**Roadrunner Motorcycles – Sponsor Statement: Team Ratcliff Racing at the Pre‑TT Classic 2026**
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
Roadrunner Motorcycles is proud to support Team Ratcliff Racing as they kicked off their 2026 road‑racing season at the Isle of Man Pre‑TT Classic. Held on the 4.25‑mile Billown Circuit in Castletown, the event sits just ahead of the Isle of Man TT and offers something completely different — mass‑start racing on closed public roads, in contrast to the TT’s iconic time‑trial format. It’s a meeting known for its friendly paddock atmosphere, but once the lights go out, it’s pure intensity.
Qualifying – Friday Evening
The weekend began under cold, grey skies, with limited grip and a generally unsettled feel on track. Dean worked hard to find a rhythm, but the conditions made it difficult to push the bike to its limit . He finished the session 20th, not the position the team hoped for, but with better weather on the way, there was no loss of momentum — just a clear focus on improving for Saturday.
Qualifying – Saturday Afternoon
Saturday brought the turnaround everyone was waiting for. Warm sunshine and a dry track allowed Dean to settle in quickly, and the bike immediately felt more composed. A couple of strong laps moved him well up the order and showed the pace that had been missing the day before.
Mid‑session, the bike had a brief fuelling hesitation on the fast run toward Stadium Bend — just enough of a stumble to drop power and make Dean back out of it. With the speed involved, he made the sensible call to pull off rather than risk causing an issue on track. After a short pause, the bike cleared itself and fired back up cleanly, allowing him to follow the safety car back to the paddock. Thankfully, the earlier laps secured 12th on the grid for the Junior Superbike race.
Junior Superbike Race
When the lights went out, Dean made a brilliant start, climbing to 8th by Ballakeighan and settling straight into a strong rhythm. The hesitation from qualifying didn’t return, and the bike ran cleanly throughout the seven‑lap race.
Dean kept chipping away, finding consistent pace and keeping things tidy in traffic. By the chequered flag, he crossed the line in 7th place, rounding off the weekend with a result the whole team can be proud of — especially after the challenges earlier in qualifying.
Looking Ahead
For Team Ratcliff Racing, it was a solid and successful event: clear progress, a reliable bike, and a strong top‑ten finish on one of the most characterful circuits in road racing. Roadrunner Motorcycles is proud to support Dean and the team as they continue their 2026 campaign, carrying this momentum into the next outing.
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