The running order for the 2023 Isle of Man TT blue riband races has been confirmed with road racing veteran David Johnson set to receive the privilege of leading the riders down Bray Hill this year.
The Australian - who was forced to miss last year’s event - is therefore assured of a clear track in front when he sets off in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and Milwaukee Senior TT races aboard the C&L Fairburn Properties by Jackson Racing Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade.
The announcement of the running order doubles up as confirmation for which top twenty riders have been ‘seeded’ and are therefore expected to occupy the leading positions when racing gets underway on 29 May 2023 and lasts until 10 June 2023.
Johnson’s honour sees him take the mantle from TT legend John McGuinness, who broke with tradition to assume the #1 position in the running order last year as a tribute to hitting 100 TT starts during the race week.
For 2023, however, McGuinness - still three wins shy of Joey Dunlop’s all-time TT record - will revert to #3 in the running order, the factory Honda Racing UK rider giving himself two strong references ahead in Johnson and 2019 Senior TT winner Dean Harrison, who takes off second on the DAO Kawasaki.
One of the unsung stars of the 2022 TT, Jamie Coward will eye more impressive scalps with the KTS Racing Team, particularly after ditching his Yamaha machinery in favour of a new Honda CBR1000RR-R.
Coward’s defection leaves James Hillier as the only Yamaha R1 rider inside the top twenty, the Hampshireman once again with OMG Racing and looking for a quick reacquaintance to road racing following his Dakar Rally stint.
Fast approaching McGuinness’ second place position on the all-time ranking, 21-time TT winner Michael Dunlop will likely be more of a threat in the Superbike and Superstock classes this year than he was in 2022. Sticking with Hawk Racing, Dunlop will benefit from the team’s decision to retire its ageing Suzuki machinery in favour of the new Honda Fireblade.
Following him up as #7 in the running order will be TT returnee Josh Brookes, the Australian - whose previous experience of The Mountain came on the troublesome Norton - securing a road racing campaign this year with FHO Racing BMW to dovetail with his BSB commitments.
A standout in 2022, Davy Todd once again lines up with Milenco by Padgett’s Honda in the year he makes his full season BSB debut, while his team-mate will again be Conor Cummins. They will get away as #8 and #11 respectively.
Between them will be Lee Johnston, another rider to make the move from Yamaha to Honda over the winter.
A four-time TT winner in 2022, Peter Hickman will again head into the Isle of Man TT as the man with a target on his back. The FHO Racing BMW rider will get underway mid-pack in tenth as he looks to build on his career tally of nine TT wins..
Behind him, highlights from the latter end of the top twenty running order include new Honda Racing UK signing Nathan Harrison, who gets underway as #16, while TT veteran Michael Rutter is #12 on the Bathams Honda and Gary Johnson is #17 on the Smith’s Racing JR Performance Honda.
In a change from previous years, Honda has replaced BMW as the most represented manufacturer in the top twenty with 11 entries. BMW follows with six entries, while there is just one entry each for Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha among the leading seeds.
Share on social media:
