Red Torpedo teams up with Tyco BMW / TAS Racing for 2016
Red Torpedo is delighted to announce that we’re working with TAS Racing again in 2016 continuing our sponsorship of the Tyco BMW Motorrad team.
This is our sixth year with Moneymore based TAS Racing run by father and son Hector and Phillip Neill. For the past 16 years, they’ve run one of the most experienced teams in road racing and this year are hungry to taste TT success again. Their last wins (3) came in 2008 with riders Cameron Donald and Bruce Anstey on Relentless Suzuki machinery. The Australian star lifted Superbike and Superstock TTs and his New Zealand compatriot won one of the Supersport TTs.
British Superbike championship 2016
For 2016 Hector and Philip have signed a strong roster of riders to compete in both the British Superbike / Superstock Championships and on the International Road Racing scene. In British Superbikes they’re fielding a three man team of Michael Laverty & Christian Iddon (Superbike) and Josh Waters (Superstock)
Real Roads Racing Campaign 2016
To spearhead the roads campaign, eleven times TT winner Ian Hutchinson will ride the Tyco BMW S1000RR in all three internationals – the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster GP and is also likely to enter the Macau GP. He will also ride the BMW Superstock machine in the Pirelli British Superstock Championship
The team has also, (as of 16th March) just announced the signing of Ryan Farquhar, the most successful Irish National rider, to ride the Superbike S1000RR at this year’s TT. He effectively joins the team to “stand in” for Guy Martin.
Guy Martin and Tour Divide 2016
Guy Martin announced some weeks ago that he wouldn't be racing at 2016 Isle of Man TT instead opting to compete in The Tour Divide - the 2,750 mile mountain bike endurance race from Banff to New Mexico. However, he will have access to BMW Motorrad machinery should he wish to enter any of the Irish national races or, for example, the Southern 100. Indeed, TAS Racing tweeted on 16 March – “Guy Martin is still very much in our plans for the season.”
Ian Hutchinson / Tyco BMW Signing
The deal with Ian Hutchinson has all the signs of being a race winning partnership. Philip Neill has been quoted as saying – “it’s no secret that our focus on the TT this year is heavily based around Hutchy.” For the Bingley man, he gains the stability of one of the most experienced road racing teams on the grid plus all the benefits of full factory back-up from BMW Motorrad. Also, with TAS Racing now entering its second year with the German manufacturer, he’s joined them at a point where he can capitalize on all the development work carried out during the first year learning the characteristics of a completely new machine. For the team, they’ve hooked up with a proven multiple TT winner and one of the most talented and determined road racers around.
In June 2010 he became the only man ever to win all five TTs in one week - then three months later, he was involved in a horrific accident at Silverstone during a British Supersport race. He endured a protracted period of rehabilitation and treatment plus a total of 30 operations to save his leg. Underneath the quiet exterior and softly spoken voice is an incredibly courageous, gritty and determined character.
Hutchinson's Macau GP win
His win in the 2013 Macau GP on the PBM Kawasaki ZX-10R heralded a remarkable first ‘statement’ that he “was back” and last year witnessed a full return to world class form on the International road racing calendar. He opened the year with strong rides at the North West 200 coming 2nd in Superbike and 3rd in Superstock before moving onto the Isle of Man TT where he netted a stunning hat-trick of wins: the two Supersport races with Keith Flint’s Team Traction Control Yamaha R6 and the Superstock race on the PBM Kawasaki ZX-10. He also had podium finishes in both Superbike races - the Dainese and Senior TT. As his new boss Phiip Neill succinctly put it, he was the “dominant force” at TT 2015.
Ian Hutchinson Awarded Torrens Trophy
In January, Hutchy was was one of four Motor Cycle racers shortlisted for the RAC’s Torrens Trophy. Although he was in highly esteemed motorcycling company, he lifted the trophy for his outstanding skill in international motor cycling sporting events in the UK.
The team has completed first testing in Cartagena and Almeria with Hutchy getting his first taste of riding both the BMW S1000RR Superbike and Superstock machines. He was said to be “suitably impressed” by both. With their star line-up of BSB and road riders, it looks like it could be a very successful year ahead for TAS Racing and Tyco BMW Motorrad.
Photo: courtesy of Tyco BMW / TAS Racing
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