2012 International Road Racing

At the 2010 Isle of Man TT, the Manxman Conor Cummins suffered a potentially career-ending crash during the Senior TT.

Following the crash at Verandah, Cummins had a host of injures - five broken vertebrae, multiple fractures in his left arm, nerve damage, and ligament damage to his knee.

But following several surgeries, which included rods inserted to stabilize his spin, and a rebuilt left arm held together by two plates and 16 screws, Cummins returned to racing at the 2011 Isle of Man TT.

Although Cummins didn't bring home any wins, he received the coveted Isle of Man TT Spirit Award, which "recognizes anyone involved in the event who best embodies what the TT is about."

And for 2012, Cummins will once again return to the Isle of Man TT, and other International Road Racing events such as the North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix. But he'll be aboard a new machine - the Tyco Suzuki by TAS GSX-R 1000.

TAS Racing, who confirmed the Cummins news Wednesday, also fields the GSX-R ridden by Isle of Man TT icon Guy Martin.

Besides the International Road Racing scene, Cummins will also compete in various British Superstock rounds and other road races such as the Southern 100.

Conor Cummins (Tyco Suzuki by TAS GSX-R 1000) says: "This is the ride I've been wanting for three or four years. I'm thrilled to have been given the chance to now ride for a factory-supported team in Tyco Suzuki and to be working with the boys at TAS Racing.

"I've been training hard with gym sessions and out on the pushbike and mountain bike over the winter, so I'm relishing the thought of getting aboard the team's GSX-R1000 Superbike in testing. I'd say I'm not far off being as fit as I ever was and having been over to the workshop to meet the boys in Northern Ireland and have a look at my bikes. April can't come quick enough to get racing!"

Philip Neill (TAS Suzuki Team Manager) says: "After months of speculation and negotiations it's great to finally welcome Conor Cummins to our team for the 2012 international road racing season. It's fair to say there has been a little bit of pressure to return to a two-rider team on the roads - so once we'd reached that decision, Conor really was the obvious choice. As a person I've always been hugely impressed with Conor and his riding skills were evident to all after those blistering lap speeds at the 2010 TT.

"However, probably more impressive is the determination he has shown in his comeback from injury, and for me, that was more than enough to justify a factory-supported ride with us here at Tyco Suzuki. I'll be looking forward to working with Conor both on and off the track this season, as he has the attitude and personality I was really looking for in a rider."

Hector Neill (TAS Suzuki Team Owner) says: "It's no secret the Isle of Man TT is the highlight of the racing season for me, and with that in mind, it was important to have a two-rider line-up. It's also widely known that my number one desire in racing is to again win the Senior TT trophy. So what better way than to win it with a Manxman onboard."