Aussie ace to make TT debut
Mar 14th 2005, 11:48 am
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Aussie ace to make TT debut
Two time Macau Grand Prix winner, Australian Cameron Donald will make his TT debut this June, riding in the two Supersport events and the Senior Race on board a CBR RR Honda machine.
The 27 year old from Melbourne has a glittering CV achieved during his eight year career in road racing. In four starts at the Macau Grand Prix street race, he has finished on the podium each time, winning twice and beating riders of the calibre of Bruce Anstey and Steve Plater along the way. A regular front runner on the competitive Australian domestic scene, Cameron is one of the few riders to have won an Australian Superbike round outright whilst competing as a privateer. He is also a regular race winner in the Asian Pacific Supersport Championship where he has finished second overall for the past two seasons, and last year he took part in the British Superbike Championship Privateer’s Cup scoring points in all four of the races he took part in.
Having spent time on the Island during last year’s TT, Cameron is fully prepared for the task ahead, and will be travelling to the Isle of Man in early May to spend more time learning the circuit ahead of his debut. He will be backed by RAF Engineer Mick Charnock, himself a leading Manx Grand Prix rider, along with the team infrastructure that has supported Gordon Blackley successfully for many years at the TT.
The news that Cameron Donald will make his debut at the 2005 TT Races comes on top of the news that several other highly regarded riders will debut on the Mountain Circuit this year including German Markus Barth, Scot Les Shand and English duo Gus Scott and Paul Shoesmith.
Speaking about making his TT debut Cameron said:
“I lapped the Mountain Circuit over and over last June in a car, and knew straight away that I wanted to race at the TT. I didn’t think that I would get the chance though, coming from Australia, as the logistics are so hard to overcome, so I must say how thankful I am that Mick Charnock and the TT Organisers have made so much effort to give me the chance to race this year. I intend to spend this year learning the circuit, but I hope to keep on going back, and one day be in with a chance of winning a race around there. That would be a dream come true.”
TT Team and Rider Liaison Officer Paul Phillips added:
“I am delighted that Cameron has agreed to come and race at the TT. From the outset he has been one of the riders that I have been trying hard to bring to the TT, as he has proven ability not only on the short circuits, but also on the roads, as he has proved with his excellent record at Macau. I was delighted that when we made contact with him, he was already desperate to take part, and just needed some help with the logistics of racing in an event held on the other side of the world to where he lives. We have been able to make it possible for him to race here this year, and thanks to Mick Charnock he has a competitive machine and experienced team to help him.”
David Cretney MHK, Minister for the Department of Tourism and Leisure and Chairman of the TT Co-ordinating Committee said:
“We are delighted to be welcoming Cameron Donald to the Isle of Man for TT 2005. Having his name on the entry list is a big boost for the event, and along with the other newcomers who had already shown an interest in this year’s meeting, things are looking very positive for the future of the TT. It looks as though the entry for this year’s races could be the best we have had for many years and the work that our Riders Liaison Officers have been undertaking bodes well for the future of this historic event.”
The 27 year old from Melbourne has a glittering CV achieved during his eight year career in road racing. In four starts at the Macau Grand Prix street race, he has finished on the podium each time, winning twice and beating riders of the calibre of Bruce Anstey and Steve Plater along the way. A regular front runner on the competitive Australian domestic scene, Cameron is one of the few riders to have won an Australian Superbike round outright whilst competing as a privateer. He is also a regular race winner in the Asian Pacific Supersport Championship where he has finished second overall for the past two seasons, and last year he took part in the British Superbike Championship Privateer’s Cup scoring points in all four of the races he took part in.
Having spent time on the Island during last year’s TT, Cameron is fully prepared for the task ahead, and will be travelling to the Isle of Man in early May to spend more time learning the circuit ahead of his debut. He will be backed by RAF Engineer Mick Charnock, himself a leading Manx Grand Prix rider, along with the team infrastructure that has supported Gordon Blackley successfully for many years at the TT.
The news that Cameron Donald will make his debut at the 2005 TT Races comes on top of the news that several other highly regarded riders will debut on the Mountain Circuit this year including German Markus Barth, Scot Les Shand and English duo Gus Scott and Paul Shoesmith.
Speaking about making his TT debut Cameron said:
“I lapped the Mountain Circuit over and over last June in a car, and knew straight away that I wanted to race at the TT. I didn’t think that I would get the chance though, coming from Australia, as the logistics are so hard to overcome, so I must say how thankful I am that Mick Charnock and the TT Organisers have made so much effort to give me the chance to race this year. I intend to spend this year learning the circuit, but I hope to keep on going back, and one day be in with a chance of winning a race around there. That would be a dream come true.”
TT Team and Rider Liaison Officer Paul Phillips added:
“I am delighted that Cameron has agreed to come and race at the TT. From the outset he has been one of the riders that I have been trying hard to bring to the TT, as he has proven ability not only on the short circuits, but also on the roads, as he has proved with his excellent record at Macau. I was delighted that when we made contact with him, he was already desperate to take part, and just needed some help with the logistics of racing in an event held on the other side of the world to where he lives. We have been able to make it possible for him to race here this year, and thanks to Mick Charnock he has a competitive machine and experienced team to help him.”
David Cretney MHK, Minister for the Department of Tourism and Leisure and Chairman of the TT Co-ordinating Committee said:
“We are delighted to be welcoming Cameron Donald to the Isle of Man for TT 2005. Having his name on the entry list is a big boost for the event, and along with the other newcomers who had already shown an interest in this year’s meeting, things are looking very positive for the future of the TT. It looks as though the entry for this year’s races could be the best we have had for many years and the work that our Riders Liaison Officers have been undertaking bodes well for the future of this historic event.”
Mar 14th 2005, 10:11 pm
#2
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 109
Re: Aussie ace to make TT debut
I wonder if he will race at the North West 200 in Portrush before that then.
