A new 10-race schedule, introduced to improve the offering for fans both trackside and for those tuning in live from around the world, sees a second encounter for one of the most competitive and unpredictable classes at the Isle of Man TT Races. And with further tweaks to the technical regulations to improve the balance of performance across the manufacturers, the Supertwins will be hotly-contested twice more.
Previously known as the Lightweight TT, for 2023 the Carole Nash backed Supertwin races adopt new rules to open up the competition to more manufacturers. Paton have won the last four races with Michael Rutter (2017), Michael Dunlop (2018 and 2019) and Peter Hickman (2022). All three riders are among the entry for 2023, but only Dunlop remains on the Italian built Paton, as Rutter and Hickman make the switch to the new Yamaha R7.
Dunlop will be sixth away for the three lap races, taking up his traditional number six on the MD Racing machine. Hickman, as expected, will start from number 10 on his own PHR Performance bike, while Rutter will compete for his regular Bathams Racing team and will be second down the road.
Third last year, Paul Jordan follows Rutter at number three on the PreZ Racing Kawasaki, with Jamie Coward once more taking the number four plate. The KTS Racing rider only missed out on the win in 2019 by 1.2s so will certainly be among the pre-race favourites.
Rob Hodson (SMT Racing/KH Commercials Kawasaki) and Gary Johnson on the Dafabet Racing Kawasaki follow Coward; the duo setting off at numbers five and seven respectively.
Last year’s surprise fourth place finisher, Pierre-Yves Bian, is rewarded for his fine ride with the number eight plate on the VAS Engine Paton, ten seconds ahead of Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston.
Johnston, who is leading the British Supersport Championship, finished second last year and with more power extracted from the Aprilia RS660, he must be a considered a major contender for one, or even two of the race wins.
Italy’s Stefano Bonetti, who already has three top-six finishes in the class to his name, adopts the number 11 and reverts back to Paton machinery, this time for Team ILR/Frog Property Developments.
Fellow countryman and TT debutant, Francesco Curinga, rides for the same team and will set off ten seconds behind Bonetti, while there’s further continental interest at 13 with the Czech Republic’s Michal Dokoupil riding the Rocknet Aprilia.
Chris Moore (Silverstar Services/iHeat Racing Kawasaki) starts 14th as he makes the step up from the Manx GP with James Chawke, 11th in 2019, setting off behind him on the Carl Roberts/Emmjess Racing Kawasaki.
Southern Ireland has two great chances of success with Mike Browne (Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Paton) and Michael Sweeney on a third Team ILR/Frog Property Developments Paton heading towards Bray Hill in quick succession from their respective start numbers of 16 and 17.
Frenchman Xavier Denis, who finished a superb 10th last year, is seeded for the first time at number 18 on the PerformanX Racing Kawasaki with another top ten finisher from 2022, Michael Evans, 10 seconds behind him on the Rea Racing Dyno Centre/ME Racing Kawasaki.
Craig Neve on a second Bathams Racing Yamaha T7 rounds out the seeded riders and, as with all the other solo races, he starts 20th.
The complete top 20 for the Carole Nash Supertwin TT Races is:
- Dominic Herbertson John M Paterson/CC Engineering Kawasaki
- Michael Rutter Bathams Racing Yamaha
- Paul Jordan PreZ Racing by Prosper2 Kawasaki
- Jamie Coward KTS Racing powered by Steadplan Kawasaki
- Rob Hodson SMT/KH Commercials Kawasaki
- Michael Dunlop MD Racing Paton
- Gary Johnson RC Express Kawasaki
- Pierre-Yves Bian VAS Engine Paton
- Lee Johnston Ashcourt Racing Aprilia
- Peter Hickman PHR Performance Yamaha
- Stefano Bonetti Team ILR/Frog Racing Developments Paton
- Francesco Curinga Team ILR/Frog Racing Developments Paton
- Michal Dokoupil Rocknet Aprilia
- Chris Moore Silverstar Services/iHeat Racing Kawasaki
- James Chawke Carl Roberts/Emmjess Racing Kawasaki
- Mike Browne BE/RK Racing Paton
- Michael Sweeney Team ILR/Frog Racing Developments Paton
- Xavier Denis performanX Racing Team Kawasaki
- Michael Evans Rea Racing Dyno Centre/M.E Racing Aprilia
- Craig Neve Bathams Racing Yamaha
