JAMES Hillier set his sights on returning to the top of the podium at the Isle of Man TT after signing up for an 11th straight campaign with Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing.

The Ringwood rider wants to recreate the winning feeling having claimed his solitary TT victory in the lightweight class six years ago.

He said: “Although I was really pleased with my performance last year, unfortunately I didn’t manage to get that elusive win.

“However, consistency is key and signing with Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing for an 11th successive year gives me the best chance of achieving my goal of getting a big bike win at the TT.

“It’s certainly the best package and the new Kawasaki ZX10-RR looks good on paper so I’m feeling really confident.

“All I can do is keep putting in maximum effort. The team believe in me and I have faith in them to build a bike that’s good enough. I just need a bit of luck and for everything to come together on the day.

“Pre-season testing gets under way next month and I’m looking forward to putting the new bike through its paces.”

The 33-year-old, who will also spearhead the team’s charge at the North West 200, has scored 12 podiums since winning the Newcomer’s Trophy on his TT debut.

Of his 55 race starts and 51 finishes, no fewer than 46 have been inside the top 10.

Except for an 11th-place finish in the 2016 superbike race, Hiller has not ended outside the top 10 since 2011.

His best lap of the Mountain Course stands at 132.414mph, making him the seventh-fastest rider of all time.

With 32 racing laps at more than 130mph, only Michael Dunlop and John McGuinness have a greater total than Hillier.

Of Hillier’s four finishes last year, all were inside the top five with two third places in the superbike and supersport 600 races.

At the North West 200, the Hampshire rider finished all six of his races in the top 10 and, on two occasions, managed to secure second places.

Bournemouth Kawasaki boss Pete Extance said: “James and Bournemouth Kawasaki must have one of the longest team-rider relationships in Isle of Man TT history.

“For 2019, James will compete in the prestigious senior race alongside the superbike race, stock 1000 race and both supersport 600 races.

“A big bike win has eluded James and the team so 2019 will, hopefully, be the turning point for us all.

“Kawasaki have a new ZX10-RR which James will race along with his trusty ZX6R and, with testing planned in March, we hope to win silverware at the North West 200 and the TT.”