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| John Shand Racing at TT
2001
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Seeking a forth-straight win in the Lightweight 400
TT, the John Shand Racing Team has finalized most of the preparations for this
year's event.
A recent visit to Japan concluded in successful
negotiations with Honda HRC supported Team Auto Shop Sugahara for the supply of
suitable machines for the 2001 TT event. This team has competed at the famous
Suzuka 8 Hour Endurance event for many years with outstanding success. The Four
Hour event for 400cc machines at the meeting has been won seven times by the
Tokyo based team known as " Team Honey Bee" to the Japanese race
enthusiasts.
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John Shand Racing
has purchased the winning machines from last and previous years to bring to the
Isle of Man TT. Machines were tested at the Motegi circuit last week to select
the best engine and chassis combinations that should suit the difficult Manx
circuit.
"We have not chosen the most powerful motors" said Team
Manager John Shand "Instead, we have again looked for reliability and a well
balanced package" "However these engines are a big improvement and now
producing well over 200HP per Litre, which should be enough"
Four of
these machines will be entered in the Lightweight TT next June.
Japanese
rider Jun Maeda, a regular TT competitor will ride one of the "Honey Bee"
machines in an attempt to be the first Japanese finisher on the TT podium for
many years. Jun is a form rider at present, having taken forth place in the
Formula X class at last years Suzuka 8 Hour on a Factory Fireblade. At Motegi
testing last week he was most impressed by the outright top speed of the 400cc
bikes and expressed confidence that they will be able to outpace some of the
250 GP machines in the Lightweight class.
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Confidence in
newcomers has always been a trademark in John Shand Racing philosophy. "We are
always searching for riders we believe will be a bright prospect at the TT and
will be positive towards the team as well as to the future of the TT itself"
John Shand remarked "We try to give them good machinery and let their own
talent show through so their own future at the Isle of Man is off to a good
start."
In keeping with this policy, two newcomers to the TT have been
chosen. Using the Manx Grand Prix as an indicator of ability, John Shand Racing
have selected Chris Dowling and Ryan Farquar, both winners in their respective
classes to campaign in the 400cc Lightweight event.
Chris Dowling
impressed the team with two wins at the MGP on their bike along with lap and
race records and the equally impressive result of Ryan Farquar in the Senior
event has made the rider choice rather easy. The Team is confident these two
riders will perform well in the race and will have top class
machinery.
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In keeping with
the international flavour of the team, Swedish rider Jonas Svensson from
Stockholm, who has ridden in three TT events, shall pilot the fourth bike.
Jonas now has the experience to produce some good lap times as well as showing
the Viking talent to travel from the far and frozen north and
conquer.
In addition to bike preparation, a film crew from Japanese
television will join the Team to cover the event for a one-hour documentary to
be shown in Japan on their return. "Interest in the Isle of Man TT races is
very strong and it is hoped that we can help to develop further involvement for
Japanese riders and visitors over the next few years" said Bjorn Rotheim, the
Team's Norwegian member.
All the people involved in the team of John
Shand Racing are strongly committed to the TT races and in the future shall
expand its horizons to include participation in the bigger classes in 2002. To
that end negotiations have already commenced in Japan for the supply of
machinery that is highly competitive. However for this year, with four machines
and a spare to maintain, the 2001 event will be a busy time for all
concerned.
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Team
Philosophy
Over the years our team has adopted the policy of
assisting newcomers and other riders showing promise to the Isle of Man TT
races. Our only racing involvement is at the TT event so we are strongly
committed to the Isle of Man and its development as the Worlds greatest road
race.
We bring high quality machinery to the TT fortnight, and of
course it is possible for us to engage the absolute best riders to compete on
them. However that is not our goal. To win is not important.
Our
challenge is to bring riders less well known and give them the opportunity to
do their best. That is all we expect. If a win comes along, so be it.
For us it is the challenge, and most important, the sheer fun of being
a part of the overall picture. To meet new friends and reacquaint with our old
ones. The experience of once again being at the TT.
The
Bikes
In an effort to bring top quality machinery to the Lightweight
400 TT, John Shand Racing will be entering some Honda CBR400RR machines of some
technical interest.
From Team Technical Sports we again bring the race
winning machines from the 1998, 1999 and 2000 TT. These are proven units with
an excellent history. Technical Sports are a highly respected Grand Prix team
worldwide. This years bikes have upgraded engines, keeping abreast of the
latest technical developments in Japan.
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From Auto Shop
Sugahara in Tokyo we bring two motorcycles in endurance configuration. "Team
Honey Bee" as it is known to the Japanese race enthusiasts have won the Suzuka
4 Hour event seven times. The race winning machine from last year and another
from a previous year has been entered for Isle of Man TT.
With four
race bikes and a spare, we bring to the TT races, motorcycles from two "giants"
in Japanese racing for the enjoyment of the TT race enthusiasts.
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