RC Express ready for TT after NW200 disappointment

RC Express Kawasaki rider Ivan Linton says he’s ready to go at the Isle of Man TT, after a disagreement with the organisers at the North West 200 led to the team withdrawing from the race before it even started.

However, the Linolnshire rider says that it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, after the team instead spent three days testing for the TT at Croft, Cadwell and Oulton.

“I’m really looking forward to the TT and now it’s here I can’t wait to get going. I was a little bit disappointed to miss the North West 200 but as it turned out, I got three really good days testing in with some good weather and made some really good progress with all of the bikes. There’s no pressure on me from Roy or Ben and whilst I’d love to get on the podium in the Lightweight, my main aim is to keep progressing, improve on what I did last year and enjoy myself. Hopefully, the weather will be good for first practice and I can get 2 or 3 laps on the Twin just to settle everything in and then get out on the big bikes on Monday.”

Team manager Ben Constable agrees, saying that they’re now heading to the Isle of Man ‘not just to make up the numbers.’

“We’re all ready to go and are really excited about this year’s TT. We never got to the North West 200 but I think we learned more at Croft, Cadwell and Oulton and got plenty of track time with all of the bikes. Ivan put in plenty of laps, especially on the Superstock and Twin, whilst the 600 is a completely different bike now to what Ivan rode at Scarborough. We’ve had the ideal preparation and are looking in good shape with Ivan really relaxed and ready to go.”

“I don’t want to make any predictions and we’re not expecting the world from Ivan but we’re obviously not going to make up the numbers either! He might be seen by some to be an unknown quantity but whilst there’s no pressure on him, we know what he’s capable of and we’re quietly confident of some good results this year.