Highly respected Cumbrian rider Dan Stewart is optimistic of his chances this season after finalising a range of top machinery for the Isle of Man TT, with a return to the North West 200 in May also on the cards.

Stewart, from Barrow in Furness, is one of the leading privateers at the TT and will again benefit from the support of loyal backer Graham Wilcock in 2012.

He will ride an ex-World Superbike Honda – previously ridden by Chris Walker – for the third successive season and has switched to Honda power in the Superstock class after securing a deal with Padgetts that includes technical back-up.

The Wilcock Consulting rider’s ex-Steve Plater British Championship-winning 600cc Honda has been given a major overhaul during the winter months and the English ace, who finished sixth in the Superbike and Senior races at the 2010 TT and sixth in last year’s Dainese Superbike race, can’t wait to get started.

Stewart, who has lapped the Mountain Course at 128.788mph, said: “It’s nice to have the continuity of being with the same team and set-up. This will be my ninth year with Graham and it continues to work really well so we’ll all be looking for some strong results during the course of the year particularly on the Island.


“The Superbike has worked really well in the past so we haven’t had to do too much work, just freshened up the engine and we’ve also switched to Showa suspension.

“We’ve decided to go with a Honda for the Superstock class as the BMW didn’t work as well as we all thought, so we’ve secured a good deal with Clive Padgett who’ll give us technical support and advice during the year.”

Stewart, who has set his sights on lapping the Mountain Course at 130mph in June, will also compete in a full season in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship and may enter some of the early season national road races prior to the TT.

He also plans to ride at the Ulster Grand Prix in August and is considering a return to the North West 200 in May.



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