Mar-Train racing have been forced to withdraw from this year’s Isle of Man TT races after rider Dan Kneen was declared unfit to compete by the event Chief Medical Officer.

Kneen suffered an arm injury at the beginning of May after falling off his mountain bike and had to sit out the North West 200 following surgery. The twenty eight year old has been working hard on his recovery ever since, undergoing intensive physiotherapy sessions as well as daily visits to the hyperbaric chamber near his home on the Isle of Man. With practice for the TT due to commence on Saturday Kneen underwent a medical with Dr Gruff Evans today but unfortunately the event CMO deemed him not to have recovered sufficiently to compete.

TT Chief Medical Officer – Dr Gruff Evans

“I have seen Dan today regarding the injuries to his right upper arm and his left wrist. I have also had a chance to get the opinion of his Orthopaedic Surgeon as well as review the X-ray results. Whilst he is making good progress, I am afraid to say that at this time he is still not fit to race, and as such he will be on a Medical Stop for the duration of TT 2016.”

Team Principal – Tim Martin

“It is difficult to accept at the minute, I am gutted for Dan on a personal level as I think he would have had a great TT and possibly scored his first podium. As a team we have been working towards this year’s TT since we did the deal with Yamaha UK eighteen months ago so to have to sit the event out is quite simply a disaster. For Yamaha UK this should have been the showcase for how far we have come and how competitive the YZF-R1M now is so to not be represented at the most famous race in the world is a major blow. I fully respect the decision of Dr Evans though, the TT is one of the most gruelling motorcycle events there is with enormous physical demands on the riders over a two week period. To go into the event injured would be irresponsible and potentially very dangerous so it is the correct decision no matter how disappointing. All we can do now is try to bounce back at our remaining events beginning with the Southern 100 in July. I would like to wish the TT organisers every success with this year’s event and I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable two weeks.”

Rider – Dan Kneen

“I have tried everything possible to get myself fit again for the TT but unfortunately time is just not on our side. I had kept positive right up until today that I would make it but the reality is it is just too soon. I can only apologise to the team, YMUK and all my personal sponsors, to miss out on the TT is especially hard to take as a Manx man as I am sure everyone can appreciate. Everything was going perfectly up until the injury, the bikes were superb and I really had a chance of a result but it just wasn’t meant to be. My focus now is on completing my recovery and bouncing back at the Southern 100 to try and repay the team for the work they have put in. I would just like to thank my physio Ruth Cooil and all the staff at the hyperbaric chamber on the Isle of Man for doing everything they could to try and get me back on the bikes they have been superb.”