Dan Kneen switches to Suzuki machines and aims high at 2012 Isle of Man TT Races

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Leading Isle of Man TT rider Dan Kneen is aiming high for 2012 and has switched to Suzuki power in all classes as he and the Marks Bloom Racing team launch an assault on the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy, the other International road races and the Metzeler National 1000cc Superstock Championship.

The 24-year old will campaign both GSXR1000 and GSXR600 Suzuki machines during the season and will receive technical support from TAS Racing as he bids for glory on both the short circuits and the roads. He’s no stranger to the GSXR having ridden both a K7 and K9 Superstock bike in previous years but it will be his first time on the 600cc version, having enjoyed success during the last four seasons on an R6 Yamaha.

Since becoming the first rider to win a hat-trick at the Manx Grand Prix, a feat he achieved in 2008, Kneen’s credentials have gone from strength to strength. On the roads the Braddan rider has become a regular fixture in the top ten at the Isle of Man TT with a best result to date of 5th in the 2010 Supersport A race, as well as doing similar at the North West 200 and Ulster GP becoming the fastest newcomer in history at the latter when he lapped at over 129mph in 2010.

It will be the 4th consecutive season that Marks Bloom, Chartered Accountants and Insolvency Practitioners in Kingston upon Thames, has supplied machinery for Kneen and other major sponsors of the team in 2012 include WEMOTO, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of on-line motorcycle parts, Slick Performance and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Speaking about the season ahead, Kneen said:

“It’s great to have everything all in place so early and I can’t wait for the new season to start. Having new machinery is a terrific boost to all of us and we should be able to raise our game considerably. I’ve ridden Suzukis before and gone well and receiving technical support from the TAS Racing team will only strengthen our cause.”

“I want to go quicker at the TT and improve my results so I’ve been doing more homework on the course and concentrating on learning it a bit more. I’ve done good lap times so far but it was a bit of a struggle on the big bike last year and I had to roll off in places so there’s definite time to be gained. I’ve had my best results in the 600cc class but I was a bit unlucky last year as I was running 4th in the first race before it got stopped and 3rd in the second before the same thing happened but these things happen. It will be nice to be on a new 600 machine and if I could get a podium, that would be superb.”

Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager, Isle of Man Government commented:

“Dan is definitely one of the up and coming riders at the TT and it’s great to have another high profile Manxman along with Conor for the locals to support. He’s building his performances well and isn’t that far away from a podium place which could even come this year.”