Johnson to lead out MGP Classic Superbike lineup

Top 20 will include four former race winners

Aussie rider, David Johnson is once again set to lead the lineup during this year's Manx Grand Prix Classic Superbike race.

Organisers of the races have confirmed the top 20 seeded riders for the class with four former winners on the grid.

With Johnson away at no.1, Dean Harrison slots in at No.2 on the Oxford Racing Ducati 916 machine with Michael Rutter making up the first three on the Bathams Ales Suzuki.

Doubt remains at No.4 as to whether Jamie Coward will be fit for this year's event with the No.5 slot vacant also - triple race winner, Michael Dunlop, is off again at No.6 hoping for greater fortunes on board his Team Classic Suzuki machine this year after being fraught with mechanical issues in 2022.

Meanwhile, Brian McCormack is at No.7 followed at No.8 by Manxman Nathan Harrison who will ride the Ashcourt Racing Honda RC45, deputising for Lee Johnston who is recovering from injury - elsewhere, last year's race winner, Rob Hodson will set off at No.9 again after taking victory on his Greenall Racing Kawasaki last year.

Rounding out the top ten is Craig Neve on board the Alasdair Cowan Racing Kawasaki - Neve was battling for first throughout last year's race with Hodson before having to retire on the last lap.

After Neve is the only Yamaha in the top 20 which will be in the hands of Mike Browne at No.11 for Davies Motorsport who're contesting this category for the first time.

With the No.12 slot vacant, next on the road after Browne will be Dominic Herbertson at No.13 before Greenall Racing's Derek Sheils makes his return at No.14.

Next up at No.15 and No.17 are two of the Mistral Racing riders, Paul Jordan and Michael Sweeney respectively, with another gap at No.16 currently.

Making up the remainder of the seeded riders from 18-20 will be Shaun Anderson, Julian Trummer and Michal Dokoupil respectively.

The RST Classic Superbike MGP is scheduled to take place over four laps on Monday, 28 August at 2.15pm.

The full details of the Classic Superbike MGP top 20 is listed below:

1.) David Johnson - Alasdair Cowan Racing (Kawasaki)
2.) Dean Harrison - Oxford Racing Ducati by Key Racing (Ducati)
3.) Michael Rutter - Bathams Ales (Suzuki)
4.) ---
5.) ---
6.) Michael Dunlop - Team Classic Suzuki (Suzuki)
7.) Brian McCormack - Greenall Racing (Kawasaki)
8.) Nathan Harrison - Ashcourt Racing/HRC (Honda)
9.) Rob Hodson - Greenall Racing (Kawasaki)
10.) Craig Neve - Alasdair Cowan Racing (Kawasaki)
11.) Mike Browne - Davies Motorsport 
12.) ---
13.) Dominic Herbertson - BHR Racing (Kawasaki)
14.) Derek Sheils - Greenall Racing (Kawasaki)
15.) Paul Jordan - Mistral Racing (Kawasaki)
16.) ---
17.) Michael Sweeney - Mistral Racing (Kawasaki)
18.) Shaun Anderson - WizNorton Racing (Norton)
19.) Julian Trummer - TC Racing/DP Coldplaning (Kawasaki)
20.) Michal Dokoupil - Cookson Travel (Suzuki)