Honda TT Legends line-up announced

John McGuinness and Cameron Donald joined by Simon Andrews and Gary Johnson

HONDA TT LEGENDS have announced that John McGuinness and Cameron Donald will be joined by Simon Andrews and Gary Johnson for the 2012 FIM Endurance World Championship and selected road race events.

The team goes into their second season in the Endurance World Championship and are looking to build upon their debut year after finishing seventh overall with a best finish of fifth.

All four riders will contest the 2012 Endurance World Championship while McGuinness and Andrews will make up a two-man team for the Isle of Man TT and the Northwest 200.

Donald and Johnson will remain in the Honda family at both road racing events, competing for Wilson Craig Honda and Padgetts of Batley respectively. Johnson will also contest the 2012 British Superstock Championship with Honda (UK) Racing.

Team manager Neil Tuxworth said: "We went into the 2011 EWC as a novice team and it was very much a development year – not just for the riders but for the whole crew. We had a good first year, but now the focus is on improvement with the ultimate goal being the podium.

"When it to comes to the TT, what better line-up than the fastest man around the course and the 2011 fastest newcomer? It’s going to be an exciting year."

Seventeen-times TT winner McGuiness said: "Last year was definitely a learning year for the team and now it’s time to up our game in EWC.

"We were knocking on the door of the podium and this year we’ll hopefully go one step further and get up there. We’ve got a great crew and after year one we all know what we’re doing and what the aims are for 2012 so things are looking good."

2011 TT newcomer, Andrews added: "I have done a couple of endurance races – one being the Le Mans 24-hour – so I do know what to expect but I’m sure the full championship will be a real challenge. I’m a rider that rides better with miles under my belt, so the endurance side of things will without doubt help with the road racing.

"To be riding alongside the legend that is John McGuinness at the Isle of Man TT is big business and I’m hoping he’ll have one or two pointers for me! There is no better person to learn from.