|
The race programme for TT 2008 builds on the success of the Centenary event in 2007. The calendar includes an extra Supersport Junior TT, plus the return of the Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight classes, which will be run on the Billown circuit in the south of the Isle of Man.Klaus Klaffenböck and Christian Parzer will be linked this year to the Padgett’s Manx Gas Racing Team. John McGuinness will be their team-mate. This professional road racer has already 13 TT wins and 25 podiums to his credit. In 2007 he achieved two victories, the Superbike TT and the Senior TT, where he made history setting the first ever 130 mph of the TT course. John McGuinness finally set the lap record at 130.354 mph. The Sidecar TT 2008 will be this year’s highlight of international Sidecar racing. The starting field is extremely impressive and the competition will be closer and more exciting than ever before. Klaus Klaffenböck and Christian Parzer who were second fastest in qualifying but with a lot of bad luck in last year’s races are back to attack again. They will compete with world class riders such as:
- Dave Molyneux (with his incredible 13 wins) and his passenger Andy Smith
- Nick Crowe and Mark Cox
John Holden and Andy Winkle
Steve Norbury and Rick Long
Simon Neary and Jamie Winn.
The Austrians are the first Sidecar World Champions ever to take part in the TT. But this year World Champion, Tim Reeves, is also participating. The 35-year old has clinched the world title three times in succession since 2005. Tim Reeve’s passenger will be Patrick Farrance, who has already been competing on the island and gaining numerous top ten results.
Klaus Klaffenböck: “This year’s TT will be much tougher and even more thrilling than the Centenary in 2007. The starting list is really impressing at first glance. This year Molyneux has switched from Honda to Suzuki machinery. In addition to this he also has a new passenger, as Andy Smith will be in his chair. Nick Crowe and Steve Norbury are also riding with new passengers. And they all have to get used to one another first. - Beside this there will be numerous newcomers this year. This may cause some difficulties, especially when you have to lap a slower rider. – It will also be interesting to see how well Tim Reeves will do. In 2004 Christian and I took part in the TT for the first time and finished 19th. Only one year later we achieved position 8. - Our technical equipment this year is even better prepared than it was in 2007. I only hope that our streak of bad luck doesn’t continue. In the second race last year the podium was already in sight - this time we will hopefully be there.”
Klaffi’s Race Calendar 2008
31.05. TT Sidecar Race A
04.06. TT Sidecar Race B05.
06.04. IGM Hockenheim / Germany03.
04.05. IGM Schleiz / Germany
16.-18.05. IDM Oschersleben / Germany
Klaus Klaffenbock & Christian Parzer in their team colours.
|
