HILLIER REIGNITES BOURNEMOUTH KAWASAKI PARTNERSHIP FOR 2025 SUPERSPORT TT

James Hillier will ride for Bournemouth Kawasaki at the 2025 Isle of Man TT Races, contesting the two Monster Energy Supersport races on a Kawasaki ZX-6R.

The news sees Hillier continue his long relationship with the team owner, Pete Extance, who quickly agreed to supply the 40-year-old with machinery after his previous team withdrew.

Hillier previously enjoyed a long relationship with Extance and Bournemouth Kawasaki having ridden with them from 2010 to 2019. During that time, he racked up an impressive 14 podium finishes, one of those being victory in the 2014 Lightweight Race.

Further podium finishes came in the Superbike, Senior, Supersport and Superstock TT races, further highlighting Hillier’s versatility, whilst there were several near misses - indeed, Hillier finished fourth on no less than eight occasions during the 2010’s.

The duo reunited for last year’s Monster Energy Supersport races, running the Kawasaki ZX-6R in 30th anniversary livery. Hillier took fourth and sixth in the two races with a best lap of 127.745mph and having already achieved five podiums in the class, he’s now well placed to add to that tally.

“Pete was obviously one of the first people I contacted when I found myself without a ride and it was very simple to arrange a deal for the Supersport class, said Hillier.

“My old crew chief, Phil Biggs, will again look after the ZX-6R but I’m not afraid of work and if I had to work out the back of the van at the TT and sleep in it overnight, I’d do it – it’s simply a case of putting the big boy pants on and getting on with it!”

Pete Extance, Team Owner added: “We are so pleased to be returning to the TT again in 2025 with James. Once we got news of the situation James found himself in, we were only too happy to try and help. Luckily, we are in a position with the bike from 2024 to be able to help even at short notice. We really feel this year we can step back on the podium after being so close last year."