Bedforshire rider Olie Linsdell will campaing a brand new, Italian-built Paton in this year’s Lightweight TT. The S1 Strada, Paton’s first street legal bike, is a project based on the Kawasaki 650 twin, but surrounded by all of Paton’s experience after 55 years of racing.

This ambitious challenge has been made possible by the small but determined Italian factory team, by Steve Linsdell of Flitwick Motorcycles who will prepare the bike and rider Olie who will set up the bike and compete.

"This is a challenging and thrilling opportunity for us but also for Olie as a rider an engineer; to be the rider who brings Paton back to racing on an International stage is a great honour. We'd also like to thank the Isle of Man TT organisers for being very clear and matter of fact on what is required for the brand new Paton to race in 2014,” said Roberto Pattoni, Paton’s Technical Director.

"Racing has been Paton’s goal since it started in 1958, and with modern classes it means making a street legal bike, which also carries the added motivation of increasing our small firm's technical knowledge by having to solve problems it has never had to face before as well as providing a new challenge. It is a culmination of all our history into one single product.

"All involved parties are now concentrated on the hard work needed to meet a tight schedule that will see us arrive on the island with a competitive bike in June. The required enthusiasm is definitely there to achieve this goal, with daily technical discussions and updates between the two teams."