Dominic Herbertson will be the hare for the others to chase in the Carole Nash Supertwin Races at the 2023 Isle of Man TT Races. For the first time the riders will have two chances at glory in the class.

The new 10-race TT schedule, introduced with the aim of improving the offering for fans both trackside and for those tuning in live from around the world, will see a second encounter for one of the most competitive and unpredictable classes at the TT Races. Amendments to the technical regulations to improve the balance of performance across the manufacturers, has had the desired effect, with a greater variety of machinery among the seeded riders.

Paton have won the last four races with Michael Rutter (2017), Michael Dunlop (2018 and 2019) and Peter Hickman (2022), and all three riders are amongst the entry for 2023; but only Dunlop remains with the favoured Italian brand as Rutter and Hickman make the switch to the new – yet unproven – Yamaha YZF-R7.

Dunlop takes up his traditional number 6 on the MD Racing machine. Hickman, as expected, will start from number 10 on his own PHR Performance bike, whilst Rutter will start from number 2 for his regular Bathams Racing team.

Third last year, Paul Jordan follows Rutter at number 3 on the PreZ Racing Kawasaki, with Jamie Coward once more taking the number 4 plate. The KTS Racing rider only missed out on the win in 2019 by 1.2s so will certainly be amongst the pre-race favourites.

Classic Superbike MGP winner Rob Hodson (SMT Racing/KH Commercials Kawasaki) and two times Supersport TT winner Gary Johnson on the Dafabet Racing Kawasaki will follow Coward; the duo setting off at numbers 5 and 7 respectively.

A stunning ride to fourth on his TT debut, sees Pierre-Yves Bian, rewarded with the number 8 plate on the VAS Engine Paton, ten seconds ahead of Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston. Lee had a straight from the box bike last year and it lacked straight line speed. A year’s development should have made it a much more potent package, Lee was second last year, albeit aided by others retiring, and with more power he must be a considered a major contender for a race win.

Stefano Bonetti, who already has three top-6 finishes in the class to his name, starts at number 11 and reverts back to Paton machinery, this time for Team ILR/Frog Property Developments.
Fellow countryman and TT debutant, Francesco Curinga, winner of last year’s Junior (Supertwin) MGP rides for the same team and will set off ten seconds behind Bonetti, whilst there’s further continental interest at number 13 with the Czech Republic’s Michal (Indy) Dokoupil riding the Rocknet Aprilia.

Chris Moore (Silverstar Services/iHeat Racing Kawasaki) starts at number 14 as he makes the step up from the Manx GP with James Chawke, 11^th in 2019, going at number 15 on the Carl Roberts/Emmjess Racing Kawasaki.

Southern Ireland has two great chances of success with Mike Browne (Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Paton) and Michael Sweeney on a third Team ILR/Frog Property Developments Paton heading towards Bray Hill in quick succession from their respective numbers of 16 and 17.

Frenchman Xavier Denis, who finished in a superb tenth last year, is seeded for the first time at number 18 on the PerformanX Racing Kawasaki with another top ten finisher from 2022, Michael Evans, ten seconds behind him on the Rea Racing Dyno Centre/ME Racing Kawasaki.

Craig Neve on a second Bathams Racing Yamaha T7 rounds out the seeded riders and, as with all the other solo races, he starts at number 20.

The complete top 20 for the Carole Nash Supertwin TT Races is:

1. Dominic Herbertson – John M Paterson/CC Engineering, Kawasaki
2. Michael Rutter – Bathams Racing, Yamaha
3. Paul Jordan – PreZ Racing by Prosper², Kawasaki
4. Jamie Coward – KTS Racing powered by Steadplan, Kawasaki
5. Rob Hodson – SMT/KH Commercials, Kawasaki
6. Michael Dunlop – MD Racing, Paton
7. Gary Johnson – RC Express, Kawasaki
8. Pierre-Yves Bian – VAS Engine, Paton
9. Lee Johnston – Ashcourt Racing, Aprilia
10. Peter Hickman – PHR Performance, Yamaha
11. Stefano Bonetti – Team ILR/Frog Racing Developments, Paton
12. Francesco Curinga – Team ILR/Frog Racing Developments, Paton
13. Michal Dokoupil – Rocknet, Aprilia
14. Chris Moore – Silverstar Services/iHeat Racing, Kawasaki
15. James Chawke – Carl Roberts/Emmjess Racing, Kawasaki
16. Mike Browne – BE/RK Racing, Paton
17. Michael Sweeney – Team ILR/Frog Racing Developments, Paton
18. Xavier Denis – performanX Racing Team, Kawasaki
19. Michael Evans – Rea Racing Dyno Centre/M.E Racing, Aprilia
20. Craig Neve – Bathams Racing, Yamaha