Tyco Suzuki will revert back to a two-man international road racing team in 2012 after confirming the signing of Isle of Man TT top gun Conor Cummins.

The popular Manx rider, who hails from Ramsey, is expected to be joined by Guy Martin in the Moneymore outfit for the North West 200, TT and Ulster Grand Prix.

Cummins - who survived a horror crash at the TT in 2010 - told News Letter Sport he was “excited” by his move to Philip and Hector Neill’s factory-backed Suzuki squad and vowed to return to the blistering form he displayed prior to his Senior TT smash.


“I’m absolutely delighted with the deal and grateful for the opportunity given to me by Tyco Suzuki,” he said.

“I’ve got the machinery that will provide me with the chance to go and achieve the results that I want to achieve.

“The team’s track record speaks for itself and the success rate of the team from day one is unquestionable. I’m really looking forward to working with Philip and Hector and having a real go this season.

“The main focus is to compete at the international road races and obviously the TT is the main one of the bunch, but that doesn’t take anything away from any of the other internationals because I’ll be trying equally as hard and I’m looking forward now to getting going with some testing,” added the 25-year-old.

“I’ll do the first couple of British Superstock 1000 races to get up to speed before the North West 200 and I’ve always felt that has been beneficial to me in the past.

“Obviously with the testing as well under my belt I’ll be well equipped by the time the North West 200 comes round.

“I’m really excited and I can’t wait.”

Cummins paid tribute to Cookstown outfit McAdoo Racing, where he plied his trade for the past three seasons and thanked Jason and Winston McAdoo for the role they played in escalating his career.

“Last year I was with McAdoo Kawasaki and they have been instrumental in my career.

“I’ve had good success with them and achieved a lot. They put a lot of time and effort into me and I’m really grateful for that,” he said.

“Now I can look forward to 2012 with a new team.

“There is going to be a lot of media attention around plus a lot of local attention at the TT because it’s my home event.

“Hopefully I will be back to the level I was at a couple of years back prior to my crash and I’m aiming to win some silverware for the team and for myself.”

Cummins, who was back in the saddle at the key road races last year, is working hard on his fitness as he prepares for arguably the most important year of his career and no-one will begrudge the unassuming Manx star any success that might come his way in 2012.



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Ramsey Rocket’ to compete for Suzuki factory outfit in homeland TT races

Isle of Man racer Conor Cummins has signed for Northern Ireland’s TAS Racing as their first major signing for the 2012 international road racing campaign. The Manxman will ride Tyco Suzuki machinery in the Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy as well as the North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old is regarded as one of the sport’s hottest young properties and despite his high-speed, much publicised accident on the Mountain Circuit during the Senior TT in 2010, the ‘Ramsey Rocket’ is now fighting fit and looking forward to a new chapter in his career.

His TT Races career has featured 3 podiums including the runner up spot in the 2009 PokerStars Senior TT and he also established a commanding lead in the 2010 Dainese Superbike race before breaking down. He battled back from career threatening injuries to compete in the 2011 TT Races and achieved a notable sixth place in the Monster Energy Supersport Race 2.

Cummins, 25, has recorded the Mountain Course’s fastest standing start lap -131.511 mph - which he achieved in the 2010 Superbike race and is the only Manxman to record a lap of 130mph. He is also a former winner of the Ulster Grand Prix and was the world’s fastest road racer in 2009 with a lap of 133.284, which he clocked at the same meeting.


Commenting on the deal Conor said:

“This is the ride I’ve been wanting for three or four years. I’m thrilled to have been given the chance to ride for a factory-supported team in Tyco Suzuki and to be working with the boys at TAS Racing. I’ve been training hard with gym sessions and out on the pushbike over the winter, so I’m relishing the thought of getting aboard the big GSX-R1000 Superbike in testing. I’d say I’m not far off being as fit as I ever was and having been over to the workshop to meet the boys in Northern Ireland and have a look at the bikes – April can’t come quick enough to get racing ”

Philip Neill – Team Manager

“After months of speculation and negotiations it’s great to finally welcome Conor Cummins to our team for the 2012 road racing season. It’s fair to say there has been a little bit of pressure to return to a two-rider team on the roads – so once we’d reached that decision Conor really was the obvious choice. I’ve always been hugely impressed with Conor and his riding skills were evident to everyone after those blistering lap speeds at the 2010 TT.”

“However, probably more impressive is the determination he has shown in his comeback from injury, and for me, that was more than enough to justify a factory-supported ride with us here at Tyco Suzuki. I’ll be looking forward to working with Conor both on and off the track this season, as he has the attitude and personality I was looking for in a rider.”

Team owner Hector Neill concluded:

“It’s no secret the Isle of Man TT is the highlight of the racing season for me, and with that in mind it was important to add a second rider to our line-up. It’s also widely known that my number one desire in racing is to again win the Senior TT trophy. And what better way than to win it than with a Manxman onboard.”

Paul Phillips, the Isle of Man Governments Motorsport Manager commented:

“This is a great deal for Conor and is a fitting reward for his determination in getting back to full fitness. His appearance on the Tyco Suzuki bikes will attract a huge amount of interest in this year’s TT and he won’t be short of fans, particularly going through Ramsey. As the race promoters we’re delighted that this leading outfit are running a two man team.”


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good luck conner