SUPERBIKE, SUPERSTOCK AND SENIOR TT RACES – TOP 20

With anticipation and excitement building all the time for this year’s Isle of Man TT Races, that will ramp up today with the top 20 start numbers for the RST X D3O Superbike, RL360/Opul Superstock and Milwaukee Senior TT Races finally being revealed.

For the third time in four years, John McGuinness MBE will lead the field away at number one, the Honda Racing UK rider enjoying a more than profitable 2024 with fifth, sixth and seventh place finishes. In a TT career now spanning almost thirty years, the Superbike TT will be the 23-time winner’s 112th TT start.

Moving up the order to number two this year is David Johnson (Platinum Club Racing Kawasaki), the Australian hoping for a trouble-free campaign in 2025. Next to go is one of the pre-event favourites, Dean Harrison. Starting at number 3, and one of only four riders to lap at more than 135mph, a second successive year with Honda Racing UK should see him closer to the top spot.

He’s followed by regular top six finisher Jamie Coward; the Yorkshire rider has switched to the KTS Racing powered by Stanley Stewart BMW this time around, which he hopes will propel him to a podium finish.

James Hillier will again take the number five spot, before the turn of the most successful rider in TT history, Michael Dunlop. With 29 wins now to his name, he’s speculated to switch to BMW power for 2025 as he aims to repeat his Superbike race win of two years ago.

For the first time in his career, Josh Brookes starts a third successive TT campaign and he’s again at number seven, this time on the Jackson Racing powered by Prosper2 Honda and ten seconds later, it’s Davey Todd’s turn to head down Glencrutchery Road.

Victor in last year’s Superstock and Senior races, Todd will fancy his chances of repeat performances in 2025, now on board the 8TEN Racing BMW, and following him will be another BMW rider, Mike Browne (MLav Racing) seeded in the top ten for the first time.

Starting at number ten, as he has done each year since 2017, will be Peter Hickman (8Ten Racing BMW), winner of seven of the last ten 1000cc races. That form will again make him one of the strong favourites for honours in 2025.

A fourth BMW goes at number 11, the first time Conor Cummins (Burrows Engineering / RK Racing) has ridden for the German manufacturer and there’s another BMW behind him, this time in the hands of 16-time winner Ian Hutchinson on the second MLav Racing machine.

Dominic Herbertson takes number 13 this year and then, at number 14, it’s Craig Neve on the sole Bathams AJN Racing machine in the 1000cc races. Another ‘130 MPH Club’ member will get his race underway next as Rob Hodson (SMT Racing) again takes the number 15 plate.

James Hind (North Lincs Components Honda) is a seeded rider for the first time in the 1000cc races, starting at number 16, with top ten finisher for the last three years, Shaun Anderson, getting his race underway ten seconds later. He’ll again ride the Team Classic Suzuki in the Superbike and Senior races, switching to the KH Hire Honda for the two Superstock encounters.

In a mouth-watering top twenty, the final seeded positions are taken by Phil Crowe (Handtrans / Nigel Appleyard / AgriWash UK BMW), Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles Honda) and Paul Jordan on the second Jackson Racing powered by Propser2 Honda.