Isle of Man TT

Isle of Man, UK

June 8, 2016

Bennetts Lightweight TT Race Results:

1. Ivan Lintin (Kaw 650), 4 laps, Total Race Time 1:16:26.681, Race Average Speed 118.454 mph, Best Lap Time 18:53.731, Best Average Lap Speed 119.806 mph

2. James Hillier (Kaw 650), 1:16:39.153, 118.133 mph

3. Martin Jessopp (Kaw 650), 1:18:23.536, 115.511 mph

4. Gary Johnson (unknown), 1:18:25.920, 115.453 mph

5. Stefano Bonetti (Paton), 1:18:30.782, 115.334 mph

6. Daniel Cooper (Kaw 650), 1:19:06.561, 114.464 mph

7. Jamie Coward (Kaw 650), 1:19:37.988, 113.711 mph

8. Colin Stephenson (Kaw 650), 1:20:24.695, 112.611 mph

9. Bjorn Gunnersson (Kaw 650), 1:20:25.519, 112.591 mph

10. James Cowton (Kaw 650), 1:20:30.711, 112.470 mph

27. Darren James (Kaw 650), 1:25:28.770, 105.934 mph

Mark Miller (Kaw 650), DNF

More, from a press release issued by Isle of Man TT Press Office:

IVAN LINTIN CLINCHES SECOND BENNETTS LIGHTWEIGHT TT WIN

Ivan Lintin won the four-lap Bennetts Lightweight TT race at the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy on Wednesday evening, the second year in a row for both him and Devitt RC Express Racing – and third in total for the team – as he came home 12.4s ahead of James Hillier. Yeovil’s Martin Jessopp, on the Riders Motorcycles Kawasaki claimed third for his maiden TT podium.

Morning mist had seen the race pushed back to a 6.30pm start and at Glen Helen on the opening lap, it was Lintin who led but it was close with his advantage over Hillier just 0.33s while Michael Rutter was only a further tenth of a second back in third. Italian Stefano Bonetti jumped up the order into fourth on the Paton with Daniel Cooper and Gary Johnson rounding out the top six but Danny Webb and Mark Miller were already reported to be out on the opening lap.

By Ramsey, there was a change at the front of the field with Hillier in the lead from Lintin with Rutter still in third and with an opening lap speed of 118.864mph, it was the Quattro Plant Muc-Off Kawasaki rider who led at the end of the first lap. Lintin was now 2.1s adrift in second with Johnson, Bonetti, Martin Jessopp and Cooper completing the top six with Rutter having retired at Brandywell.

The difference between Hillier and Lintin remained negligible throughout the second lap with the margin varying between the timing points. Indeed, Lintin had reduced the gap to 1.1s at Ramsey Hairpin and as they came into their pit stop at the end of the second lap, just 1.4s separated the pair but Lintin was now the new race leader. Johnson was still holding onto third ahead of Jessopp, Bonetti and Cooper.

A quicker pit stop by the Devitt RC Express Racing team gave Lintin some breathing space and by Glen Helen on the third lap, his lead over Hillier had gone out to 8.2s. Jessopp’s pit crew also put in a rapid turn around and he moved into third ahead of Johnson.

At the head of the field, the gap between Lintin and Hillier now remained constant and the race was all about these two as Jessopp, although now in third, was over a minute back. Italian Bonetti on the Paton regained fourth with Johnson dropping to fifth although with a healthy gap over sixth placed Cooper.

Lintin was pressing on ahead though and, riding to his signals, he wasn’t to be denied his second successive win in the class, also making it three in a row for the team after Dean Harrison’s triumph in 2014. Lintin’s win also made him the first man to win the Lightweight race more than once since it was re-introduced in 2012.

Hillier was secure in second but the battle for third went all the way to the chequered flag and it eventually went the way of Jessopp by just over two seconds from Johnson with Bonetti and Cooper rounding out the top six.

Jamie Coward, Colin Stephenson, Bjorn Gunnarsson, and James Cowton completed the top ten.

More, from a press release issued by Devitt RC Express Racing:

Lightning Lintin takes second successive TT win

Ivan Lintin and the Devitt RC Express Racing team took their second successive win at the Isle of Man TT races on Wednesday evening with the Lincolnshire ace taking the Lightweight race by over 12 seconds from regular sparring partner James Hillier. It was the third win in the class for the team after Dean Harrison’s triumph in 2014.

The Lightweight race got underway at 6.30pm with the island again bathed in sunshine and Ivan grabbed the lead at Glen Helen on the opening lap although his lead over James Hillier was just 0.33s. By Ramsey, the gap had moved to 1.4s but it was now Hillier in the lead with Ivan in second and that was how it stayed at the end of the lap, with Ivan lapping at 118.645mph to lie 2.1s adrift.

Second time around, the deficit ebbed and flowed between the timing points around the 37 and ¾-mile course and as the riders pitted for fuel at half race distance, the difference between the two riders was only 1.4s but a second lap speed of 119.806mph, the fastest lap of the race, now gave Ivan the lead.

With another superb pit stop by the team, Ivan now had some breathing space and as he swept through Glen Helen on his third lap, he now led Hillier by a more comfortable 8.2s. His lead remained constant throughout the third lap and as he started his fourth and final lap, his advantage had stretched to in excess of eleven seconds. And riding to his signals, he was able to maintain the gap for another brilliant TT win.

Ivan’s day had started with the second Supersport race which was delayed by a couple of hours due to mist on parts of the island. Having retired from Monday’s corresponding race, it was a steady start for Ivan but an opening lap of 122.135mph saw him comfortably running inside the top 15. and with two 123mph+ laps on the second and fourth laps, he was able to move up to a fine 13th place for yet another silver replica.

Ivan Lintin: “I’m naturally over the moon to have taken my second TT win. I was getting good pit boards so I knew I was in the mix in the first two laps and the team did a fantastic job in the pits to extend the lead. When I saw ‘P1, +8s’ on my board, I could breathe a bit although I did make a few mistakes, running wide in a couple of places, so I had to get a hold of myself. There were a couple of yellow flags in places so had to slow down but other than that, the race was perfect and I’m delighted.”

“I had a good run in the 600cc race earlier in the day and the engine only went in at about 10pm the night before so we were a little bit in the unknown. As a result, it took me a couple of laps to get going but when Jamie Coward came past he was on a similar bike and with the two us riding to a similar standard, I was able to sit behind him. With a couple of 123mph+ laps and no speeding penalties this time (!), I was happy with 13th.”

Ben Constable, Team Co-owner: “We came here to win the Lightweight race and that’s exactly what we’ve done! Ivan had started to claw back James’ lead before the pit stop but the boys in the pit were absolutely awesome and going out with a greater margin made Ivan’s job that little bit easier. He could manage the race after that and his race craft was mega whilst a massive, massive pat on the back has to go to Adam Nowell who built the bike and did everything he could to help Ivan win.”

“We were happy with the earlier 600cc race and the boys did a great job in working late on Tuesday evening to get the bike ready for the race. Having missed out on two laps on Monday we were on the back foot a bit and although the Supersport class has been our nemesis this week, Ivan kept chipping away and got quicker and quicker so we were pleased with the end result.”

The team are back in action on Friday with both Ivan and Alan Bonner contesting the 6-lap Senior race.