Gary Dunlop makes road race debut at Mid Antrim 150 in 125cc class

The 32-year-old will compete in the 125cc class at the Clough meeting, which lifts the curtain on the 2016 Irish National season on Friday and Saturday.

He did try his hand at short circuit racing after his father’s death in Estonia in 2000 but it didn’t work out and he quit.

However after becoming involved in running the Joey’s Bar MCC team last year with the aim of trying to boost dwindling two-stroke racing grids in the 125cc and 250cc classes he has decided the time is right to make his debut on the roads.

“I’m a lot fitter than the last time I threw my leg over a racing bike and really there’s not so much pressure on me now. I suppose really it is to help boost the 125 grids that I took the decision, “ he said.

“I can go out now and enjoy the experience and not worry about results.”

Also at the Mid Antrim Ryan Farquhar will make his debut on his new IEG BMW Superstock machine, when his main opposition should come from Derek Sheils on the Cookstown B.E. Racing Suzuki plus Derek McGee, on the Noel Williamson Racing

BMW.

Another rider making his debut at the track under the watchful eye of Ballyclare’s Jamie Hamilton is Senior Manx Grand Prix winner Malachi Mitchell-Thomas on the Cookstown BE Racing machines.

Czech rider Michael Dokoupil is down to ride Wilson Craig’s Superstock Honda with other confirmed entries from Michael Sweeney, Davy Morgan, Wayne Kirwan, Seamus Elliott, Rob Barber, Paul Robinson, Sam Wilson and Sam Dunlop.

Roads close for practice on Friday, April 1 from 11am-7.30pm and from 10am on Saturday, April 2 for racing.

The opening Supersport 600 and Lightweight 250/400cc races are due to take place after practice on the Friday evening.

–Glenn McCormick receives the Bertie Mann award

Reigning Ulster and Irish MX2 Champion Glenn McCormick became the latest recipient of the prestigious Bertie Mann Award, presented to the most progressive under 21 year old motorcycle competitor in Ireland.

“It is a real privilege to get the Bertie Mann award especially when you see all the great names on it over the past forty years. It’s nice to be acknowledged alongside the Dunlop’s, Irwin’s, Martin Barr and the even the reigning Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea. It’s pretty cool,” Smiled Glenn.

The Gleno rider is still out of action awaiting word from the specialist about his injured knee after his accident at Desertmartin a few weeks ago.

–Rea heads to Aragon for round three of the World Superbike Championship

East Antrim rider Jonathan Rea is back in world superbike action this coming weekend at Aragon, Spain for round three of the series. The reigning world champion arrives at the Spanish venue with 45 points in the championship, the exact same as in 2015.

Last time at Aragon the Kawasaki rider took a win in race one and second behind Ducati’s Chaz Davies and I’m sure he will be looking for at least the same this time.

–Enkalon Trophy race cancelled due to weather

The Easter Saturday 40th Enkalon Trophy race had to be cancelled for safety reasons. After running half the race programme on a dry but blustery, Friday where some of the winners included William Dunlop in the Carrick sponsored, Walter Bell and Son Oil Fired Boilers supersport race and David Haire in the superbike race the organisers the MCRRCI headed by Greenisland’s clerk of the course Mark Sanlon had no choice but call Saturday’s racing off.

“On Friday we had 23 riders crashing with a couple ending up in hospital, thankfully with no serious injures and I couldn’t take any chances with rider safety on Saturday” Said Mark.

“I spent an awful night on Friday watching the weather to hopefully get the racing run on Saturday. At one stage around 3am it was horrendous but had eased a bit later on.

“There was supposed to be a window in the weather around 11am but I did a track inspection with Ryan Rainey and Robert English around 10am and we couldn’t even open the door of the car, the wind was so strong.

“My mind was made up and after a meeting with the stewards it was decided to call the meeting off. Rider’s safety is paramount.

“We got practice and racing run on the Friday so at least it wasn’t a total loss but it was still disappointing not to get the racing run on Saturday. “I feel really sorry for the Enkalon boys but the plan now is to run the Enkalon Trophy race at our September 17 Davy Wood Memorial race meeting. The last time we had to cancel a race meeting was a clubmans round back in 2006 I think. You cant beat the weather”