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Fri, 28 Apr 2023
Former double Manx Grand Prix winner Michael Evans is gearing up for an assault on all the solo classes at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races as he looks to build on his maiden top ten finish at the event.
The Santon rider took an excellent ninth place in the Supertwin race just shy of 12 months ago and recorded three more top twenty finishes including 19th in the RST Superbike race where he set a personal best lap of the Mountain Course at 125.536mph.
“I was very pleased with how last year went, especially after missing the 2019 event,” Evans explained. “It was almost like starting again and whilst I didn’t really have any expectations, the most important thing was to have a good solid year and give myself a solid platform to build upon.”
“The results were better than I expected, and I think that there’s a lot more speed in me. I’d say I’ve ridden at 60-80% in the two TT campaigns I’ve had but I feel that I’ve done my learning and am ready to move up to the next level.”
2022 was just the second TT outing for the 2017 Senior and Junior Manx Grand Prix winner and he now has a full complement of machinery once more for his third campaign including the recently purchased GSXR1000 Suzuki which he’ll use in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and Milwaukee Senior races.
The 29-year old contested the opening round of the Pirelli National Superstock Championship at Silverstone upon the Suzuki and will also contest round two at Oulton Park and the North West 200 prior to the TT.
“I’m running my own team this year and from a financial perspective, the Suzuki was the best option for me. It’s been a case of ‘so far, so good’ as I lapped a second quicker than I’ve ever gone before at Silverstone and to be battling on track with riders with far more experience was pleasing.”
“The Suzuki might not be the first-choice machine for the majority of the grid, and it may lack a bit of top end, but I think it will make for a very good TT bike and be more user-friendly than some of the other bikes. It handles well and it’s quite small and compact, which should suit me better.”
Evans still holds the outright lap record at the Manx GP at 122.866mph, which he set on the 750cc Bullock Motorsport Suzuki on his way to winning the 2017 Senior and he’s now hoping to continue the progress he’s made in a short space of time at the TT and make a bigger impression in 2023.
“I’m committed to succeeding at the TT so with the right set up and the right package underneath me, I feel I can get closer to 100%. The aim for 2023 is simple – to improve my results and speeds and show my true potential.”
In addition to the Suzuki, Evans has the MSGW Honda for the two Monster Energy Supersport races and the Rea Racing Dyno/ME Racing Aprilia for the Carole Nash Supertwin encounters at his disposal.
“I’m happy to be back on a Honda for the Supersport races; in my eyes, the bike was built specifically for the Mountain Course! The Aprilia will be a bit different as it’s obviously a new bike at the TT and we’re aiming to get the bike as quick as we can whilst maintaining reliability as well. I probably enjoy the 600cc and 1000cc classes more, but the Supertwin races are, realistically, where my best results can be achieved.”
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