V&M Racing countdown to the Isle of Man TT Races.

The V&M Racing Team have arrived in the Isle of Man, where practice for the famous TT races, starts on Saturday 25 May. And with top road racers Jim Moodie and Iain Duffus dialed in following their successes at the recent North West 200, V&M Racing are looking to maintain their position as the most successful team in recent TT history.

The V&M Racing Team have arrived in the Isle of Man, where practice for the famous TT races, starts on Saturday 25 May. And with top road racers Jim Moodie and Iain Duffus dialed in following their successes at the recent North West 200, V&M Racing are looking to maintain their position as the most successful team in recent TT history.

In Moodie and Duffus, V&M Racing have probably the two most experienced TT riders of the present time. Moodie is currently the most successful solo rider competing at this year's event. The flying Scotsman has an enviable record of twelve podium visits including seven TT victories to his credit, since he first raced around the mountain circuit in 1988.

Moodie has started in a total of thirty-six TT races and made history in 1998 when he became the first rider ever to lap at over 120mph on a production bike. The following year he smashed the existing course lap record with a staggering lap of 124.45mph from a standing start, before machine trouble halted him on the second lap while on target to re-write TT history and become the first rider ever to lap below eighteen minutes. He is currently the second fastest rider of all time around the TT course.

After suffering a well-documented disappointing year at the TT in 2000, Moodie is determined to re-establish himself as the man to beat around the 37.73-mile mountain circuit, and he rides in no fewer than five races on the V&M Yamaha's at this year's event. Moodier will contest the F1 and Senior races on the V&M Racing 180bhp R1 Yamaha, and the Junior 600 on his British title winning R6 Yamaha. The Scotsman will also enter standard versions of the machines in the production categories.

"I've a bit of catching up to do after the lean spell in 2000," admitted Moodie. "But I firmly believe I'm on the right bikes with the right team to be in with a good chance of winning at this years event. I want the lap record back and to do that will mean re-writing the record books. I think if the conditions allow we'll definitely see some sub eighteen minute laps at this years TT. I'd like to be the first rider to lap under eighteen minutes that's for sure!"

Team mate Ian Duffus is equally at home on the TT circuit, and since 1985 he has started in no fewer than fifty two TT races, finishing on the podium nine times. He has two victories under his belt, both in the Supersport 600 class, and is the third fastest rider of all time - lapping at 123.87mph around the demanding public roads circuit.

Duffus currently has the distinction of being the fastest rider ever to lap the TT circuit on a production road bike, when he took a standard 1000cc R1 Yamaha round in 18m 39.5s - at a speed of 121.32mph in the 1999 Production event. Like Moodie he will ride V&M Racing R1 Yamaha's in the F1 and Senior and a V&M Racing R6 Yamaha in the Junior 600.

Fresh from his hard fought victory in the North West 200 Superbike race, Duffus is relishing the prospect of returning to the TT after the year out due to the Foot and Mouth crisis. And the he is in confident mood after quickly getting back up to speed and on the pace in Ireland.

"Considering I had no racing miles under my belt this season, before the North West 200, I was over the moon with the result," he said. "I was surprised how quickly I got to grips again with the big V&M R1, but I need a bit more time on the 600 to feel right at home on it. I've got a good feeling about this years TT races, because with the V&M team and bikes we've definitely got a proven package to work with."

Team boss Jack Valentine is certainly excited about his team's chances at the annual TT festival. "We've built quite a reputation over the last few years since David Jefferies ended Honda's domination in the Formula One event in 1999. With Jim and Iain on board, we've got two of the best rider's in TT history. I'm confident we can continue to be the leading team at the TT again this year."

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