TT 2017: Johnson to run new Suzuki in own team

Double Supersport TT race winner Gary Johnson will run his own team at the 2017 Isle of Man TT, when he will ride the new Suzuki GSX-R1000R in the 1000cc classes.

Johnson will also ride Triumph machinery in the Supersport class after purchasing the 675cc bikes ridden by Lee Johnston for East Coast Racing in 2016.

"I'm feeling as strong as I've felt over the last few years and although it's a massive undertaking to run my own team, I'm really focused on the job ahead and determined to make my mark this year," Johnson said.

"I've got a great bunch of lads supporting me and I'm looking forward to giving it a good go this year."

A front-runner now for a decade, Johnson took victory in the opening Monster Energy Supersport race in 2014 when riding for the Smiths Racing Triumph team which added to his win in the second 600cc encounter in 2011.

The 36-year old, who made his Mountain Course debut in 2007, has four more podiums to his name, the most recent of which came in the first Supersport race in 2015 on the Mar-Train Yamaha. He also stood on the podium in the 2009 Senior TT, 2011 Superbike TT and the 2014 Superstock race.

Johnson finished fourth in the Lightweight race last year and fifth in the Superstock race. The Lincolnshire rider also set his fastest TT lap of 130.945mph on the Penz13.com BMW in the Senior, which makes him the 12th fastest rider of all time around the Mountain Course.

Johnson will again ride in the Lightweight race for the WK Bikes CF Moto team.

"I'm back again with the team at WK Bikes and considering all the exciting developments of the new generation WK650 bike, I can't wait to see what it's like on the track," Johnson said.

"I've ridden the last version for three years now and with all the hard work the WK team have put into developing the new generation WK650, I'm optimistic that we can better last year's result and I'll know more when we get testing on track in the next few weeks."