TT 2017: Cummins in Padgetts Honda deal

Manx rider Conor Cummins has signed for the Padgetts Honda team for 2017, joining Kiwi Bruce Anstey in the Batley-based squad.

The announcement was made at the TT launch on Thursday and Cummins will ride a CBR1000RR Fireblade in the Superbike, Superstock and Senior races at the Isle of Man TT, plus a CBR600RR in the Supersport races.

After splitting from Jackson Racing, the Ramsey man linked up with the Padgetts team at the TT last year in a last-minute deal to contest the Superstock and Supersport races, finishing fourth in the first Supersport race and seventh in the Superstock and second Supersport races. He also posted new personal best laps in both classes, lapping at 126.620mph and 129.739mph on the Supersport and Superstock machines respectively.

Cummins, who also rode for Padgetts at the Ulster Grand Prix and Classic TT, has been part of the official Honda Racing team for the past three years but was replaced this season by the returning Guy Martin.

This year will be Cummins' 12th year of competing in his home event. He has started with the number 10 plate for the past eight years but Cummins has moved to number seven this year and will set off 10 seconds behind Bennetts Suzuki's Michael Dunlop, while new Honda signing Martin will leave Glencrutchery Road 10 seconds behind Cummins at number eight.

"What Clive Padgett and the team don't know about racing on the Isle of Man isn't worth knowing," said Cummins. "He's assembled a great group around him and I really enjoyed racing with the team last year - it just felt right. I'm looking forward to representing the team in all of this year's races and I'm looking forward to repaying Clive's faith in me."

Team boss Clive Padgett said he was delighted to continue working with Cummins in 2017 and revealed the door is open for any potential title sponsors to back the team after Valvoline brought its association with the family-run outfit to an end.

"Conor's a very talented rider and a great lad and we are proud to have him representing our motorcycle shop and the team but we'd be happy to share the limelight with a headline sponsor if a company is interested in coming on board and joining us," he said.

"Conor's had some great results already at the TT and what I particularly like about how he races is his focus and commitment. He's a great fit for the team. We've already made a good start with him last year and it's good to have him with us full time."

Meanwhile, Anstey will again ride the Padgetts Honda RC213V-S MotoGP-based machine on the roads as he enters his seventh year with the team.