Team Founds 72 has expressed their gratitude to supporters after a devastating assessment of their bike following their crash in TT qualifying.
Pete Founds and Jev Walmsley confirmed their machine is a total loss, with extensive damage leaving no salvageable parts.
In a heartfelt statement, the team said: “Firstly, we want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported Team Founds 72 so far, your generosity, kindness, and words of encouragement have truly truly meant the world to us.”
However, the damage was far worse than initially feared. “Now that we are home and we’ve had chance to fully assess the bike, unfortunately, the news isn’t what we’d hoped for. The damage is far worse than we could have imagined,” they said.
The chassis, electronics, suspension, and running gear were all destroyed.
“The chassis has suffered significant impact damage and will need to be completely replaced. The fire has destroyed all the electrics, including the ECU and clocks. The suspension and running gear are damaged beyond repair. In short, the entire bike is a total loss.”
Despite the setback, the team remains determined. “Devastated is an understatement but in the middle of all this, we’ve been overwhelmed with support from the racing community and beyond. That’s what keeps us going.”
Rebuilding will be costly, with estimates including:
- Chassis: £5,000–£12,000
- Electronics: £8,000
- Suspension: £3,000
- Wheels, hubs, brakes: £5,000
- Ancillaries: £3,000
Team Founds 72 pledged to honour their supporters, saying: “We’ll carry your support with us when we race again.”
They added: “We’ll keep you updated every step of the way. Thank you again, we’ll be back.”
You can donate to their fundraiser here.
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