The Isle of Man TT is brutal. It’s 37.73 miles of sheer madness, public roads, and walls that don't move when you hit them. But sometimes, the most heartbreaking moments don't happen at 180mph through Glen Helen. They happen in a quiet inspection bay after the champagne has already been sprayed. That’s exactly what happened when news broke about Michael Evans disqualified from Isle of Man TT Supertwin podium finishes, a move that sent shockwaves through the paddock and left fans debating the fine print of the rulebook for months.
It sucks. There’s no other way to put it. You put your life on the line for three laps of the Mountain Course, you fight for every tenth of a second, and then a technicality strips it all away.
The Technical Knockout at Noble’s Park
So, what actually went down? In the 2024 Supertwin Race 1, Michael Evans rode the race of his life. He was piloting the Smith Racing Aprilia RS 660, a bike that has become the weapon of choice for the class. He crossed the line in third place. It was a massive result for a privateer beating out some of the biggest names in the sport. He stood on that podium. He got the trophy. He had the wreath around his neck.
Then came the post-race technical inspections.
The scrutineers are meticulous. They have to be. In a class like the Supertwins, where the bikes are heavily modified production machines, the line between "clever tuning" and "illegal modification" is razor-thin. After the bikes were torn down, the hammer dropped: Michael Evans was disqualified. The reason? An issue with the airbox. Specifically, it didn't comply with the very rigid technical regulations that govern what you can and cannot change on the intake system of these 660cc machines.
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Why the Supertwin Rules are a Minefield
The Supertwin class is basically the "tuner's class" of the TT. It used to be dominated by the Kawasaki ER-6, but now the Aprilia RS 660 and the Yamaha R7 have taken over. Because these aren't purpose-built race bikes like a Moto3 machine, the ACU (Auto-Cycle Union) has to set strict limits to keep costs down and the playing field level.
If you let everyone do whatever they want, the wealthiest teams would just build $100,000 prototypes. To prevent that, the rules state that certain parts of the engine and intake must remain "as homologated"—meaning exactly how they came from the factory.
In Evans' case, the technical protest or inspection found that the airbox on his Aprilia had been modified in a way that the rules simply don't allow. It wasn't necessarily about a massive horsepower gain. Honestly, sometimes these mods only add a fraction of a pony. But in the TT, rules are binary. You’re either legal, or you’re out. There is no middle ground, no "five-second penalty" for a technical infringement of this nature.
The Human Cost of a DQ
Think about Michael Evans for a second. He’s a local lad from the Isle of Man. Winning a replica or standing on the podium at your home race is the peak of a career. To have that taken away hours after the fact is a mental hurdle that would break most people.
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The fans were gutted too. Social media went into a bit of a meltdown. You had one camp saying, "Rules are rules, if the bike is illegal, the result shouldn't stand." Then you had the other camp—mostly those who have actually turned a wrench on a race bike—arguing that the Supertwin rules are getting way too complex and that "spirit of the law" should matter more than "letter of the law."
The reality is that the TT organizers, the Department for Enterprise, and the ACU cannot afford to be lenient. If they let Evans slide with an illegal airbox, every other team on the grid would be hacking up their intakes by the next morning. It’s a slippery slope that ends with the class losing its soul.
The Fallout: Barry Furber’s Promotion
When Michael Evans disqualified from Isle of Man TT Supertwin podium honors became official, it wasn't just a loss for him; it was a strange, delayed win for someone else. Barry Furber, who had finished fourth, was promoted to the third-place spot.
Furber is another incredible rider, a real stalwart of the paddock. But ask any racer: getting a trophy in the mail or being told you came third while you're sitting in a motorhome eating a burger isn't the same. You missed the podium ceremony. You missed the crowd. You missed the moment.
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Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?
There is a lingering debate about whether technical DQs should be handled differently. In some series, if a part is found to be non-compliant but doesn't provide a clear performance advantage, the team might get a fine or a points deduction.
But the TT isn't a "series" in the traditional sense. It's a collection of individual races. If you are disqualified from Race 1, that's it. There are no points to dock that would make a difference. The only tool the officials have is the "Exclude" button.
Navigating the Supertwin Regulations in the Future
If you're a privateer looking to tackle the Supertwins, this saga is a massive warning. The Aprilia RS 660 is a complex beast. Its electronics and intake systems are far more advanced than the old Kawasakis.
- Read the Homologation Papers: Don't just read the TT rulebook; you need the factory homologation documents for your specific VIN.
- Double-Check "Kit" Parts: Just because a part is sold as a "race kit" doesn't mean it's legal for the Supertwin class at the TT. The TT has its own specific set of regs that often differ from BSB (British Superbikes) or MotoAmerica.
- The Airbox Trap: This is the most common area for DQs. If the rules say "original airbox must be used," it usually means you can't even shave off a plastic tab inside.
- Pre-Event Scrutineering: Talk to the technical officials before the fortnight starts. They are generally helpful if you ask them about a specific part before it's on the bike and through the finish line.
The story of Michael Evans is a tough one, but it's part of the lore of the Mountain Course. It highlights the incredible pressure on the teams to find every ounce of speed while staying within the confines of a very tight rulebook. It's a reminder that at the Isle of Man, the race doesn't end when the chequered flag drops—it ends when the technical steward puts his clipboard away.
Moving forward, teams must prioritize absolute compliance over marginal gains. The heartbreak of a disqualification far outweighs the potential benefit of a slightly more efficient airbox. For Evans, the pace is clearly there. He proved he belongs on that podium. The challenge now is getting back there with a bike that leaves no room for the stewards to reach for their red pens.
To stay on the right side of the results, riders and mechanics should treat the technical manual with as much respect as they treat the Bray Hill descent. Scrutiny is only going to get tighter as the Supertwin class becomes more competitive and manufacturers like Aprilia and Yamaha continue to push the boundaries of what a "middleweight" bike can do. Consistency in builds and a conservative approach to "grey area" modifications are the only ways to ensure that a hard-earned podium remains in the record books forever.