Midlands based Davies Motorsport will again launch a two-pronged attack on the 2016 Classic TT presented by Bennetts, as they field William Dunlop and Alan Oversby for the fourth year running. Riding the team’s Honda machines, the duo will contest both the Bennetts Senior and Okells Junior Classic TT Races.
The team has been a mainstay of the Classic TT since the inaugural event of 2013 with highlights including Dunlop’s second place in the 2013 Bennetts 500cc Classic TT, where he lapped at an excellent 109.401mph, and Oversby’s runner up place in the Okells 350cc Classic TT in 2014.
The Bolton le Sands rider led in the early stages and lapped at an impressive 104.140mph before having to settle for second behind eventual race winner Lee Johnston. Dunlop, meanwhile, was lying in third until he was forced to retire at Douglas Road Corner on the final lap. Oversby has also lapped in excess of 109mph in the 500cc category.
Last year saw the duo out of luck in both races though with Dunlop retiring on the opening lap of both the Bennetts 500cc and Okells 350cc Races. Oversby also went out of the 350cc Race on the first lap before retiring from the 500cc Race on the third lap while holding onto seventh.
However, both the team and riders have tremendous pedigree around the Mountain Course and are sure to be amongst the race favourites for the two four-lap races where they will be keen to make up for last year’s disappointments.
The Burton upon Trent team have been leading protagonists of the Classic racing scene for more than a decade and is headed up by John Davies, who sponsored numerous riders in the 1980s and 90s including Alex Bedford, Kevin Mitchell, Neil Hodgson and Steven Thompson. Davies was a regular competitor at the Manx Grand Prix between 1978 and 2006, with his best finishes being second in the 1978 Senior Newcomers Race and a brace of fourths in the 1986 and 1987 Lightweight 250cc Races.
Specialising in Honda machinery, nephew Colin Davies handles all the technical aspects for the team and he too has a wealth of experience at all levels including numerous years as technician to Kevin Schwantz at Lucky Strike Suzuki where together they won the 1993 500cc World Championship. He’s currently working for the Halsall Racing/Bennetts British Superbike Championship team.
Team Owner John Davies commented:
“The Classic TT has become the highlight of the year for classic racing now and we are committed to challenging for success in both the races we are taking part in. We have two of the very best riders you can get for classic racing machines in William Dunlop and Alan Oversby and we believe that our machines are a match for anything else out there.”
Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available for Friday’s final qualifying session priced at £5. All prior qualifying sessions are free for the main Grandstand. There are also race day tickets available for both Classic TT race days on Saturday 27th and Monday 29th as well as VIP and Platinum hospitality tickets. To purchase tickets go to iomtt.com or phone Duke Marketing on (00 44) 1624 640011.
