Veteran roads legend Ian Lougher has today been confirmed as the man to pilot Eskil Suter’s two-stroke MMX 500 monster at this year’s Isle of Man TT.

Lougher made his Isle of Man Mountain Course debut in the memorable 1983 Manx Grand Prix Newcomers Race, finishing third to Robert Dunlop and Steve Hislop.

Lougher’s two-stroke credentials include being the only rider to win five consecutive North-West 200 125cc titles and numerous Southern 100 wins. He took his first TT victory in the 1990 Lightweight TT in one of the closest races in TT history, winning by only 1.8 seconds from Steve Hislop. Lougher set a new race record and a lap record that wasn’t beaten for nine years.

“I really warmed to Estil Suter’s approach on this project. Despite the emotions that are undoubtedly attached to something of this nature, Suter Racing is approaching it both objectively and professionally which is the only way to go racing on the TT course,” said the Welshman.

“We want to learn the MMX 500 in the next three years to tackle the TT step by step before we can be properly competitive and it might seem strange for an old fella to say it but you can always learn something new on the Isle of Man. However, I’m sure the spectators are in for a treat from the word go.”