BATHAMS RACING CONTINUE WITH TWO-MAN TEAM
After a successful first outing as a two-rider team in 2023, Bathams Racing will return to the Isle of Man TT Races this year with an unchanged line up in Michael Rutter and Craig Neve.
30 years after his TT debut in 1994, Rutter will contest the RST Superbike and Milwaukee Senior TT Races on board a BMW M 1000 RR, and line up for the first Metzeler Supertwin and second Entire Cover insurance Supertwin Races with his Yamaha R7.
Neve, meanwhile, has deservedly earned a second year with the team after securing career-best results in 2023. The Lincolnshire rider took 11th in last year’s Senior TT on his Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, setting a new personal best lap of 130.863mph in the process and he continues with the same machine at this year’s event.
Neve also remains with the same machinery for the Monster Energy Supersport Races, riding the Triumph Speed Triple 765 RS which gave him 8th and 11th- place finishes last year; the former his first top-10 finish and his best result to date at the TT. Just like the other classes, Neve set a new personal best lap in the middleweight division at an average speed of 125.307mph.
Craig Neve: “Joining Bathams Racing last year was fantastic for me. Having Michael as my team-mate was priceless when it came to getting a good set-up with bikes which, at the time, were brand new to me, and it ultimately helped me crack the 130mph barrier. I’ve already had him on the bike in winter testing to try some more ideas out and both his input and feedback have been brilliant.”
“Last year was difficult at times with the new bike, but it ended on a real high with a couple of 130mph laps, and my first top ten finish at the TT, so sticking with Bathams Racing is a no brainer for me. I’m absolutely buzzing and can’t wait to get going, so hopefully we can pick up from where we left off last year”.
Michael Rutter: “When we expanded the team last year with Craig, we wanted to bring in an up-and-coming rider and help develop them, and that’s exactly what happened. Last year we achieved everything we hoped we would with Craig, so it was an easy decision to carry on that commitment with him as we feel there’s more to come from both him and the bikes.”
“He's had me out testing some ideas that he’s had for his bikes, and I think we’ve found something that’ll help him a lot this year. I must say a huge thanks to our sponsors who share our desire to compete at a high level and develop young riders, so thanks to Bathams Ales, Keltruck, EBC Group, Level, NicWood Logistics, AJN Steelstock and Worcester Presses for continuing with this project.”
