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 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 team had actually won somehow got lost in translation and didn’t filter down to the Cumbria-based squad.

In fact, it wasn’t until the team was at Knockhill for round four of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, that team manager Jonny 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.”