James Hillier bought his own tyres, “bit of a mess”, before Isle of Man TT podium
James Hillier scored Isle of Man TT podium after short-notice reunion wi🎀th old team
James Hillier claimed an Isle of Man TT♚ podium after clawing togౠether a last-gasp entry.
The falling apart of WTF Racing left Hillier without ൩a ride ahead of the TT, until he found a short-notice agreement with his old team, Bournemou🅘th Kawasaki, who had planned not to enter at all.
On Monday, 🌱the first day of racing at the 2025 TT, Hillier completed the podium in the Supersport class behind Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison.
“I was a bit sad after the first race, a bit grumpy, because I didn’t doꦚ as well as𒀰 I could have,” Hillier said.
“🐭It has been stressful, and a bit frustrating, getting here.
“We bough👍t tyres to race here! The job is a bit of a mess.
“That makes it worthwh🎀ile. There are so many people behind the scenes who helped me to get here.
“It’s nice to pay everyone back𓆉 for their efforts and comm❀itment to me.”
Hillier added: “We are close,🦩 I have done so many laps on the [Ninja ZX-6R]. I knew it was in tඣhe ballpark.
“I didn’t have the legs to stay with Michael.
“Once I saw the pitboard and the gap was comfortable, I just rode𝔍 accordingly.
“It was very windy at the 💟top. I thought the bike was slowing down and I had a problem - but it was just heavy wind which slowed me up.
“A pint of Guinness later, I think!
“I’ll sleep well ๊later and we’ll see what the r♏est of the week brings.
“It’s so nice, the last lap,ꦫ with the sun shining and everyone waving.”
Jaꦉmes was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everyt𓆉hing from American sports, to football, to F1.
