Gary Johnson in MV Agusta TT return
Iconic Italian manufacturer MV Agusta will return to the Isle of Man TT in a team managed by Jack Valentine with Gary Johnson at the helm.
Johnson will compete in the Supersport races at the TT on the F3 675 for Valentine's ValMoto team, which has been re-established by the respected tuner and ex-Crescent Suzuki World Superbike team manager.
Valentine said: "This is a project that I'm extremely passionate about and I am only embarking on it because I'm confident that victory is within our reach.
"Having spent the last few years working for manufacturer teams in BSB and WSBK, it feels good to be bringing ValMoto out of retirement and returning to the roads seems a fitting and high profile way to make our return.
"Gary is an extremely talented rider and the F3 675 is a great bike.
"I'm sure the pairing of the two will be a recipe for success and a reason for me to celebrate another successful TT."
The team will work closely with the ParkinGO World Supersport MV Agusta outfit to share development and set-up knowledge.
Jack has a wealth of road racing experience having masterminded victories on the Island for David Jefferies and Bruce Anstey.
Johnson - who claimed his maiden TT victory in the Supersport class in 2011 - is set to ride Honda machinery in the Superbike, Superstock and Senior TT races.
"I'm really looking forward to this year's road racing season running the MV Agusta F3 675 under the ValMoto banner," he said.
"Jack is one of the most experienced team owners in the industry with a first class reputation and a proven success record on the roads.
"I'm honoured to be part of the team and am confident that together we can achieve some positive results this year."
In 2003, Valentine brought Triumph back to the Isle of Man TT races and enjoyed a fairy tale success as Kiwi Anstey won the Supersport race.
Irish rider Martin Finnegan was the last high-profile name to compete for MV Agusta at the TT, with the Lusk man finishing fourth in the Superstock event on the F4 in 2007, lapping at 125.685mph.
Finnegan was tragically killed at the Tandragee 100 in Northern Ireland in 2008.
