Laurent Hoffmann and Franck Petricola will make their debut at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy as part of the experienced Ice Valley by Motorsave team.

Double International Road Race Supersport Champion Hoffmann will step up to the 1000cc class and ride a BMW S1000R in the Dainese Superbike, RL 360⁰ Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT Races and he will also contest the two Monster Energy Supersport races on a Honda CBR600RR.

Having taken his first title in 2012, the Belgian rider dominated the 2013 IRRC Supersport 600cc Championship on his ZX-6R Kawasaki, never finishing lower than second. He opened his account for the year with a win at the opening round at Hengelo before taking double victories at both Oostende and Chimay and of the ten races held during the season, the 30-year old won five and took second in four others. Indeed, only a retirement in the final race of the season at Frohburg spoilt his 100% podium record.

In what was a very successful season, he – along with team-mates Nico Hautekiet and Jan van Steelandt – also finished second in the 600cc class of the Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hour Endurance Race. A former Belgian Supersport Champion, Hoffmann has also enjoyed success on the road circuits in the Czech Republic, taking a hat-trick of victories at Terlicko in 2012 and is eagerly looking forward to making his Mountain Course debut.

Petricola will also be BMW-mounted for the 1000cc races and will compete in the 3-lap Bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight TT on an ER6 650cc Kawasaki. The 30-year old is another regular in the IRRC Championship and enjoyed his best season last year with 11th overall in the Superbike category. His best result, sixth, came at Chimay and he ended the year strongly with six successive top ten finishes and took a brace of thirds in the Lightweight Races at Horice and Terlicko.


Team owner Paul Shoesmith commented:

“I’ve seen just how good Laurent and Franck are up close having raced alongside them in the International Road Race Championship across Europe so I am delighted to be welcoming them to our team for this year’s TT Races. I'm sure they will both give a good account of themselves. They are both working hard on their circuit knowledge using on board footage and they both gained a lot from a recent visit to the Island. They are putting everything into getting themselves ready for their debut this June.”

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