NEWCOMERS: A MIX OF EXPERIENCE AND YOUTH FOR TT 2025
With fewer racers finding their names on the entry list, places for newcomers are naturally at a premium. Yet this year’s event boasts another impressive line-up of TT first-timers as more than two-dozen competitors either make their Mountain Course debuts or ‘graduate’ from the Manx Grand Prix.
Emphasising quality over quantity, this year’s roster of newcomers boasts a compelling blend of youthful vigour, formidable speed, and invaluable experience. Navigating the unique challenges of the TT and the Mountain Course, however, demands more than just accolades. Each competitor will benefit from the expert tutelage of TT rider liaison officers, Richard 'Milky' Quayle and John Barton; sidecar TT legend, Dave Molyneux; and frequent podium finisher Lee Cain.
THE NEWCOMERS
Mitch Rees
Mitch Rees hails from a renowned racing family – his father, Tony, has been one of New Zealand’s top superbike riders since the late 1980s. Mitch has dominated his national championships in recent years, riding Honda machinery. Last year he notably triumphed over Peter Hickman and Davey Todd at the Wanganui meeting, held on the legendary Cemetery Circuit. Rees will make his TT debut with the Milenco by Padgett’s motorcycles team, and his preparation for the challenge is solid, also competing in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship and North West 200 for Clive Padgett’s famous squad.
Mitch has dominated his national championships in recent years, riding Honda machinery. Last year he notably triumphed over Peter Hickman and Davey Todd at the Wanganui meeting
Barry Burrell
A fixture in the British Championship paddock for over a decade, Barry Burrell has accumulated 89 starts in the prestigious British Superbike Championship, primarily with Hawk Racing. The County Durham rider has notched nearly a dozen top-10 finishes, including a career-best fourth place, where he was beaten only by Shane Byrne, Josh Brookes, and Michael Laverty. Burrell has also made his mark in the National Superstock Championship and more recently competed in the BMW F 900 R cup, finishing second in 2024 and fourth in 2023.
A fixture in the British Championship paddock for over a decade, Barry Burrell has accumulated 89 starts in the prestigious British Superbike Championship
Steve Kershaw and Rhys Gibbons
Steve Kershaw has established himself as one of the UK’s leading sidecar drivers over the past decade, and follows the example of world championship rivals, Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement, by tackling the Isle of Man TT. A British champion in 2018 and 2020, Kershaw quickly transitioned to the world stage, where he was a consistent front-runner from 2021 to 2023. During this period, he secured six victories and eighteen podium finishes, improving from fourth overall in 2021 to third in both 2022 and 2023. Kershaw is joined on his TT debut by passenger Rhys Gibbons, who achieved a remarkable third-place finish in his own TT debut last year, partnering his uncle, Alan Founds.
Steve Kershaw has established himself as one of the UK’s leading sidecar drivers over the past decade
George Holden and Mark Wilkes
George Holden follows in the footsteps of his father, John Holden, a two-time TT winner with an impressive 22 podium finishes to his name. If George can replicate even half of that success, it would be a remarkable achievement, but for now, the focus remains firmly on learning. That said, George arrives with strong credentials of his own, having finished third overall in both the 2023 and 2024 British championships. Like Kershaw, he’s paired with a highly skilled passenger in Mark Wilkes, who brings a wealth of experience from his years alongside Tim Reeves.
George Holden follows in the footsteps of his father, John Holden
Notable others
Other sidecar pairings contesting the TT for the first time include British Championship regulars, Kieran Clarke and Andrew Johnson; and James Saunders and Sarah Stokoe. Overseas pairings Bruno Mathern and Mathilde Jully; and Steveens Palacoeur and Yann Druel, will also bring an exciting international element to the field.
MGP Graduates
This year more than half a dozen riders will 'graduate' from the Manx Grand Prix to the Isle of Man TT, with the Senior and Junior races at the August event continuing to nurture talent.
Two young Manxmen, Joe Yeardsley and Marcus Simpson, topped the list of graduates in 2024, leaving lasting impressions at the TT. Yeardsley finished among the top dozen on two occasions, while Frenchman Eddy Ferre also made significant strides forward, lapping at over 125mph. Looking to follow their example in 2025 are race winners Victor Lopez and Andrea Majola, who bring an international flair as part of a larger contingent of TT first-timers from the European continent.
Victor Lopez
A mainstay at the Manx Grand Prix since finishing eighth in the 2015 newcomers’ race, Spain’s Victor Lopez was poised to tackle the TT for the first time last year but will now line up in 2025. Skilled on both Supersport and Supertwin machines, Lopez has recorded several top-ten finishes at the Manx grand prix, most notably using the ILR Paton two years ago to win the Junior race. A 120mph+ runner on a 600cc and a 117mph+ rider in the Supertwin class, he is expected to make a strong debut at the TT.
Andrea Majola
Italy’s Andrea Majola made his Manx Grand Prix debut in 2019, primarily competing in the Junior class, where he earned an impressive fourth place on his first attempt. The European Hill Climb Championship regular repeated that result in 2022 and took a narrow second place behind fellow Paton rider Victor Lopez the following year. In 2024 he finally clinched victory, defeating Maurizio Bottalico by almost 16 seconds. The 34-year-old will contest all classes at the TT where his progress will be eagerly watched.
Maurizio Bottalico
San Marino’s Maurizio Bottalico first raced on the mountain course at the 2022 Manx Grand Prix, finishing 12th in the Senior race. He quickly showed his potential by claiming a brilliant third place in the Junior race the following year, whilst also lapping at more than 119mph in practice. Last year Bottalico improved to second in the Junior race behind fellow TT newcomer Andrea Majola. The reigning European Superbike Hill Climb champion looks set to make a strong impression at this year’s TT.
Julien Cregniot
IRRC regular, Julien Cregniot, enjoyed a solid Manx Grand Prix debut in 2023, but made a significant leap forward in 2024 when he joined Team ILR. Under the guidance of team owner and ten-time TT winner Ian Lougher, the Frenchman delivered impressive results, finishing fourth in both the Junior and Senior races whilst lapping at more than 112mph and 116mph, respectively. Continuing with the same team, Cregniot will contest both the Supertwin and Supersport races during his TT debut.
Sam Johnson
Lincolnshire’s Sam Johnson is no stranger to the TT, having competed at the event from 2018 to 2022. His performances during those years, however, did not meet his expectations, so Johnson turned his attention to the Manx Grand Prix instead. It proved to be a wise decision, as he finished third in last year’s Senior and set a personal best lap of almost 117mph. Better prepared for his TT return, Johnson will not only contest the Supersport and Supertwin races – both classes found at the modern Manx, of course – but also the Superstock class.
Notable Others
There’s more Manx Grand Prix talent stepping up in the shape of former professional skier, Gerald Dath, and fellow Frenchman, Lancelot Unissart – winner of Ultralightweight race in 2019. They are joined in the TT ranks by Ireland’s Jacque Foley, who secured two top-ten finishes at the Manx Grand Prix last August.
