TT: Cummins to set off at No. 1 as Superbike start list revealed

Conor Cummins will start this year’s Isle of Man TT from the number one spot as the start numbers for this year’s Superbike race have been revealed.

The Manxman will be the first away down Glencrutchery road on his Padgetts Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 for the first time in his career with the 2018 entry list confirming the withdrawal of Norton’s John McGuinness for the 1000cc battle.

He’ll be followed by Quattro JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Hillier with Michael Rutter setting off at number three.

Ian Hutchinson, back on a bike this weekend for the first time, will start fourth for Honda Racing with the Silicone Engineering Kawasaki of Dean Harrison sandwiched between Hutchy and arch rival Dunlop who heads off at his traditional number six for Tyco BMW.

Gary Johnson will set off seventh for Briggs Equipment Kawasaki ahead of the second Tyco BMW of Dan Kneen.

David Johnson, who set off first for Norton in 2017, will start ninth on the Gulf BMW with Peter Hickman resuming the number ten slot that saw him clinch five podium positions last year.

Sole Norton representative Josh Brookes will be away 11^th ahead of Martin Jessopp with Lee Johnston taking on his usual number 13.

 

1 – Conor Cummins (Padgetts Honda)

2 – James Hillier (Quattro JG Speedfit Kawasaki)

3 – Michael Rutter (Bathams BMW)

4 – Ian Hutchinson (Honda Racing)

5 – Dean Harrison (Silicone Engineering Kawasaki)

6 – Michael Dunlop (Tyco BMW)

7 – Gary Johnson (Briggs Equipment Kawasaki)

8 – Dan Kneen (Tyco BMW)

9 – David Johnson (Gulf BMW)

10 – Peter Hickman (Smiths BMW)

11 – Josh Brookes (Norton)

12 – Martin Jessopp (Riders Motorcycles BMW)

13 – Lee Johnston (Honda Racing)

14 – William Dunlop (Temple Golf Yamaha)

15 – Derek Sheils (Penz13 BMW)

16 – Jamie Coward (Penz13 BMW)

17 – Phil Crowe (BMW)

18 – Steve Mercer (Honda Racing) TBC