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| Kneen back
to the Manx
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Norman Kneen was entered in the TT this year for the first
time in his long career. However, with the event being cancelled he has the
option to return to the Manx; an event he has enjoyed much success in although
never actually winning.
Over the last few years, Norman has ridden for
Mike and Alan Kelly's Lloyds TSB / Mannin Collections team on their immaculate
125 Honda, twice finishing on the Manx Grand Prix rostrum. He was due to ride
one of their machines at the TT also, however he won't be riding for them at
this year's Grand Prix.
Instead he will pilot a 2000 RS250 Honda
purchased by another well-known local sponsor, Eric Bregazzi. He feels that the
125cc machines are now uncompetitive in the Manx Grand Prix Ultra Lightweight
class against the more powerful 400cc machines.
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Bob Dowty will now take over the Lloyds TSB 125 Honda,
however Norman hopes to back aboard it for the 2002 TT.
This years Manx
Grand Prix will be the first time Norman has ridden a 250 around the Mountain
Course since 1992. He was aboard a Snape and Rome 250 Yamaha then, but he
failed to finish in that years Junior and Lightweight races. His fastest lap to
date on a 250 is 107mph which he knows would not be good enough to make the
Lightweight rostrum, however he is more than capable of improving on that speed
and maybe even beating his all time fastest Manx Grand Prix lap of 111.67mph
which was recorded on a standard 600 Kawasaki in 1998.
Eric Bregazzi has
supplied the machine and other support has been received from Mike Holt at Kirk
Michael Motors, German TT fan Peter Buchberger, Pete Holland at GH Motor
Services in North Staffordshire, well known marshal John 'Dog' Callister,
Norman's neighbour George Steven's and last but not lease Rob and Jimmy from
Heatcall.
Norman will certainly be a man to look out for at the 2001
Manx Grand Prix and a rostrum finish is certainly within his grasp in the
Lightweight race.
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