Armoy hit by rain
Young racers vow to keep road racing scene alive
Last weekend’s Armoy road races were cancelled due to heavy rain. Race medic, Allister MacSorley was also seriously injured in a crash on the Co Antrim circuit. These latest setbacks come just weeks after a series of fatal smashes that cost the lives of Dan Kneen, Adam Lyon, William Dunlop and James Cowton. Steve Mercer and Ivan Lintin have also been badly injured in crashes this season. The loss of such experienced competitors and promising newcomers has robbed road racing of much of its experience and quality but young racers have vowed to continue. “What’s happened reminds you of what is at risk out there,” Davey Todd, the TT’s fastest newcomer in 2018, said.
The 22-year-old is in his second season of racing for the Burrows Engineering squad and had impressive performances at the NW200 and Ulster Grand Prix as well as the National courses. “We all have a ton of respect for those guys we have lost,” he added. “The competition is still tough and I’m learning all the time, getting quicker and pushing to be closer to the big names up front.” Mullingar man Derek McGee is doing most of the winning on Irish roads in 2018, enjoying a 14-race winning streak on everything from Moto3 machines to superbikes at Enniskillen, Walderstown and Faugheen. The 32-year-old, who secured his first TT podium in the Lightweight this year, has vowed to target the Manx event alongside his Irish racing. He said: “I started out at the Irish Nationals and they are my first love. I want to see them kept going.” It has been suggested that McGee’s dominance is an indication of a slump in the quality of Irish racing but he rejects this. “Michael Dunlop and Derek Sheils hold the lap records at many of the circuits and we are lapping at that pace most weekends.
“At Skerries I was less than half-a-second slower than Michael’s record and was on lap record pace on the 600. The racing is very close and I think the Nationals still have a future. Irish racing has taken a big hit recently but we have been here before and have bounced back.”
Adam McLean is another young gun who says road racing must go on. The 22-year-old narrowly avoided being caught up in the fatal crash of his McAdoo Kawasaki team-mate, James Cowton, at the Southern 100.
“At the time everything was up in the air and emotions were high,” he told MCN. “But we’ve now regrouped and I want to continue racing on the roads.” Highlighting how closely-fought the Irish races are, McLean was beaten by just 0.007 seconds in Friday evening’s Supersport race at Armoy by Paul Jordan. Jordan is another young hopeful who, with McLean, Todd and McGee, have all made an impact at the TT and represent the next generation of Irish talent.
‘We’ve now regrouped and want to continue racing’