HM Plant back on the road with Padgetts

Two of the highest profile companies in international motorcycle sport are coming together for the 2013 North West 200 and Isle of Man TT.

HM Plant and Padgett’s Motorcycles are joining forces in their quest for further successes in the ultimate tests of teams’ and riders’ commitment to speed.

Under the official title of HM Plant Honda by Padgett’s Motorcycles, the team will be running 19 times TT winner and fastest man round the Island, John McGuinness in Superstock and Supersport alongside another multiple TT and NW200 winner, Bruce Anstey, who will also represent the team in the Superbike and Senior TT classes.

HM Plant Chairman John Jones said: “We’re delighted to be back in the paddock, this time with the supremely successful Padgett’s team and it’s going to be incredibly exciting to support them as they attempt to do the impossible and repeat their phenomenal clean sweep of the TT in 2010.”

Padgett’s Motorcycles team manager Clive Padgett was even more positive than usual about the team’s chances as a result of the new partnership: “HM Plant have a fantastic history of supporting top flight motorcycle teams and Padgett’s are proud to be their partner of choice for the 2013 North West 200 and Isle of Man TT. We are, and always will be, a family operation, but carrying such a great name on the fairings will be a massive boost to the team and we can’t wait to go out there and repay John’s faith in us by achieving further sporting success for his company.”

With HM Plant added to existing partners Maria Mallaband Care Group, IFS Global Logistics, H&S Contractors and Mark Johns Motors and with McGuinness and Anstey on board, the Padgett’s team will definitely be the team to beat on these two world famous road circuits.

“Morecombe Missile” John McGuinness is a former HM Plant rider and an intrinsic part of the Padgett’s team, so much so he’s considered family. The announcement of the new partnership is a major boost to his aspirations for 2013: “HM Plant and Padgett’s are a dream team and I’m really looking forward to riding a black and orange bike again at the North West and the TT. It’s great to see a major corporation getting behind the Padgett’s team and recognising the unbelievable level of success they’ve achieved with limited resources.” McGuinness holds the TT lap record of 131.578mph, set in 2009 and the organisers have honoured his achievements by naming a section of the 37 and 3/4 mile circuit after him.

As a holder of 23 TT podiums and the only man to achieve at least one top-three finish at every TT, NW200 and Ulster GP held in the last ten years, New Zealand’s Bruce Anstey is the most successful roads racer in the last two years and one of a very select group whose record bears close comparison with McGuinness’: “Nobody has more experience of building a race winning bike for the roads than Clive and the team. With the backing of HM Plant the opportunities for winning in 2013 are better than ever.”