Björn Gunnarsson

Name: Björn Gunnarsson

Date of Birth: July 31^st, 1975

Place of Birth: Nyköping, Sweden

Nationality: Swedish

Races competed: Isle of Man TT, Manx GP & International Road Races

Facebook: BG-racing

Credit Dan Stenberg

Getting into biking:

“I started my career with classic racing in 1995 but soon went to the Swedish championship in modern racing. After having raced in different classes and with everything from 125, 250, Supersport and Superbikes on short circuits I travelled to Frohburg in Germany 2011 and raced in my first real road race. I was 4th in the 250CC GP-class. The year after I went to Manx GP and did well before I had a bad crash that crushed my ankle and that took 16 months to heal. In 2014 I returned to the Manx GP and got an invitation to race in the Isle of Man TT Races the next season. Since then the TT is my main goal and everything else I do during the year is just practice for the TT. I am a pure privateer and have to work full time (and more) to be able to compete in the TT every year.”

Björn’s first Isle of Man appearance came in the Manx GP in 2012, where he placed 16^th in the Junior race at an average speed of 109.718 and timing at 1:22:31.91. As he mentioned above, a bad crash in the Senior race later in the week meant he had to miss the following years MGP.

Riding a 2014 Honda CBR600RR, the 2014 Manx GP saw Gunnarsson place 12^th in both the Junior and Senior races, his fastest average race speed of 113.388mph coming in the Junior.

First bike:

“On the racetrack it was a single cylinder Ducati 250 Desmo from 1969.”

Racing Icon:

“In racing it has to be Joey Dunlop for his achievements on the roads and his personality beside.”

Career Highlights (pre-2018):

“My 9th place in the Lightweight TT race of 2016.”

Björn is the only Swedish rider to compete in the TT Races at the moment, which can be seen as an achievement in itself. His first TT appearance came in 2015, where he made an impressive debut appearance with his highest finish coming in the Lightweight TT, where he placed a fine 14^th on a 2015 Kawasaki ER-6, the race being won by Ivan Lintin. This was the same year Björn came 25^th in the Supersport TT 2 and 31^st in the Supersport TT 1 on a 2014 Honda CBR600RR and he posted an excellent fastest lap of 119.839mph.

The following year Björn achieved his highest TT finish to date in the Lightweight TT race, placing a superb 9^th on the same 2015 Kawasaki ER-6 he rode in the previous year. Gunnarsson also improved on his results in the Supersport TT 1 and 2 races from the previous year, coming 20^th in the second race and 26^th in the opening encounter. He again improved his speeds and in the second Supersport race, he joined the 120mph Club with a lap of 120.581mph whilst six finishes in his first two years at the TT saw him win six bronze replicas.

For 2017, Bjorn moved into the 1000cc class for the first time at the TT but a coming together with another rider at Laurel Bank during practice left him battered and bruised and although he started two races, his injuries meant he was forced to retire on both occasions.

2018 season:

Undeterred, Bjorn returned in 2018 with his 1000cc BMW S1000RR and his commitment and dedication to the Mountain Course was rewarded with a fine 24^th place in the Superbike race which saw him win another bronze replica. Unfortunately, he retired from his four other races but not before more 120mph+ laps were recorded and with a new personal best lap of 123.480mph, Bjorn is now the fastest ever Swedish rider to have lapped the 37.73-mile course, a tremendous achievement.

Favourite course/track:

“This has to be the easiest question I’ve ever been asked, even easier to answer than “what´s your name?” The Mountain Course of course!”

Aspirations:

“Ride as fast as I can around the mountain course with the material I can afford.”

Career Highlights:

• 2012 – Manx Grand Prix debut, 16^th Junior race
• 2014 – Manx Grand Prix, 14^th Junior and Senior races
• 2015 – Isle of Man TT races debut – three bronze replicas from three races, best finish of 14^th in the Lightweight race
• 2016 – Isle of Man TT, 9^th Lightweight TT race
• 2016 – Isle of Man TT, 20^th and 26^th Supersport races
• 2018 – Isle of Man TT, 24^th Superbike race
• Fastest TT Lap of 123.480mph, seven bronze replicas and the fastest Swedish rider ever to have lapped the 37.73-mile Mountain Course

Find out more about your other favourite road racers HERE!