Splitlath Racing will compete at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races with a unique all American line-up.
The British team will field Mark Miller and Brandon Cretu aboard its pair of all new, American made, EBR1190RS from Erik Buell Racing. The team made the choice to run the bike after a successful outing at the Macau Grand Prix, with Miller and Cretu taking 11th and 20th respectively, a significant improvement for both riders in terms of both positions and lap times.
The pair will ride the Rotax-powered, V-twin EBR1190RS in the Superbike, Superstock and Senior TT races, hoping that the bike’s confidence inspiring chassis and high corner speed will spur them on to good results and personal best lap times around the Mountain Course.
Miller will ride for Splitlath for the fourth consecutive year, and has been a strong competitor since his Isle of Man TT debut in 2006, earning the distinction of being the fastest ever American around the 37.73-mile circuit. He also won the 2010 TT Zero race.
“At the Macau Grand Prix last November the EBR Superbike had extremely high entrance and corner speeds due to its single front brake rotor scheme and an unusually low centre of gravity from the mass of the petrol actually being wrapped around the engine inside a hollow frame,” explained Miller. “The EBR steers on a dime, it’s really unique and fun to ride fast, and historically it’s superior handling that wins motorcycle races. I think the 1190RS will work very well around the fast flowing TT circuit. I’m super excited to get another rare opportunity alongside my Splitlath family to ride Erik Buell’s little brainchild, this time at the Isle of Man TT races.”
”We are all tremendously excited and proud to be running Erik’s bikes at the TT this year,” added Splitlath Motorsports team owner, John Dimbylow. “This will be the first time a US manufacturer has competed here adding to our successful debut at the Macau GP in 2013. Running any motorbike at the TT is hard, it shows up all sorts of things on the bikes that you just don’t expect as no other race poses similar challenges, so running a completely new bike when no one else has is incredibly difficult, but people love Erik’s bikes, his engineering brilliance, and his ability to “dare to be different”. We are looking forward to solid performances from our US Riders and a foundation with which to build upon in subsequent campaigns.”
