James Hillier switches to OMG Racing for 2020 road racing campaign

OMG Racing have revealed that James Hillier will join the team for their maiden road racing campaign. 

The British Superbike team are entering the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 for the first time in 2020. Hillier will line-up alongside David Johnson following his departure from Bournemouth Kawasaki after a decade.

OMG Racing’s journey to the roads

• OMG Racing reveal 2020 road racing plans
• David Johnson joins OMG Racing

“I’m really looking forward to a new chapter in my career for 2020,” Hillier said. Making the decision to leave Bournemouth Kawasaki, after a really great 10-year relationship, wasn’t one I took lightly. There are lots of challenges involved in moving teams and starting new relationships. I’ve had an affinity with Kawasaki for 14 years now and switching machines throws up its own challenges, but I’m really excited by it all. 

“OMG Racing are putting together a strong package around me. I’ll be working with a crew chief I know, and very closely with the team to develop the bike. With any kind of motorsport, knowing when to make changes is pivotal to success.  It’s definitely the right time for me to make this move I can’t wait to get started.”

Hillier has 14 TT podiums, taking victory in the 2013 Lightweight race. At the 2019 NW200 he was named as ‘man of the meeting’ after winning the Superstock race. Hillier also finished on the podium in the Superbike and Superstock classes.

During his 10 seasons with Bournemouth Kawasaki, Hillier took part in 53 races at the TT. Hillier finished inside the top 10 on 44 occasions and inside the top five in 28 races. He only failed to finish on four occasions. 

Team Principal, Paul Curran, said: “It’s fantastic to be working with James for the 2020 roads season. He brings a huge amount of experience and consistency to our team, as well as race-winning talent. He’s one of the names fans always look for on the live timing, which shows he knows where the sharp end is.

“The BMW S1000RR presents him with a new challenge as well. We’ve seen it’s a capable bike with the results from this year’s TT, so with James on-board we’re seriously looking for podium finishes.”

Hillier and Johnson will ride the BMW S1000RR in the Superbike and Superstock classes. In the Supersport class they will use the Yamaha R6. 

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David Johnson joins OMG Racing for 2020 roads campaign

First published: 10:33am 19 December 2019 by Josh Close

David Johnson has joined OMG Racing for their maiden road racing campaign.

The British Superbike team revealed yesterday that they would be participating at the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 for the first time in 2020. 

Johnson made his TT debut in 2010 and was the fastest newcomer that year with a 123.838mph lap. After narrowly missing out on the podium on several occasions, the Australian finally clinched his first TT podium in this year’s Superstock race.

“I’m extremely happy to sign for OMG Racing for the 2020 roads season,” Johnson said. “They are an amazing bunch of people who are dedicated to their racing and put their riders front and centre.

“Having Billy McConnell and Luke Mossey amongst my teammates is awesome, there’ll definitely be some good times to share within the team across the roads and BSB. The bikes will be top notch too, they’re a no holds barred team when it comes to assembling the best bits of machinery and I’m sure that they’ll be able to deliver a bike capable of winning.”

Johnson brings plenty of road racing experience with him to the team. In total he has secured 17 TT top 10 finishes and took victory in the Superbike race at this year’s Classic TT. Johnson also finished third in year’s Macau GP for PBM. 

“I’m delighted to welcome Davo to the team for 2020,” said team principal Paul Curran. “He’s a rider we have very strong links to through Billy McConnell and he’s just a great guy to work with, super friendly and knows how he wants the bike setting up.

“He suits the team atmosphere, which is a big positive. As a team we’ve always had a very relaxed approach to racing and given maximum flexibility to our riders to setup a bike exactly how they’d like. Given Davo’s success last year, we’re confident he can be up there challenging for podiums in both classes and really put us on the road racing map as a team!”

OMG Racing will use the BMW S1000RR in the Superbike and Superstock classes, and the Yamaha R6 in the Supersport class.

The team will reveal their second road racing rider tomorrow morning (December 20).

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OMG Racing announce Isle of Man TT and North West 200 plans

First published: 10:52am 18 December 2019 by Josh Close

OMG Racing will enter the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 for the first time in 2020.

The British Superbike team have revealed plans for their inaugural roads campaign, with rider announcements planned before the end of the week. The team will use the BMW S1000RR in the Superbike and Superstock classes, and the Yamaha R6 in the Supersport class.

“This is obviously a huge announcement as we prepare to take on our first ever roads season as a team, said team principal Paul Curran. “Road racing is something which has been on our radar for a while now but was a big investment in terms of time and resources, the team ownership agreed that it was something we couldn’t pass up on though – so it became a case of assembling a team capable of winning.”

OMG Racing only joined the BSB grid in 2018 but have made significant progress in a short period of time. The team won their first BSB race last season, with Josh Elliot taking victory at Silverstone. For the 2020 BSB season the team have switched from Suzuki to BMW and will field Luke Mossey and former MotoGP rider Hector Barbera.

“We have some vastly experienced people coming on-board to help us develop behind the scenes, and on the bikes themselves – some household TT names – which we’ll be announcing over the coming days. 

“We’re not competing just for the fun of it, we’re racing to win and to shake up the road racing competitions as we have done on the circuits,” Curran added.

The first rider announcement for OMG Racing’s roads campaign is scheduled to be made tomorrow morning (December 19) at 10am. 

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