Northampton based Steve Wheatman's Team Classic Suzuki has confirmed Michael Dunlop and Lee Johnston on GSXR XR69 Suzuki's, and Maria Costello on the Harris F1 Suzuki in this year's Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 TT Race on Monday 25th August.
The team will be looking to emulate their success in last year's inaugural event when Michael Dunlop and Conor Cummins took the first two places in the F1 Race. Team Classic Suzuki will also feature heavily in the two parade laps organised for this year's Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.
As well as their three race bikes, and a number of prestigious parade machines, the team will have a prominent display of Classic Suzuki GP bikes and memorabilia in the paddock.
The team is one of the foremost attractions on the international classic motorcycle scene with its vast collection of authentic Suzuki Grand Prix racers from the 1970's, 80's and 90's.
This year the team has contributed eight machines to the Joey Dunlop Road Racing Legend - The Rivals - Parade lap sponsored by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. These include a factory Suzuki XR23 from 1979, identical to Tom Herron's that will be ridden by Steve Parrish, 500cc Suzuki RG500 MK10 for Steve Cull, an ex Will Hartog RG500 500cc Mk5 from 1980 that Brian Reid will ride while Jamie Hamilton will parade the TT winning ex Norman Brown 1982 RG500 Mk7.
Riders reunited with their bikes include Mick Grant who will ride his 1981 TT winning 500cc Factory Suzuki XR34, Graeme Crosby who is reunited with his 1980 F1 World Championship winning XR69 and Rob McElnea who will parade his old TT winning Suzuki XR41 from 1984, which will be the first time that Rob has ridden the bike since his 1984 victory.
In the Classic Racer Magazine Lap of Honour on Monday 25th August, Phil Read will make an appearance on the 1976 RG500 Mk1 500cc 'Life ' Suzuki he rode in GP's in his final GP year while Masuru Iwasaki will parade the 1975 500cc Factory Suzuki XR14 that Barry Sheene won his first 500cc Grand Prix on in 1975, a race which represented the first win for the Suzuki 500cc Square 4. Brian Reid, Rob McElnea and Graeme Crosby will ride the same machines as they appear on in the 'Rivals' parade.
2013 Classic TT Formula 1 Winners:
Ryan Kneen (3rd- FZR750), Michael Dunlop (1st Suzuki XR69) & Conor Cummins (2nd - Suzuki XR69).
Michael Dunlop on the Suzuki, on his way to victory
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