MLAV RACING SET FOR TT DEBUT WITH HUTCHINSON AND BROWNE
In a sensational move, Mlav Racing will debut at the Isle of Man TT Races this year. They are fielding Ian Hutchinson and Mike Browne in a two-man team, tackling three of the four classes on this year’s schedule.
Well known for their exploits in the Moto3 World Championship and Junior categories, including the FIM Junior GP Championship and British Talent Cup, the Mlav team is owned and run by former British Supersport Champion and ten-time British Superbike Championship race winner Michael Laverty. They will run BMW M1000RR machinery for Hutchinson and Browne in the RST Superbike, Milwaukee Senior, and RL360/Opul Superstock races.
Hutchinson will have both Superbike and Superstock-spec machinery at his disposal. Browne is opting to concentrate on the latter for all four 1000cc races, showcasing Mlav’s strategic approach to the competition.
Although the machinery is still to be finalised, 16-time winner Hutchinson will contest the two Monster Energy Supersport races. He looks to climb back up the racing ladder after his return from a stroke in 2024.
The now 45-year old made his return to the TT last year riding for the Milenco by Padgetts Honda team. He looked to build his speed after a two-year absence from the Mountain Course. Issues during the fortnight meant the results were lower than hoped. He finished with 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th place finishes. The best result came in the closing Milwaukee Senior race, where he also posted his best lap of the fortnight at 128.526mph.
That’s some way short of his personal best of 133.115mph set in 2016. Indeed, you must go back to 2017 to find his last 130mph+ lap. That year he also took his last wins and podiums. However, with last year’s meeting under his belt and the new team and machinery from Mlav, he’ll be hopeful of getting back close to those speeds. He aims to return to his best in 2025.
Browne enjoyed a standout TT campaign in 2024, securing his second podium with third place in the second Supertwin race. That came on the back of a fifth-place finish in the first Supertwin contest.
Impressively, the Killeagh rider finished inside the top ten in all seven of his races. He took seventh and eighth in the Monster Energy Supersport races. He also placed eighth in the RST Superbike and tenth in the RL360 Superstock.
One of his most memorable performances came in the Milwaukee Senior TT. Not only did he claim sixth place, but he also broke the 130mph barrier for the first time. He clocked a best lap of 130.872mph around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course, endorsing Mlav’s vision for speed and success.
Michael Laverty, Team Owner:
“Anyone who knows me knows I’ve always loved the TT and even though I never raced the Mountain Course, it’s the pinnacle of our sport. Plans for setting up a new team started with a casual conversation back in September. Initially, I was approached to assist a team, but the more I thought about it the more it made sense to do it ourselves. My Grand Prix commitments keep me busy, and it’s taken me a bit longer to get everything boxed off in terms of sponsors, team personnel, and infrastructure. I spoke to a couple of riders, getting Hutchy signed up first and then Mike.”
“The team’s been running for a few years now, but we only ever get to race in the UK once a year, at Silverstone, so it’s nice to expand that and come to the TT. Philip Neill and everyone at TAS have been great with both advice and assistance right from day one. The technical support from them will continue with my regular GP team manager Nathan Smith overseeing things. Chris Anderson will again work with Hutchy. The first year will be challenging and I’d say we have modest ambitions for 2025, but we know what both riders are capable of. They’re both very driven. The long-term plan is to establish the team amongst the front runners for many years to come – the TT is a global show and to get to be part of that is something special”
Ian Hutchinson:
“Having missed all the 2023 season, last year’s TT didn’t quite go to plan with injury in pre-season and then machinery issues during TT fortnight. The biggest thing for me this year is to have a trouble-free pre-season and TT! No one needs laps around the Mountain Course more than me. Although last year’s results weren’t what I’d hoped for, I still managed around 40 laps at the TT plus another nine at the Manx GP. Every lap at this stage of my career is both valuable and priceless.”
“Michael’s established himself as a successful team owner over the last few years. For him to bring that now to the TT is superb, especially as I’m part of it! He’s experienced, runs a good team, has the right budget and is keen to do it. That makes for a good combination. I’ve trained hard all winter to put myself in the best position possible. It’s now all about getting track time with the new BMWs. We’ve got a good setting to work from and I’ve had a lot of success with the BMW in the past. I’m looking forward to it. I know what speeds I’ve done before, and I know what I’m capable of. The aim will be to get back to that level again in 2025 – and enjoy it.”
Mike Browne:
“I got a phone call from Michael just before Christmas when he told me his ideas about running a team and asked if I would be interested. He’s a big name in the biking world, so it was a bit of a surprise to get the call. However, at the time, I didn’t have anything on the table, so I was more than interested. To be now part of the team is something I’m delighted about. Last year I took the risk of running the Aprilia, one I was willing to take, but although from the outside the results looked good, it was really difficult. It would take a lot of development work to get it good around the Mountain Course, which I didn’t really want to do this year.”
“I’d rather be on a bike that’s proven, and with Michael running the BMWs, that box is ticked this year. Being on a bike that’s tried and tested is a big deal for me. Being part of such a professional team makes it even better. I’m really looking forward to getting a spin on the bikes in April and then getting ready for the TT. I’ve put a lot of effort in during the off season, training hard and getting more bike time than ever. I want to make sure I’m doing the job right. I’m improving all the time and getting faster all the time, so that will be the aim again for 2025.”