During last week’s North West 200 we met with manxman Dan Kneen. No big teams, no big awnings, just a van and a sole bike, his Superstock DTR BMW.
Dan Kneen just before Black Hill at the North West 200 (ph: Chris Usal)
The thing that I couldn’t explain myself, though, was why he was riding with a set of old Michael Sweeney’s fairings on his S1000RR. And, at a first attempt, it was not easy to understand what was going on on track seeing those two similar bikes.
Dan, what about these Micko Sweeney’s fairings?
Basically because we had an accident in Mondello and I just didn’t have any spare fairings. We’ve got them but they were in the UK, we couldn’t wait bringing them over, so it was just a last minute thing. Micko had a spare so we’re using them. It’s quite funny because every time I go on track someone pats me on the back and says “Go Micko good luck!”. I will get it sorted for the TT.
I had a quick look at his battered hand hurted in Mondello the previous week and it reminded me of the crash Dan had last year during a training session and that prevented him to compete at the North West 200 and the TT.
How is this start of the season going so far? You have been a bit unlucky again, haven’t you?
Yes but my hand is not going to be a problem really for the TT. Actually this start of the season has been good, I rode a lot the Superstock bike, done a bit of test in Spain, came back and did some Superstock BSB rounds. I’ve ridden in Ireland on circuits as well. That’s all being good, times have been faster. I just had this accident.
The 30 years old from Braddan is without any doubt one of the brightest talent on the road racing scene. He was the first newcomer ever to win 3 races in a week at the Manx GP (in 2008), and after years as a privateer, he grabbed his first ever International Road Race win at the Ulster GP in 2014 riding a Suzuki Stocker for John Burrows’ team; the same year Kneen literally wiped out the competition in almost every National Road Race, as a newcomer. He then switched to Clive Padgett’s in 2015 and the following year he settled himself with Yamaha’s Mar-Train Racing squad. Ready to continue their collaboration for 2017, Dan was unfortunately let down by the withdrawal of Tim and Sonia Martin from the racing scene.
Kneen managed to sort himself signing for the German Team Penz13.com in January and he will ride a BMW Superbike trying to improve his personal best lap at the home course of the Isle of Man (130 mph in 2015).
What about the rest of the season? I heard you are going to do Imatra this year.
Yes I’ve got quite a bit on really with Penz Team: TT, Frohburg, Imatra, Horice next week as well, then Macau. We are really busy. And I think I’ll be doing the Ulster Grand Prix and the Southern 100 on the Stock bike. And I’ve got the Classic TT as well. I haven’t actually looked at anything about Imatra yet because it’s quite far away, I am just doing homework for Horice now. I will have a proper look before I go, I did have a brief look and it looks fast with chicanes just like here so it could be tricky.
What about a Supersport ride this year?
I haven’t got a Supersport yet, I’m here just with the Superstock and I’ll be at the TT with the Superbike and Superstock. It’s one of them things really. Unless something else comes up.
Have you got any target for this Isle of Man TT (mph, position)?
I know what I want to do but I don’t like talking about it! I know I can go faster and my lap times be better. That’s the aim, I should be up for good results and everything else will fall in place.
What about the Penzkofer Team? Any difficulties with the language?
When we were in Spain testing me and Scott were like French foreign exchange students that stood around, we just followed them everywhere and we didn’t understand. It’s difficult but now they’re learning Irish and Manx as well so they can understand us! My team mate Alex Polita keeps saying the same thing all the time, “Mamma mia!”. But it’s all good, good team, good team mates.
Why are they not here for the North West this year?
I don’t know to be honest, I think it’s a long way to come here for them and they are getting ready for the TT, they just want to focus on that. Maybe next year it would be good to come back here with them, we will see. It’s just better with a bigger team and most support, whereas here we’re just working alone with a van with not many spares, it’s difficult but we’re enjoying it, I’m doing my best and it’s the main thing.
Wishing Dan a very successful season I prepared myself to watch him again on the course raising the dust up, so close to the kerbs, with his very spectacular riding style.
