Road Racing

Mackman Targeting Top Six On TT Return

2 Mins read
Ian Mackman - Photo Credit: Isle of Man TT

Ian Mackman - Photo Credit: Isle of Man TT

 

Ian Mackman is hoping to challenge the front runners at this year's Isle of Man TT after claiming the Privateers Championship in 2011. Ninth in the opening Supersport race was the highlight for the Runcorn rider in terms of the overall classification and he will have strong machinery at his disposal as he looks to improve.

Mackman will ride an ex-Dan Kneen Kawasaki ZX-10R in the Superstock class and a ZX-6R in the two Supersport races, which he hopes will be the boost he needs to challenge the leaders.

“The TT is the only race of the season for me now. I carried on racing because I discovered the TT and having taken two top ten finishes last season, I hope to better that in 2012. I’d love to finish in the top six and hope that the new bike will help me to achieve this. The new ZX10 is making much more power than my GSXR so I hope that this has been a missing ingredient for me. I guess my main aim is to break the 125mph barrier as I’ve been sitting at 124.5mph for the last three TT’s!”

“I believe that my biggest area to improve on is the Mountain. With, hopefully, a good start number again I’ll be able to tag on and learn from the top team riders where I can improve here. Oddly I always feel like the run from Ginger Hall to Ramsey is my worst, generally I spend a lot of it swearing at myself for being on the wrong line, but once back in the paddock looking at sector times I’m not that far off. I guess that’s how deceptive the TT course can be.”

Mackman is also hoping to compete in the Ulster GP for the first time and Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager for the Isle of Man Government, expects him to perform well in 2012.

“Ian is exactly the kind of rider that we created the Privateers Championship for. The TT is rightly recognised as the place where grass roots competitors without manufacturer support can still compete alongside the bigger teams and we wanted to recognise and acknowledge their achievements. Ian has performed consistently since his debut in 2007 and will again be one to watch this year.”

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