Burns eyes history books as he heads to the Mount

NEWCASTLE’S former Motogp racer Chris Burns could be set to pen a new page in the history books next weekend when he makes his debut at Oliver’s Mount.

The Geordie, who is making his comeback after nearly a decade away from competitive action, is poised to be the first modern-era world championship rider, current or former, to take on the Scarborough road race as he heads to the season-opening Spring Cup.

The North Yorkshire venue was a hotbed of global talent back in the days of 500cc grands prix, when the likes of Barry Sheene, Mick Grant and Wayne Gardner raced there.

But since the start of the Motogp era in the early-2000s, no riders have bridged the gap and mixed it up at England’s only road race.

Burns, who raced with the WCM GP squad for two full seasons in 2003 and 2004, is set to break the trend in his first competitive outing since 2012 as he heads to the Mount with Wilson Craig Racing.

He will be teaming up with rising star Davey Todd, who returns to race at Scarborough for the first time since 2017.

While this weekend is set to be a one-off for Todd with Wilson Craig, it is rumoured he could join the team for the foreseeable roads season.