Northern Ireland-based Lion Heart Racing will make their debut at this year’s TT, fielding Austrian Julian Trummer in all four 1000cc races.
The team, owned and managed by Dwayne McCracken, will be supported by Kawasaki UK and will field Trummer on Kawasaki ZX-10RR machinery in the Senior TT, Superbike TT and Superstock TT races.
Trummer is now a well-known face around the Mountain Course as the fastest mainland European to lap the Mountain Course, now with 29 TT starts under his belt, finishing 24 of them and picking up 21 bronze replicas in the process since his debut in 2017.
Finishes
The Austrian now has eight top 20 finishes to his name, seven of those since racing resumed around the Mountain Course in 2022. Last year saw him take a best finish of 11th in the Superbike TT whilst 14th place finishes were also taken in the Senior TT and Supertwin TT.
His best result is the ninth place finish he scored in the 2018 Lightweight TT, also aboard a Kawasaki, whilst his lap of 128.638mph in the 2023 Milwaukee Senior makes him the quickest rider from mainland Europe to have lapped the 37 and ¾-mile Mountain Course.
Trummer said: “I’m chuffed to bits about this whole new project and having met Dwayne at last year’s North West 200, we gelled immediately.
“When I left my former team, he offered to help me out as best as he can. We both absolutely love bikes and road racing, and this will hopefully be shown in our team. We’ve got some fantastic sponsors behind us, and we are all just super excited to get started.”
“[The Kawasaki is] a proven bike and we’re getting a lot of support from Kawasaki UK whilst I’ve also signed for Kawasaki Austria, who are giving me the best support I’ve ever had from back home. My only focus this year will be bike racing, which is a new situation for me. I can’t wait to go down Bray Hill again!”
Experience
Team owner, McCracken has more than 20 years of experience in the sport including a period working with John McGuinness and Yamaha, during which they won the Formula One TT, Superbike TT and Senior TT races in 2004 and 2005.
Since 2017, McCracken has been working with Paul Jordan and after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023, McCracken has defied the medics to successfully battle the illness, and a new lease of life has led to him setting up the new team.
He said: “After fighting back from serious illness, and being given a second chance, I needed something to focus on so with motorbikes being my passion, setting up a new team seemed the right thing to do.
“I wouldn’t be doing it if I wasn’t in a good place and the NIPANC charity have been unbelievable, so we want to raise awareness of them and the amazing work they do as well.”
“I got to know Julian well last year and we’re on the same page with regards to racing and he’s got a good head on his shoulders. I like his attitude.
“It’s our first year at the TT but we’re not going there to make up the numbers – we want to succeed. With Julian’s ability and with my knowledge and experience, top ten finishes are the aim.”
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