14-time TT podium finisher James Hillier has confirmed he will be staying with the RICH Energy OMG Racing team for TT 2021 and has also revealed he’ll be taking on the dunes of Arabia when he takes on the Dakar Rally in 2022.

Hillier, a keen off-road rider who has previously competed in the famous Weston Beach Race, will contest a number of ancillary off-road events in preparation for the gruelling rally which sees riders regularly cover over 500 miles per day over a 12-day endurance event featuring timed stages.

Becoming the first TT winner and only the second TT rider ever to take on the world’s most extreme off-road sport, Hillier will also compete at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Dubai Baja events, subject to ongoing Coronavirus restrictions.

Speaking of the news, Hillier said:

“I’m really pleased to continue with RICH Energy OMG Racing for the 2021 season. Although we weren’t able to race the bike this season due to the pandemic, I feel really settled within the team and our testing programme alongside the British Superbike riders at Monteblanco and Jerez went very well.”

“We’ve now got more time to continue developing the bike ahead of next season’s racing, to ensure we’re right on the pace once things do get underway. Being involved with the Dakar project with RICH Energy OMG Racing is seriously exciting. It’s a massive task but I have full faith in the team and can’t wait to continue our preparations with some more testing and a few rally events as soon as possible to really settle into this new challenge.”

Alan Gardner, RICH Energy OMG Racing Team Owner, added:

"We’re very excited to continue working with James for the 2021 roads season and also on our newly announced Dakar project, which will see us take on the world’s toughest endurance race and the world’s first road race in the same 12 months.”

“It was massively disappointing to not have the opportunity to get out on the roads this year after all the hard work the team and riders have put in, but we’re already preparing the bikes for 2021.”