Crendon Suzuki by Hawk Racing's Shaun Anderson opened his account at this year's Isle of Man TT with a ninth place finish in today's RST Superbike race.
It's the first year Anderson and Hawk Racing have joined forces for the TT. After a productive practice week that saw Anderson record a best lap of 126.99mph, he immediately improved to 127.96mph on the opening lap of today's race. Adjustments to Anderson's fleet of GSX-Rs helped him build his speed and end with a flying opener.
From there he remained consistent, lapping in the high 127s while the team delivered slick pit stops to help him climb into the top-10 on the time sheets. With a 127.86mph last lap he took the chequered flag in ninth place.
Anderson said, "To come away with a top-10, in that class, with a new bike and team, and with the pedigree of riders out there, I've got to be happy. It's been a real education for me on the superbike. We were making changes all through practice week and made steady progress, and the team has worked so hard to put a good package together, and today it was another valuable six laps' worth of data. We were consistent rather than outright fast but we haven't seen lap records tumble and I don't think the track has the pace in it compared with previous years. But there's a lot more potential in me and the bike, and hopefully we can keep chipping away."
Racing continues on Monday, with Anderson and the team in action in the four-lap Superstock TT. Racing concludes with the six-lap Senior TT on Friday 10 June.
Anderson added, "We've not been far away on the stocker. It's obviously a lot closer to the Suzukis I've run myself in the past, so I felt comfortable pretty much right away. There was a lot less learning to do and I think we can have a good race on Monday. A lot of the focus has been on the superbike with another race on Friday. We'll look at the data from today and we'll get a couple of laps in in the evenings this week to improve. But tonight I'll be going to bed happy."