British Supersport Championship rider Ben Wylie is the latest in a line of talented young riders set to take part in the 2009 Isle of Man TT Races.

25-year old Wylie from Market Drayton, Shropshire, began racing in 2000 when he finished 10th in the Aprilia Superteen Series riding alongside the likes of Casey Stoner, Chaz Davies and Cal Crutchlow before competing in the first two years of the British Junior Superstock Championship.

Ben moved in to the British Superstock Championship proper for the next two seasons, in 2003, scoring a number of top ten finishes and it was this form that brought him to the attention of the Phase One World Endurance team, for whom he rode in the 2005 World Championship. He returned to the UK in 2006 and for the last 3 seasons he has been an ever present in the ultra competitive British Supersport Championship with last season bringing him his best finish to date, 9th place, at the second Oulton Park meeting.

Ben, whose Mother owns and manages Wylie & Holland Motorcycles with former sidecar World Champion and TT regular Cliff Holland, will contest the British Supersport Championship in 2009 as well as making his TT debut on R1 and R6 Yamahas. Speaking about the prospect, he said:

“I have always been a big fan of the TT and considered entering last year but the timing wasn’t right – now I have everything in place, I’m eagerly looking forward to making my debut. Having seen how well many of my British Championship contemporaries have done in the past few years has inspired me even more and I’ve been in touch with the organisers for some time to get everything sorted. They couldn’t have been more helpful in terms of advice and encouragement and I’ve begun my training and learning in earnest so that I’m 100% prepared when Saturday 30th May comes around. I’m extremely excited about coming to the Isle of Man to race and it will fulfil a long ambition of mine – I can’t wait!”

Martyn Quayle MHK, Minister for Tourism and Leisure commented:

“Ben Wylie is another name in an already impressive list of riders looking to take part in the TT for the first time in 2009. Our rider recruitment programme is once more achieving success for us and when you look back at all the newcomers in recent times, it’s fair to say the majority of them have become terrific additions to the TT entry list. I look forward to welcoming Ben and all the other newcomers to TT 2009.”