TT star Conor Cummins met dozens of fans when he made a personal appearance at Manx Telecom’s Strand Street store on Saturday (May 12). The Ramsey Rocket signed autographs and had his photo taken with fans - and one youngster even had his toy motorbike signed by the Tyco Suzuki rider. Two-and-a-half year old Mian Watterson already shouts Conor’s name when he watches the motorcycle ace racing on TV and was delighted to meet his hero.
The shop appearance was organised to celebrate Manx Telecom’s personal sponsorship deal with Conor for the 2012 season. On Saturday afternoon he met the winner of a Manx Telecom competition who was treated to a guided tour of the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. David Hogg from Crosby won the unique prize and was accompanied by his son James, 12, and daughter Lena, 9, as Conor drove them around the course in a BMW supplied by the Buchanan dealership.
Conor said:
“It’s always great to meet TT fans and to see the passion and enthusiasm they have for the event. Without them the TT wouldn’t be the world class event it is today. The store visit and driving David Hogg and his children around the course just builds up the sense of excitement and anticipation for this year’s TT. But this weekend was also about giving something back to Manx Telecom as a thank you for their generous support - as a Manx rider being sponsored by a Manx company is perfect for me.”
Competition winner David Hogg said:
“I’ve been round the Mountain Course many times but it gives you a completely different perspective of the TT to hear Conor’s view of how he approaches the race. It’s was a great experience and a fantastic prize.”
Conor deservedly won the Ambassador of the Year award at this year’s Isle of Man Bank Sports Awards, and fans who met him were all keen to wish him good luck in this year’s TT. He will once again carry the hopes of the home nation in the blue ribbon Senior TT race, and Manx fans would love nothing more than to see their local hero win the big one. But Conor’s fans now stretch far beyond the shores of the Isle of Man and outside of the realms of motorsport due to his remarkable and inspiring return to racing following his crash in TT 2010 - a story which has touched sports fans around the world due to the success and international acclaim for the TT3D: Close To The Edge movie.
Voirrey Barron, Manx Telecom Marketing Communications Manager, thanked Conor for his contribution to a special day for TT fans. But she added that the shop event and TT lap competition were just part of a range of fun events and offers to celebrate the sponsorship deal. She added that this TT, Manx Telecom was also giving away 10 Sony Xperia S smartphones during the racing festival and, as Conor is a keen mountain biker and uses cycling as part of his fitness regime, his personal sponsorship deal also includes him wearing an exclusive Manx Telecom jersey when he competes in mountain biking events. He is hoping to ride in the Longest Day, Longest Ride 24hour mountain bike race on June 16/17 and the End To End Challenge on September 9. TT fans travelling by ferry to this year’s festival can also buy Manx Telecom phones on board Steam Packet ferries and at some of the Heron and Brearley pubs around the course.
