James Hillier has spoken of the “shock” he felt when it was introduced that OMG Racing, and subsequently WTF Racing, have each withdrawn from racing this 12 months.
One-time TT winner Hillier first rode for Alan Gardner’s OMG workforce on the roads in 2022 on a Yamaha R1. In 2024, when OMG turned the official Yamaha UK entry to BSB, the OMG banner disappeared from street racing, however was changed by WTF Racing.
Beneath Gardner’s possession, like OMG, WTF ran Honda equipment final 12 months, taking top-five finishes in all 4 1,000cc races ultimately 12 months’s Isle of Man TT.
Hillier, who additionally rode beneath the WTF title at this 12 months’s Dakar Rally, was set to return to WTF this 12 months, once more on a Honda CBR1000RR-R, however the current bulletins of the autumn of OMG and WTF have left Hillier successfully ride-less, just some days earlier than he was set to start his 2025 testing programme in Spain.
“My cellphone’s been fairly loopy since [Tuesday] afternoon when the information was launched,” Hillier mentioned in a video posted to his Instagram account.
“That was actually an enormous shock, I actually didn’t see that coming; it’s not nice timing, particularly on April Fools’ Day.
“I wanted it was a joke however sadly it isn’t.
“I additionally wish to say an enormous thanks to Alan Gardner for all the time and effort he’s put into racing; with OMG and WTF – the entire workforce, truly, […] it’s onerous on all people, so an enormous thanks for his or her efforts previously.
“However, the place I stand on the minute I don’t fairly know, it’s a piece in progress to attempt to type some equipment and get one thing in place.
“We’ve not acquired an entire lot of time, we have been alleged to be on the brand new bikes this coming weekend in Spain, testing, which I used to be actually wanting ahead to, truly, and that’s not occurring so we’ve to work one thing out, get one thing in place, however I’ll share what I can with you after I can.
“Hopefully within the coming days we’ll have some excellent news, however I have to get my pondering hat on and get elevating some funds, actually, as a result of that’s going to be the largest factor: funding the operation, which actually in right now’s financial local weather just isn’t straightforward.”