Isle of Man-based The People’s Bike team celebrated one of their finest moments in their ten-year history last week when team members Matt Stevenson and Stephen Parsons finished first and second in the Senior Manx Grand Prix.

In just his second year at the Manx GP, 24-year old Stevenson led the Junior race before slipping off at Creg ny Baa on the second lap but more than made amends in Friday’s Senior with a superb victory where he lapped at 120.974mph on his R6 Yamaha.

That final lap of almost 121mph – the ninth quickest lap ever at the Manx GP - saw the Ripon rider overhaul team-mate Parsons after the Cumbrian had taken the lead on the third lap after the pit stops, Stevenson’s eventual winning margin being just 5.1s.

Parsons, meanwhile, was also in only his second year of competition around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course having finished third in the 2017 Newcomers A race after being chosen for the team’s new ‘Rising Star’ project.

Riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R, his week got off to a great start when he took third in the Junior race and although Stevenson pipped him for the Senior race win, the 24-year old’s best lap of 119.983mph gave him his second podium of the week.

The People’s Bike team was formed in 2009 by a group of race enthusiasts all with differing motorsport backgrounds. The concept of the team was to take a newcomer or inexperienced rider to the TT & to provide the support and infrastructure to guide them through the process and the event itself.  

Previous riders at the TT include Steve Mercer, Stephen Thompson, Dan Hegarty, Alan Bonner, Seamus Elliott, Tom Weeden, Paul Jordan and this year Rhys Hardisty & Dave Jackson.

Funding is raised for the team purely from road racing fans with “sponsors” buying an affordable package which provides the funds to cover fuel and tyres at the TT or the Manx GP.  In return they receive a team T-shirt, goodie bag & access to their awning & riders at each event.  They also hold a “sponsors gathering” on Mad Sunday at the TT as a thank you for their support and provide a limited number of startline packages.  

The team has no corporate sponsorship or backing from product sponsors and they run entirely on a crowd funded operation which makes their success at the Manx Grand Prix even more special.  

Potential sponsors can visit their website www.thepeoplesbike.com or follow them on social media whilst potential upcoming riders or anyone wanting more information can contact either Team Owner Mark Cubbon or Janice Thompson at thepeoplesbike@gmail.com