The stand-off between Isle of Man TT organisers and the Milwaukee Yamaha race team hoping to field multiple TT winner Ian Hutchinson, pictured, and star rookie Josh Brooks in this year’s event is over, after Yamaha Motor UK brokered a compromise last-minute deal.
This dispute centred on the TT Clerk of the Course refusing to let Milwaukee Yamaha team owner Shaun Muir Racing (SMR) run non-standard electronic ignition. Not only did it threaten to exclude Hutchinson and Brooks from the start-line but continuation of Yamaha’s Official TT Partner status was also thrown into doubt. Yamaha has provided a fleet of bikes for use by travelling marshals for some years. However, a resolution has now been achieved.
Yamaha general manager for sales and marketing Adam Kelley explained: “Despite the well-publicised feelings of both the team and its title sponsor towards the changes in the technical regulations for the Superbike class at the this year’s TT, Yamaha UK has instigated very close discussions with both partners and therefore we are very pleased to announce that SMR will race at this year’s TT with the full support of Milwaukee UK and Yamaha.”