Supertwin TT seeds announced!
This is the starting order for the top 20 riders in this year’s two Supertwin TTs
You might have heard, but Entire Cover is the official insurance partner of the legendary Isle of Man TT races. This means we’re able to bring you some great exclusive content and money-can’t-buy experiences. And we’re also sponsors of one of the two thrilling Supertwin TT races!
The three-lap Entire Cover Insurance Supertwin TT Race is set to charge off down the famous Glencrutchery Road at 2pm on Friday 7 June and the 20 seeded riders for the race have now been announced.
As with all TT races, the 20 seeded riders have fixed starting positions, heading off at 10 second intervals. Non-seeded riders depart from position 21 onwards, going off in order of their qualifying times – with the fastest riders first.
The winner of last year’s two Supertwin TTs, the titanic duo of Michael Dunlop and Peter Hickman, both return on the same bikes which took them to glory in 2023. Dunlop, who could surpass his uncle Joey Dunlop’s record of 26 TT wins to become the most successful Isle of Man racer of all-time, is reunited with the Paton S1-R on which he holds the Supertwin lap record (a staggering average of 122.750mph, since you ask), while Hicky will compete on his Yamaha R7. Prepared by his own PHR Performance company, the Yamaha should be even faster in its second TT campaign.
The Supertwin races are packed with talent. Northern Irishman Paul Jordan, a podium finisher in this race in 2022, leads off the field from Yorkshireman Jamie Coward – the popular privateer being another past Supertwin podium finisher.
Frenchman Pierre-Yves Bian was a sensational runner-up in last year’s corresponding race and heads off third on his Paton, ahead of veteran former TT winner Michael Rutter on his Yamaha R7.
Rob Hodson is next up and another Paton runner, with Dunlop taking his traditional spot at number six.
Former British superbike champion Josh Brookes is another high profile Supertwin seed. The Australian was third behind Hickman and Bian in last year’s race and will be team mate to Jordan on a Rev2Race prepared Yamaha, heading off in seventh.
The ever-popular Davey Todd starts eighth in search of a first podium finish around the unique 37.73-mile Mountain course, with another fan favourite in Dominic Herbertson a further 10 seconds behind. Hickman occupies his traditional 10th starting slot, while the bottom half of the seeded draw is also packed with talent.
Gary Johnson in 11th is a two-time TT winner, with Supertwin specialist Stefano Bonetti 12th and Lee Johnston running his usual number 13. Johnston is the only Aprilia rider listed among the seeds, with the former Supersport TT winner hoping to be recovered from a broken leg in time to take part in TT 2024.
Mike Browne came agonisingly close to winning the race last year, only to break down while leading. He’ll be 14th away, although the Irishman has yet to confirm his team or motorcycle. Victor Lopez is another who has yet to declare his equipment. The Spanish rider is seeded 15th for the race despite making his TT debut, although he has plenty of Mountain course experience as a Manx Grand Prix winner.
Manxmen Joe Yeardsley and Michael Evans are also seeded for the race, heading off 16th and 20th respectively, sandwiching English riders Joey Thompson, Baz Furber and Jim Hind, who take slots 17, 18 and 19 between them.
The complete top 20 for the three-lap Metzeler Supertwin TT Race 1 and Entire Cover Insurance Supertwin TT Race 2 at the 2024 Isle of Man TT Races is:
| Rider | Country | Sponsor | Bike | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Jordan |  | Stop & Seal/ Rev2Race | Yamaha R7 |
| 2 | Jamie Coward |  | KTS Racing powered by Steadplan | Kawasaki Z650 |
| 3 | Pierre-Yves Bian |  | VAS Engine | Paton S1-R |
| 4 | Michael Rutter | | Bathams Ales | Yamaha R7 |
| 5 | Rob Hodson | | SMT Racing | Paton S1-R |
| 6 | Michael Dunlop | | MD Racing | Paton S1-R |
| 7 | Josh Brookes |  | Stop & Seal/ Rev2Race | Yamaha R7 |
| 8 | Davey Todd | | Dafabet Racing | Kawasaki Z650 |
| 9 | Dominic Herbertson | | Burrows Engineering by RK Racing | Paton S1-R |
| 10 | Peter Hickman | | PHR Performance | Yamaha R7 |
| 11 | Gary Johnson | | Dafabet Racing | Kawasaki Z650 |
| 12 | Stefano Bonetti |  | VAS Engine | Paton S1-R |
| 13 | Lee Johnston | | Ashcourt Racing | Aprilia RS 660 |
| 14 | Mike Browne |  | TBC | TBC |
| 15 | Victor Lopez |  | TBC | TBC |
| 16 | Joe Yeardsley |  | Team ILR by Frog Vehicle Developments | Paton S1-R |
| 17 | Joey Thompson | | TBC | TBC |
| 18 | Barry Furber | | DC Autos Newton | Yamaha R7 |
| 19 | James Hind | | TBC | TBC |
| 20 | Michael Evans | | Golden Site Solutions Ltd. | Kawasaki Z650 |
What is the Supertwin class?
As the name suggests, the Supertwin TT races utilises two-cylinder racing bikes based around heavily modified production motorcycles.
The exotic Paton S1-R has been the most successful machine in the history of the class. The Italian bike uses a 650cc Kawasaki engine in a bespoke racing chassis and it faces competition from the Aprilia RS 660, Yamaha R7 and Kawasaki’s own Z650/Ninja 650. The bikes are light, heavily tuned and very fast! The best bikes have a power output approaching 100bhp, giving them a top speed of nearly 160mph and the ability to lap the TT course at an average of over 122mph – taking 18 minutes and 26 seconds to go around the 37.73-mile pure road course.
There are two Supertwin races at TT 2024. After a week of practice, the Metzeler Supertwin TT Race 1 is scheduled for 2pm on Tuesday 4 June, with the Entire Cover Insurance Supertwin TT Race 2 heading off three days later.