Rail plant hire specialist Quattro Group has unveiled its new challenger for this year’s TT races on the Isle of Man in June.
John Murphy of Quattro chose the MCN London Motorcycle Show to introduced both the new bike and its new rider – TT winner John McGuiness who will make his 100th TT start this year and is going for his 24th win.
Pete Extance’s Bournemouth Kawasaki team will carry the Quattro colours again this year. The team’s record of 56 finishes out of 60 starts is testament to the reliability of the bikes Pete and his team put together.
As well as riding on the Isle of Man, McGuiness will be joined by team-mate Alastair Seeley for the North West 200 in Northern Ireland in May. Alastair has already had 24 wins at the event, so the new duo, riding for the team that won with Glenn Irwin last year, will be a force to be reckoned with.
Team principal Pete Extance said: “It’s absolutely incredible news that we can welcome road racing legend John McGuinness onto our Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki machinery. To me, John is Mr TT with his road racing feats elsewhere, at the likes of the North West 200 and Macau Grand Prix, simply superb and what an honour it is to have our Bournemouth Kawasaki dealership associated with him.
“Hopefully, we can put John McGuinness back on the podium at the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 in 2020, the place where we know he belongs. Together with Alastair, we have a simply stunning line up of riders for the International road races and we can’t wait for it all to start.”
John McGuiness is also looking forward to the season. Despite the obvious risks, the 47-year-old still gets a buzz from what he does.
“Road racing’s a different trade,” he explained. “It’s a feeling thing – the dangers are higher, there’s a bit more camaraderie among the riders, a bit more respect for everybody. It’s a bit worrying at times but, when it comes together, it’s really really special.
“You’re pushing all the time, and you’re very very close to the limit, but I’ve always tried to have a little bit in reserve, and I’ve got away with it – I’ve won a lot of races. On the day, if you’ve got to dig a little bit deeper, you dig a bit deeper, but I’ve got the support to make it work.
“Pete’s been in it a long time. I know the hardware is good – the bikes are good, and John Murphy from Quattro is on my wavelength as well – it ticks all the boxes for me.”
The Quattro Kawasaki team has been very successful in past seasons. British Superbike champion in 2018 with Lee Haslam and a 1-2 in the NorthWest 200 last year for Glenn Irwin and James Hillier.
“Bikes suit what we do,” Quattro’s John Murphy explained. “It’s a travelling circus, so all the depots get the chance to partake in it. It’s not just London based – the teams from around the country can all get a feel for the action.
“We’ve changed our approach this year. The Bournemouth Kawasaki team are not involved in British Superbikes so we’ve stayed with them on the road racing and we’re sponsoring the Supersports series in GP2. It’s a bit more for up-and-coming riders rather than the established ones.
“The road racing is good publicity. When Glenn Irwin won last year, we just about ran out of backpacks. Wherever you went in the world, a Quattro backpack or jacket appeared. It’s good for the media.”
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