Cycle News Staff | March 20, 2023
Cycle News’ own Rennie Scaysbrook will return to the Isle of Man TT Racing in 2023. Scaysbrook will line up alongside Matthew Rees in a two-man team for the Wilson Craig Racing team.
Cycle News’ own Rennie Scaysbrook plans to race a Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and Milwaukee Senior TT Races at the 2023 IOMTT.
The CN Road Test Editor contested both Supersport TT races last year in his maiden TT run and kept a running video diary of the experience. (Watch all seven 2022 Isle of Man TT Video Diary Series episodes here.) For 2023, Scaysbrook moves up to the 1000cc classes and will ride a Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and Milwaukee Senior TT Races.
Rennie will be joined at the TT by American Chris Sabora, the Texan-based rider on the PRL/Moto-Hub BMW S 1000 RR.
Chris Sabora will be BMW-mounted in 2023.
“It was great to be back at the Isle of Man last year but with the step up to 1000cc, things change a bit,” said Sabora. “I am really looking forward to this year’s TT. I’m aiming to become the fastest American to ever lap the Mountain Course, an honor that has been held by Mark Miller since 2012.”
Here is more information from the official press release from IOMTT/PHIL WAIN…
Rennie Scaysbrook will return to the Isle of Man TT Races in 2023, lining up alongside Matthew Rees in a two-man team for the Wilson Craig Racing team.
The Australian, a TT debutante last year, will move up to the 1000cc classes and to ride a Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock, and Milwaukee Senior TT Races. Rees will also contest the 1000cc classes as well as the Monster Energy Supersport and Supertwin Races for the team.
2019 winner and outright record holder at the famous 12.42-mile Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Scaysbrook made his TT debut last year riding with the PRF Racing team and although qualifying week was fraught with problems, he more than impressed with an average lap speed of over 117mph.
On a perfect summer’s night, ripping across the most famous mountain in motorcycle racing. This is what dreams are made of. Rennie is captured here beautifully by Steve English.
Although unable to quite replicate that speed in the two, shortened Supersport Races, he successfully completed both races with solid 37th and 44th place finishes and a best lap of 116.048mph.
Originally from Sydney but now residing in the USA where he’s Road Test Editor at Cycle News Magazine, Scaysbrook will now add the 1000cc races to his schedule, riding for the team who can count Guy Martin, Cameron Donald and William Dunlop amongst its former riders.
Immediately recognizable in their traditional and familiar red and silver colors, the bikes and team are now in the hands of former racer Darren Gilpin and with Scaysbrook and Rees in the fold for 2023, hopes are high for some strong performances across all of the races.
Photo by iomttpics.com
Rennie Scaysbrook: “I’m really looking forward to getting back to the Island. What started out as an idea to be a journalist-turned-racer at Pikes Peak and the TT has certainly escalated, and it’s fair to say I’ve got the TT bug now! Last year was good for me and I’m pleased with how I rode and how I prepared myself, but there were issues with the bike throughout the two weeks so I feel like I’ve got some unfinished business.
“That being said, moving up from Supersport to Superbike means I’ll pretty much be learning the Course again—new braking markers, new riding style, jumps in places that weren’t jumps on the 600, all that sort of stuff. But it’s exciting, and it’s pretty amazing to already be riding with a team with such a good history, and I have to say a big thanks to Davo [Johnson] for putting in a good word for me with the team!”
Darren Gilpin, Wilson Craig Racing Team Owner: “Rennie’s story is great. He’s clearly a really talented racer given his success at Pikes Peak and how well he did in his debut year despite the issues he had, and so I’m excited to see how we can help him progress this year.
“In Matthew, we’ve got a young but experienced guy who I think we’ve yet to see the best of. I know he’s had his fair share of bike issues, particularly on the 1000cc bikes, over the years, which means we’ve not seen his true potential. We’ll be putting a great set of bikes together for him, preseason testing has been good so far, so we’re excited to get going.”
