Roads: Gary Johnson to run new GSX-R in own team

Two-time Isle of Man TT winner Gary Johnson will take on a new challenge this season as he sets up his own team to compete at the 2017 North West 200 and Isle of Man TT.

After a couple of difficult seasons thwarted with injuries and technical problems since his last TT win in 2014, Johnson has decided to take things into his own hands for the season ahead. Having taken delivery Suzuki’s new for 2017 GSX-R1000 for the Superbike, Senior and Superstock races, Johnson has turned his conservatory into a workshop to work on his machines.

He’s also bought East Coast Racing’s ex-Lee Johnston Triumph for the 600cc class, a machine similar to that he took to victory in the opening Monster Energy Supersport race in 2014.  

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“Coming off the back of a couple of years of breakdowns was considering my options for 2017,” Johnson explained. “I got a phone call from Phil at East Coast to see if I was interested in buying his Triumphs, they’re ex-Smiths bikes that I won on in 2014. That was all I was going to do, but as things developed I decided I was going to do the whole job. I’ve gone to my local Suzuki dealers and bought a couple of GSX-Rs! 

“It’s fully funded by myself, I know I can deliver a good package. It’s a lot of work, I’ve probably taken too much on but there’s a lot of people helping me. I’ve converted my house into a workshop and I’m going to make things happen.” 

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