Hillier out for big bike win at TT 2016

James Hillier has his sights set on a ‘big bike’ victory at this year’s Isle of Man TT after podiums in the Superbike and Senior races last year.

The 31-year-old recorded a lap of 132.414mph on his way to second in last year’s Senior TT to become the third-fastest man ever to lap the mountain course and wants to build on that this time around as he enters his seventh season with the Quattro Plant Muc-Off Bournemouth Kawasaki team.

Having also taken to the podium in the Superbike class last year, Hillier is confident of adding to his tally of one TT victory (2013 Lightweight) as he takes to the iconic 37.73 mile course aboard Kawasaki’s new-for-2016 ZX-10R.

“Last year was a good year for me and it’s all about trying to win a big bike race now,” he said. “I’ve done pretty much everything else at the TT but win one. I’ve won the Lightweight race, taken podiums in the big bikes races and lapped at more than 132mph but my aim is to win a big bike race for sure. I’ve done my apprenticeship and have worked my way up so feel confident that I can do it.”

His TT preparations at the North West 200 took a slight knock when a crash in the early stages of the Superstock race left him concussed, but he’s now fit and ready to take on the TT.

“Apart from the crash, obviously, I was pretty happy with how the North West went. In terms of the racing, all of the bikes were good, which I knew they would be, and we there or thereabouts in every class. I felt competitive and pleased with my own riding so I’m just ready for the TT now.”