Cameron Donald will contest the Isle Of Man TT Supersport races in 2015 after signing with the Valvoline Racing by Padgetts Motorcycles team.
The Australian replaces TT veteran, John McGuinness, at the team and will take on the famous circuit on a Honda CBR600-RR.
The 37-year-old will join-up with former TAS Suzuki teammate, Bruce Anstey, at the Batley-based squad. The pair had a great battle back in 2012, with Anstey beating Donald by just 0.77s in one of the closest finishes in TT history.
On the move, Donald said: “Padgetts Motorcycles are one of the most successful race teams the TT has ever seen so when Clive (Padgett) rang me and asked if I would be part of the team for the 2015 TT it didn’t take me long to say yes.
“The team obviously build great bikes and I have a lot of experience of my own with the CBR600 RR Honda, so together I think we should be right on the pace and come the races. I enjoyed being team mates with Bruce in the past and I am sure we will push each other on again as team mates in 2015.”
The Aussie has had success at the TT in the past having won both the Superbike and Supersport races back in 2008.
Donald also won the TT Supporter’s Club Trophy in 2012 before setting the fourth quickest lap on a 600cc bike the year after, with a speed of 127.217mph.
Team owner, Clive Padgett, is feeling confident ahead of the TT following the acquisition of Donald.
Padgett said: “Replacing one of the TT’s greatest ever riders in John McGuinness is something that any team would find a challenge, but for the Supersport class there was one obvious candidate and that was Cameron Donald. I have been a long-time admirer of Cameron as a rider and a person and his record speaks for itself. He’s the fourth fastest rider ever on a Supersport bike around the TT Course and we are confident that we can give him a motorcycle that is capable of winning races in 2015.”
Fans that go to watch the Isle Of Man TT in 2015 will be seeing a lot of Donald, as he will also be competing in the Superbike and Senior races with the Norton team.