Steve Mercer to make TT debut in 2009

British Superstock and Superbike rider Steve Mercer will make his TT debut in 2009.

Mercer dominated the 2006 MRO Superstock Championship before making the switch to British Superstock big-time the following year with 16th overall in his debut season.

In 2008 he had a short spell in the British Superbike Cup, taking a third and first in the opening three races before dropping back down to Superstocks when after hitting financial problems.

A pair of top 15 finishes at Knockhill for MSS Kawasaki deputising for the injured Stuart Easton bolstered his status in the British Superbike paddock – his first real outing on a full-blown Superbike.

Talking about his first TT experience Mercer said: “The TT was not in my career plans until recently but the more I’ve thought about it the more I want to do it.

“The visit to the Island in August was ideal preparation and the assistance given by Richard Quayle and John Barton was invaluable.

“I was really impressed with what I saw and we were given a great insight into the Mountain Course whilst we were also able to see some of the Manx GP, which was a real highlight.

“I watched at the bottom of Bray Hill and when the first bike came through, I thought to myself ‘I want some of that!’

“Now I have the opportunity to come to the event, I am very excited and am working hard on learning the circuit.

“I’ve been studying DVD footage and have several trips planned to continue learning the circuit so I’m very excited about making my debut next year.

“Racing at Macau in November will give me my first taste of real road racing and I’ll be tapping into the TT expertise of Iain and Brian whilst I’m there.”