McGlinchey tipped to shine as he steps onto Superstock stage
EUNAN McGlinchey and his British Junior Supersport-winning Team 109 have secured Kawasaki UK support as they step up to the Pirelli National Superstock Championship in 2019 with the new and improved Kawasaki ZX-6R636.
Alongside McGlinchey in Team 109 Kawasaki will be 16-year-old Bangor rider Curtis Trimble and 14-year-old James McManus from Randalstown, who will be competing on Kawasaki Ninja 400s in the Junior Supersport Championship.
McGlinchey made his mark in his first season on the British scene, scoring eight wins and five second places in 19 races on his way to the Junior Supersport Championship.
In the 16 races he finished he was never off the podium, a sequence of results that has seen the 20-year-old from Aghadowey short-listed among the 10 riders in contention for the Cornmarket Motorcyclist of the Year award.
This full Team Green backing is the final piece in Team 109’s jigsaw for the 2019 season, and team manager Paul Tobin said: “We are delighted to have Eunan riding with us again, moving up to a very competitive class and learning to ride the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R 636.
“Confidence is high and he’s hungry for more. I’ve no doubt his talent can see him push towards the front of the class.”
Trimble has come through the Youth Motocross and Mini Bike route to the short circuit scene and will be tackling BSB for the first time.
The latest of the McManus family, James, had three races in British Junior Supersport this year, showcasing his talent with points-scoring rides.
New Kawasaki British Superbike contender Glenn Irwin has been a mentor of Team 109 and commented: “It is great to see Team Green supporting young riders from Ireland.”
At the Monteblanco Circuit in Spain yesterday, Honda Racing’s new British Superbike Championship riders Andrew Irwin and Xavi Fores tested the Fireblade machines they will race in 2019.
The two-day event is the only chance they’ll get to try out the Hondas ahead of the BSB testing ban that starts in January.
Revved up: Eunan McGlinchey is set for National Superstock bid ENGLAND have kept faith with the squad that delivered an historic Test whitewash in Sri Lanka, naming the same 16 players that finished that tour for next month’s series against the West Indies.
That means no place for Surrey’s Ollie Pope, who was initially selected for Sri Lanka but left early to get game time with the Lions, and a reprieve for Kent’s Joe Denly.
The uncapped 32-year-old was not required during the 3-0 win but will once again travel as batting cover for the three Tests, ahead of Pope and his overlooked county colleague Jason Roy.
Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes was a late addition in Sri Lanka after an injury to Jonny Bairstow and deservedly takes his place as a first-choice pick after collecting man of the series honours.
The 15-man one-day squad also has a familiar look as the countdown to next summer’s World Cup continues.
Left-armer David Willey returns and Mark Wood is included ahead of Olly Stone, who made his bow in Sri Lanka.
Ben Stokes and Alex Hales have both been named in the ODI squad less than a week after a disciplinary hearing into their roles in a fight outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017, with all-rounder Stokes also included in the Test squad.
National selector Ed Smith said: “Ben is in all England formats and is one of our leading cricketers. Alex has been a central part of the white-ball team for a number of years.”
Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya, meanwhile, has been banned from international cricket with immediate effect because of an illegal bowling action.
The International Cricket Council announced the ban yesterday after Dananjaya was reported during the first Test against England in Galle at the start of November, which the tourists won by 211 runs on their way to a historic 3-0 whitewash.