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2009 - Steve
Mercer
In thepeoplesbike.com debut TT we were
very fortunate to support Steve Mercer in his newcomer year. During practice Steve lapped
at over 120mph average.
The Saturday Superbike race produced a very encouraging 25th
place and the first newcommer award. Monday Superstock race saw Steve finish 28th and again
the first newcommer award. The Friday Senior ended in bitter disappointment for Steve and
the team as he ran out of fuel within half a mile of the finish while running well in the
top 20.
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2010 - Stephen
Thompson
Stephen Thompson brought his
considerable Road Racing talent and experience to TT 2010. He was supported by
thepeoplesbike.com as he tackled the 37 mile mountain course for the first
time.
After a very successful practice week
Stephen finished 39th in the Saturday Superbike race. The Superstock race produced another
very consistent ride and Stephen claimed 35th place. Stephen saved his best result for the
Senior race with a very creditable finish of 26th.
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2011/12 - Dan
Hegarty
For the third year of thepeoplesbike.com
the team colaborated with BSB regular Daniel Hegarty for his first TT. Unfortunatly Dan
arrived to tackle the mountain course carrying a very painful and restrictive arm injury
following a crash at Thruxton during a BSB round. During practice it became apparent to Dan
and the team that his arm injury was seriously hampering his ability to wrestle the bike on
the very demanding bumpy sections of the course and that a steady learning year was the
best option for his first TT.
In the Saturday Superbike race Dan rode
steadily to finish 32nd after a very painful 226 miles racing. After 4 laps of the Senior
race Dan was forced to retire with a delaminating rear tyre. The two Supersport races
produced very creditable results for Dan. The smaller bike was easier for Dan to handle and
he produced an excellent 26th in race 1 and 24th in race 2.
Dan returned to race for us again in
2012 riding a BMW 1000RR. After a second successful year at the TT Dan progressed to
ride for Norton in 2013 and has gradually built a name for himself in the road racing world
competing in all major events this year and winning the TT Privateer Championship in
2016.
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2013 - Stephen Thompson
Stephen Thompson returned to The
People's Bike for a year in 2013 also riding under the Cookstown racing banner. It's
always a pleasure to have Stephen in the team, his personality and attitude towards racing
are a pleasure to be around and we were happy to support him
again.
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2014/15 - Alan
Bonner
In 2014 we were joined by Southern Irish
rider, Alan Bonner who joined us for his newcomer year. Alan had a tricky start to
his TT career with technical issues all race week with his 1000 bike. His
determination and talent shone through though and he won best newcomer in the 600 class.
In 2015 Alan returned to ride for us
again and had much more success with his bikes. He became the fastest ever
Southern Irish rider beating Martin Finnegan's long standing record clocking 127.090mph
in only his second year at the TT.
"I'd an awesome two years with the
people's bike and made some very good friends along the way. I'll always be
grateful for the start they've given to my tt
career"
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2016 - Seamus
Elliot
In 2016 we were joined by Northern Irish rider, Seamus
Elliott who came to us as a newcomer to the TT. Seamus had a vast amount of road racing
experience back in Ireland and was looking to compete in his first TT. Unfortunately after
practice week things didn't pan out as expected and we went our separate
ways.
Seamus continued to compete during race week under his own
banner and we fulfilled all sponsorship obligations to help him continue to fund his TT.
Seamus successfully completed the Senior TT improving his lap times in each
outing.
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2017 - Tom
Weeden
Our rider for 2017 will be Senior Manx GP winner,
Tom Weeden.
Tom fits with the team ethos perfectly and has
a vast amount of experience on the roads despite his relatively young age. We are
very excited to be working with Tom and his dad as he takes on the mountain course at the
TT.
"I'd just like to say I'm over the moon
to be joining up with The People's Bike in 2017 for the TT. The team ethos is spot on and
I can't wait to get stuck in and have some fun at the same time. There's no pressure, I
just want to relax, enjoy it and I'm sure the results will be a testament of this as I
ride at my best when I'm comfortable and relaxed. I'm sure the People's Bike can give me
this freedom and take the stress and worry away about making my debut at the TT! Roll on
2017, it can't come soon enough!'
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2018 - David
Jackson
Dave is our newcomer for 2018. He has a
wealth of experience on both the circuits and the roads and has been making steady progress over
the last couple of years. He was a consistent front runner in the Thundersport Championship
and is due to start from 4th on the grid at the Gold Cup re-run at Olivers Mount in
April.
Dave had this to say: "The People's Bike is
definitely the best team for me to make my debut with. They've got great experience of
working with newcomers and their support along with Milky Quayle and Johnny Barton will mean that
I'll have the best possible preparation for riding at the TT. "
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2018 - Rhys Hardisty
Rhys has a
number of years experience both on circuits and on the roads. With several years of competing at
the Manx GP under his belt, highlights being an 11th place in the Manx and a podium position in the
Classic TT, Rhys is now set to make the step up to the TT.
Rhys had this to say: "Racing at the TT has been a dream of
mine since watching Joey Dunlop there as a young child. I'm really excited to finally be able to
ride at the TT and am so grateful to The People's Bike team for giving me this opportunity. I'm
really looking forward to working with them as I make the move up to the
TT"
photo: Ellan Vannin Images
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