Road Racing: Hillier and Johnston sign on for 2019

Two more of Road Racing’s big names have confirmed that they will be returning to the Isle of Man TT, and the other international meetings in 2019.

James Hillier will once again join forces with the Quattro-Plant Kawasaki team. The 33-year old is somewhat of a veteran around the TT course, having been competing there since 2008.

The Hampshire-based rider has a solid pedigree around the mountain course as well – he claimed his first podium finish in 2012, and has secured rostrum finishes in each of the following years. To date he currently has 12 TT podium trophies.

It is not just his run of podium finishes which has made Hillier a big draw at the TT. Since 2011, he has contested a total of 43 races, finishing 41 of them. A true testament to his ability to deal with any mechanical and technical issue that arises across the grueling race distances. Furthermore, he has secured 39 finishes inside the top 10. A truly remarkable achievement.

For 2019 there are genuine aspirations – from both rider and team – to finally secure a TT victory aboard a big bike (Hillier’s one and only TT win was the 2015 Lightweight TT), and Quattro-Plant Kawasaki are giving him fresh tools for the task. Hillier will contest the Superbike and Senior TT races on the all new Kawasaki ZX10-RR, whilst a stock version of the new model will be povided for the Superstock class. In addition to this, Hillier will pilot the all new Kawasaki ZX6-R in the two Supersport races.

Lee Johnston has moved from Honda Racing, and has joined the new Ashcourt Racing Team for the 2019 campaign.

The change of team also means a change of machinery, with Johnston now piloting the new BMW S1000RR in the Superbike and Superstock classes. There is further change in the Supersport class as the 29-year old will be getting to grips with the Yamaha YZF-R6 – the weapon of choice for the category’s front runners for the past few seasons.

Johnston will certainly be up to speed in the 600cc class by the time the International road races begin, having signed on to contest the British Supersport Championship this year for the first time since 2011.

Speaking ahead of the new season, Johnston said: “I’m really looking forward to this year and I’m excited about the team we’ve put together. I’ve done more riding already this year than what I’d done by the time I arrived at the TT last year, and I’m particularly excited about being on the R6 for the two Supersport Races. It’s the class that should suit me the best but, for whatever reason, things have never really clicked at the TT on the 600, so I’m hoping this year will be different.

I’m in the best position I’ve been in for a long time. I think this is the environment and set-up that suits me best and having been successful in the past, I’m aiming to be consistently on the podium in 2019.”