With three races of the 2011 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy held so far, the race for the TT Privateers Championship is currently being headed by Ian Mackman, the Cheshire rider having had a brilliant week thus far. With two top ten positions already this week, Mackmanhas 61 points out of a possible 75 and, with a 32-point gap, he’s going to take some stopping.
The battle behind him though is incredibly close with just four points separating six riders. Second at present is Steve Mercer but with no Supersport machine, the Kent rider will be unable to overhaul Mackman so he’ll be looking to secure 2nd overall in the Championship.
He lies in joint second at present with Mark Buckley, a retirement in the Superstock race denting the Scottish rider’s challenge but if he can score heavily in the final two races, and Mackman has a DNF, he’ll be handily placed. Likewise for the consistent Rob Barber who lies just one point further back. John Burrows, a retirement in the Monster Energy Supersport1 race, is in fifth at present on 26 points whilst joint sixth are Ben Wylie and Simon Andrews, the former being the first Privateer home in the Monster Energy Supersport1 race, the only class he’s entered this year. Andrews was the first Privateer to finish in the Royal London 360 Superstock race, the Evesham rider taking a brilliant 11th overall.
Stefano Bonetti, Ian Pattinson and Luis Carreira currently round out the top ten with 26 riders having scored points thus far including newcomers Robert Wilson and Dean Harrison.
Privateers Championship (after 3 races)
1 Ian Mackman 61pts
2 Steve Mercer 29pts
= Mark Buckley 29 pts
4 Rob Barber 28
5 John Burrows 26
6 Ben Wylie 25
= Simon Andrews 25
8 Stefano Bonetti 22
9 Ian Pattinson 21
10 Luis Carreira 20
