Quattro Kawasaki’s James Hillier is almost the forgotten man of the Isle of Man TT and isn’t mentioned in the same dispatches as Hutchy, Dunlop and McGuinness but should be after joining the exclusive 132mph club and claiming second in last year’s Senior

The quiet, unassuming Hampshire rider has been competing at the TT since 2008, when he won the Newcomers Trophy, and he now has one win and six podiums to his name. Last year saw him claim second in the Senior, third in the Superbike and a close fourth in the Superstock and second Supersport races; indeed, he finished all six of his races inside the top six, including another podium in the Lightweight race.

“Last year was a good year for me and it’s all about trying to win a big bike race. I’ve done pretty much everything else at the TT except win one, and perhaps that’s why I get overlooked a bit when people are talking about potential race winners. I wouldn’t say it bothers me but it does frustrate me a bit that I don’t always get the recognition I feel I perhaps should. At the end of the day though, I don’t do the TT for those reasons; I do it for myself," Hillier told bikesportnews.com

“I’ve won the Lightweight race, taken podiums in the big bike races and lapped at more than 132mph but my aim is to win a big bike race for sure. I’ve done my apprenticeship and have worked my way up so feel confident that I can do it. I know I can go faster although, of course, saying it is one thing and doing it is another. It might not be this year, it might be next, but I know I can improve and know I can go faster.”

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