Roads: Craig Neve joins Bathams Racing for 2023 North West 200 and Isle of Man TT

Craig Neve has signed for Bathams Racing for this year’s North West 200 and Isle of Man TT road racing events.

Neve will ride alongside Michael Rutter on the roads, and will also take part at selected British Championship rounds throughout the year.

The 28-year-old made his Isle of Man debut in 2015 at the Manx Grand Prix before graduating to the TT the following year. During his maiden event, Neve finished 16^th in the Superstock and Lightweight races, improving to 14^th in the Lightweight and Supersport TTs in 2017.

Neve finished last year’s Senior TT race in 11^th as a privateer entry, equalling his result from 2018, and posted a personal best lap of 127.5mph.

“Obviously, I’m very happy to be joining Bathams Racing,” Neve said. “They’re a big team that has a massive amount of experience in all forms of racing, which I can only benefit from. Having someone who has started 80 TT races over a 29-year TT career as my teammate is massive for me, and I can’t wait”

The team will also expand into the Supertwin class with both riders competing on Yamaha R7s, whilst Neve will also race a Triumph Daytona 675R in the Supersport category.

Neve will then swap to a Honda Fireblade in both Superbike and Superstock spec, with Rutter still considering his choice of machinery. In total, there will be seven race bikes in the black and gold of Bathams Racing this season.

“Obviously I still love racing at the TT and Northwest 200, so there was never any chance of me not going this year,” Rutter said. “I also recognise that I’m at a great stage of my career to be able to bring on a young upcoming rider, so along with Bathams Ales we decided that now is a really good time to expand the team.

“We’re all really looking forward to working with Craig and helping him along with his journey, plus it’ll be great to see a pair of black and gold bikes out there at the same time.”

This year’s NW200 takes place May 7-13, whilst the TT will begin on May 29 and finish on June 10.