looks even more packed, with five races scheduled to run).
A small consideration of photos from Monday’s races, the photo gallery above was taken at Gorse Lea and Bishopscourt locations n the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. Enjoy!
Lee Johnston claimed the first Isle of Man TT victory of his career in Monday’s Supersport TT Race 1. Having won the class at the North West 200, the Northern Irishman was expected to be a contender on his Yamaha YZF-R6, but after finally breaking his duck, it was clear just how special this was for The General.
“I’m so emotional,” said Johnston afterwards. “This place is so weird, and I feel like I haven’t done anything different, but it just clicked. In one way it’s frustrating, but in another it’s amazing. I’m absolutely over the moon.”
“I probably haven’t been the easiest person to live with because of all the stress, but this is what we do it for. It’s something I always wanted to do, and there’s one person [my dad] I wish was here to see that. He won’t be, but hopefully he’s looking down.”
Photos: © 2019 Tony Goldsmith / www.tonygoldsmith.net – All Rights Reserved
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Be sure to follow all of our 2019 Isle of Man TT racing coverage this fortnight.
It is with a heavy heart that we report the first fatality at the 2019 Isle of Man TT, as Daley Mathison died during Monday’s Superbike TT race.
The 27-year-old from Stockton on Tees, Durham passed away from a racing accident that occurred on the third lap of the race, at Snugborough, which is just about two miles into the course.
An experienced rider at the Isle of Man TT, Mathison made his Mountain Course debut in 2013 as a Manx Grand Prix newcomer. Since then, he has been a multi-year competitor, as well as a three-time TT Zero podium-finisher, in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Bikes were finally back on track at the Isle of Man TT! A sigh of relief was heard around the island when the weather gods played ball for final practice before races get underway at TT 2019.
Last year’s Isle of TT was historic. The lap record was broken in every class and Peter Hickman became the first rider to smash through the 135mph barrier. It was a stunning TT, where riders enjoyed the fruits of an Indian Summer on the island.
With practice week in perfect conditions last year, they were able to get as many miles under their belts as they deemed enough to do. It was perfect. It was bliss. It was, unfortunately, too good to be true for 2019.
A few days ago, we sat down with Peter Hickman to figure out what it takes to find the limit at the Isle of Man TT. Now today, we get up-close and personal on the machine he is campaigning in the Superbike and Senior TT races.
A 2020 BMW S1000RR, the race bike is put together by Smiths Racing BMW, with the hope that the German superbike’s supremacy on the Mountain Course continues with this next generation of the machine, and thus add to Hickman’s two-win tally at the Isle of Man TT.
As we can see from Steve’s photos though, this is not your ordinary BMW S1000RR…in fact, it is not your ordinary superbike.
David “Davo” Johnson is back at the TT, and the Australian keeps learning and keeps improving. The Honda rider has spent ten years keeping a lid on expectations, and he’s now keen to put his lessons to good use
The Isle of Man TT is sink or swim. Some riders take to it like a duck to water, and others realize that it is just not for them.
It is the most unique race on the motorcycle calendar. It is you against the track. It is you against the clock. It is you against yourself.
For David Johnson though, this year is different. He is a factory Honda rider for the first time, and the Australian is doing all he can to make sure that he keeps the pressure to a minimum.
There is nothing quite like the Isle of Man TT. It is the most spectacular race on the motorsport calendar. The Senior TT is the Superbowl and Indy 500 combined. It is a national holiday where the race track takes center stage.
It is also one of the most dangerous races in the world. For every rider that swings their leg over their bikes at the TT, they know the risks and they accept them.
But what is it that makes a rider willing to take those risks? The “buzz” is obviously high on the list but another factor for some is a simple basic fact of life; they need to work.
Last year he broke the lap record and claimed the Senior TT, and while Peter Hickman might start this year’s TT as the firm favorite for overall honors, the 32-year-old faces the end of his career unless he was willing to race on the roads.
The Isle of Man TT is 37.75 miles of asphalt through small villages and beautiful Manx countryside – the goal is to complete it in under 17 minutes, and at an average speed of over 135mph. Any mistake can be your last.
This is the most spectacular race track in the world. This is the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course.
Learning your way around the Isle of Man TT course is a mammoth task though. There is literally too much going on for your brain to comprehend it.
When riders talk about the course they piece together section by section. Where are the bumps? Where are the traffic lights? Where are the road signs? Where are the painted kerbs?
This year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb continues to get more interesting with each passing. First, there is the news that Ducati will show up with an unnamed “exhibition” bike with Carlin Dunne onboard, which very well could be a prototype for the widely anticipated Streetfighter V4 model.
And now, we get word that Michael Dunlop – one of the hottest riders at the Isle of Man TT races right now – will race to the clouds this year as well, riding on a 2019 model year BMW S1000R.
Dunlop will be joined on the Wunderlich MOTORSPORT powered by ProKASRO team by 2018’s rookie of the year (with a 10:21.932 run) Lucy Glöckner, both of who will be racing in the Heavyweight class at Pikes Peak.
