Lee Johnston’s sixth place finish in the second Supersport race was his best finish in an often frustrating week at the TT Races in the Isle of Man. Lee was hoping for a podium finish or even a debut TT victory, but after his preparations were disrupted by injury the Maguiresbridge rider recorded a sixth, seventh, eighth and tenth place finishes in the four races he finished.
A year ago Lee twice climbed the podium at the iconic venue but the after effects of his crash in Scarborough earlier this year hampered his chances of improving on that success. It looked as though he may mount a podium challenge in the Superstock race when he was threateningly placed in fourth, but his bike suffered a mechanical failure to put him out of the running. An early tenth place in the Superbike race was followed by seventh in the Superbike event. The Supersport race on the penultimate day yielded his best finish, and he completed his week with eighth in the blue riband Senior TT race, which included an opening two laps of 130.371mph and 130.073mph to post his strongest consecutive laps on East Coast Racing BMW machinery this TT.
“The Senior is the big race of the week and the opening two laps of six were really pleasing with 130mph standing start and flying laps,” he said. “I would have liked a little more from myself in the final couple of laps but 8th in the Senior TT is not a shabby result. In Supersport race one we had a small issue and put in a strong effort to finish 7th. The goal is always to ride stronger in the second half of the week as we perfect set-up and gain confidence. We did that on the East Coast Racing Triumph going one place better in sixth and set a final lap of 126.864mph. That’s certainly not hanging around on a Supersport bike. I will be back for more next year and this sets us up well now for the rest of the season.”
Lee’s focus will now turn to one of his favourite events, the Ulster Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in August. Last season he captured a trio of wins in the Supersport and Superstock races and added a podium in the Superbike race. After missing out on victories in both the North West 200 and the TT, he will be hoping the Dundrod course will see his return to the top step of the podium.