EXCLUSIVE - TT LEGEND BILL SMITH TO RUN MAJOR TEAM AT THIS YEARS RACES
Bill Smith Motors make
their intentions known for Centenary TT
Chester motorcycle dealership
Bill Smith Motors are making their intentions known for the hundred year anniversary
of the Isle of Man TT by fielding an impressive line up of riders and
motorbikes. Bill Smith is a famous name at the Island,
having won more TT replicas than any other rider in the event’s glittering hundred
year history. Bill is also in the history books having won the 1978 formula 3
World title. The fact that a motorcycle racing legend has chosen to field a
major team at the hundred year anniversary of the TT is another indication of
how big this year’s event will undoubtedly be.
It will, quite literally, be the most followed motorcycle racing event
in history. Upwards of 50,000 people will travel to the Isle
of Man to see what promises to be the greatest show on earth.
Riders, manufacturers and fans will come from the four corners of the globe to
be a part of this occasion. The event will be broadcast worldwide in over two
hundred countries.
Turning to the rider line up, Bill Smith’s busiest rider will be 31 year
old Tim Poole, who will be racing in the Superbike, Senior, Superstock and Supersport
classes. Tim is a highly talented and experienced road racer and five times winner
at the Island in the Southern 100 (most
recently in 2005). As a measure of Tim’s talent, he was the very first rider to
lap at over 100mph on a 600 at the Southern 100, an achievement that nobody
could match for a subsequent three years. Tim is just as quick on short
circuits as he is on the road, having won national races in the fiercely
competitive British Supersport 600 Championship.
Although Tim had not ridden the TT circuit until last year he recorded
some very credible lap times whilst learning the long and challenging course, going
second fastest ever newcomer. He will combine that experience with the highly
acclaimed 2007 Yamaha R1 Superbike to run at the front at this year’s high
profile event.
Bill Smith Motors Race Manager James Powell says:
“Tim exceeded all expectations last year. On the potent new Yamaha R1 which
will be prepared to a very high specification by us producing over 200
horsepower he will be troubling the big names in the Superbike, Senior and
Superstock classes. In the Supersport class Tim will be on a factory kitted Triumph
675 producing over 140 horsepower so we certainly expect him to be right up
there in that class as well!”
Tim will be joined in the Supersport class on another Triumph 675 by 27
year old Ian Mackman, the latter racing at the TT for the first time. Ian is a
natural talent that has already won the MRO Supersport 400 title and is being tipped
as a title contender in this year’s high profile National Superstock Cup. James
Powell says:
“Ian is incredibly enthusiastic. In January he was studying the course with
Davy Morgan in the icy cold and rain! He will be another popular character at
the TT and a newcomer worth watching.”
Bill Smith are really going for it this year in terms of rider line up. They
are currently in talks with a previous TT winner to join Tim and Ian at this
year’s prestigious event.
James Powell says:
We want TT winning pedigree in our team. We may even run four riders
this year, we certainly haven’t ruled that out”.
“The Sponsorship Opportunity of a
Lifetime”
First Sports Sponsorship Agency www.fssaonline.org
is helping Bill Smith to identify an appropriate organisation to be a part of
this occasion by appearing alongside the North
West’s leading motorcycle dealership in joint
sponsorship of the Centenary racing team. It needs to be the right organisation,
be they inside or outside the motorcycle industry. Whoever Bill Smith partners with
stands to benefit hugely in marketing terms by joining Bill Smith for the
Centenary TT.”
Chris Morley of First Sports Sponsorship Agency www.fssaonline.org says:
“Literally everyone is familiar with the TT. In the UK it has the
same level of recognition as the Olympics. Bang for buck this is the sponsorship
opportunity of a lifetime.”
James Powell comments:
“In arriving at a sponsor partner for the
Centenary TT, the key is that it is a deal that works for both parties. We want
everyone to come away with a lasting positive impression of lining up with Bill
Smith at this historic event.”
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