THE DAO Racing squad is enjoying a late celebration after discovering it picked up a top accolade at this year’s Isle of Man TT.

After a hectic TT fortnight where Bradford rider Dean Harrison picked up a string of podiums for the DAO Racing Kawasaki team, the squad won the coveted Team Trophy.

However, due to the Senior TT being delayed a day because of bad weather, the usual presentations weren’t made at the end of the event, with silverware due to be presented in due course.

But after the final race, the news that the team had actually won somehow got lost in translation and didn’t filter down to the Cumbria-based squad.

Speaking to the T&A about winning the accolade, Harrison said: "It's nice to win the award but it's even better for the full team to win it because it highlights all the work that goes on behind the scenes. My team work so hard throughout the year, so for them to be recognised is brilliant.

"I do think we had had a good time at the Isle of Man TT, getting four out of five podiums in the process and the award has topped it off nicely. It was great to back too, with Covid calling it off for a couple of years. The event went well and everyone seemed to enjoy it."

Harrison returns to the road this weekend at the Southern 100, an annual event which is held on the 4.25-mile Billown Circuit, which is located in the South of the Isle of Man in Castletown, and returns to Brands Hatch on July 22.

Looking ahead to both events, the Bradford racer said: "It's going to be nice to get back to the Isle of Man this weekend for the Southern 100. It gives fans the chance to come out and support again, especially if they missed the main TT.

"Brands Hatch then follows and the superbikes return. It's always challenging to change from a road bike to the superbikes because it's a different style. I'd like to get a top ten finish when I return there. I've felt myself getting closer to that in previous weeks."

Jonny Bagnall, team manager of DAO Racing, caught up with the DAO Racing team to offer his thoughts their group victory at the Isle of Man TT.

It wasn’t until the team was at Knockhill for round four of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, that Bagnall heard rumours of his squad’s win.

“Someone sort of mentioned it and I was genuinely surprised as none of us knew anything about it,” he laughed.

“In the end, one of the team contacted the organisers and they confirmed in writing that it was true.

“It really was a nice welcome piece of news for us after what had already been a great TT. We may not have won this time, but we fought to the end and Dean and the team worked hard all fortnight.

“We aren’t a big team, there are six of us here on a busy day and the lads have been grafting tirelessly, working 15-16 hour shifts for months to get ready and I think it’s always difficult for the team as a whole when you don’t come away with the big prize.

“So, to be recognised by officially winning the Team Trophy really is great news, it’s what the lads deserve after all their hard work and we’ll accept it gratefully as we start making plans for how we can come back even stronger in 2023.”