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Motorcycle Road Racing, Motorcycling, Motorsports, news, Sports
Motorcycle Road Racing, Motorcycling, Motorsports, news, Sports
Motorcycle Road Racing, Motorcycling, Motorsports, news, Sports
Motorcycle Road Racing, Motorcycling, Motorsports, news, Sports
Events, Motorcycle Road Racing, Motorcycling, Motorsports, news, Sports, Tourism
Motorcycling, Motorsports, Sports
You may notice some subtle changes in the site over the coming weeks and months. Nothing too drastic, just a general tidy up and maintenance.
Some old dead posts are likely to disappear but chances you would even notice are slim to nil.
However some bugs may appear, please, if you find any let me know but dropping me a note on this post or via email [email protected]
MCUI(UC) Press Release on Funding for Motorsports Safety : (06/02/2025)
The Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) have released a statement on the funding announcement of £187,000 from the NI Governement to improve Motorsports safety.
For immediate release: 06/02/2025
MCUI (UC) Welcomes Announcement of Funding from NI Communities Minister Gordon Lyons with £187,000 Motorsports Safety Investment The Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre), the Governing Body for Motorcycle Tarmac Racing in Northern Ireland, had the pleasure to attend the press announcement of funding for Motorsports from Northern Ireland’s Department of Communities
Minister Gordon Lyons on Tuesday.
Minister Gordon Lyons announced funding of £187,000 to enable the motorsports sector to benefit from health and safety equipment. This funding for the Governing Bodies has been long overdue and is very much welcomed by the MCUI (UC) and the
clubs that promote motorcycle tarmac racing.
This funding will enable us to obtain much needed safety equipment for our Road Racing events and circuits. Safety bales and Pole
protectors are top of our priority list for items required for the upcoming road racing season.
The “pure road racing” season kicks off at the end of April with the Cookstown 100 and is quickly followed by the NW200. Tandragee 100 returns after five years, the North Armagh club has been working very hard with safety improvements for their event
at the end of June. Armoy “Race of Legend’s is on the last weekend in July.
Minister Lyons said: “Motorsports have always been part of Northern Ireland’s world class sporting legacy, attracting riders and
spectators from across the globe to events such as the North West 200 and other road racing circuits every year”.
Minister Lyons spent time with representatives from the governing bodies to hear more about how the equipment will be used at
events for bikes, cars, karting.
Minister Lyons highlighted the need to provide safer conditions for the youth in sport, saying:
“We have some of the best motorsport talent in the world here in Northern Ireland and local races and circuits are important to develop their careers. While the danger remains present, as it always will at high speeds, this funding, distributed through Sport NI,
will boost rider and driver safety as well as the safety of teams, officials and visitors.”
The MCUI (UC) are proud of our competitors’ achievements now and in the past. Our section of the sport has probably produced more World Champions than any other sport, we definitely punch above our weight with 15 world championships. We are also well represented in British Championships with around 25 competitors in last year’s championship.
The MCUI (UC) season starts on 22d March with a closed event for the new competition licence assessment day.
The Ulster Superbike Championship lifts off on Saturday 5* April at Bishopscourt Racing Circuit, this is the first of a nine-round
championship which will be held at Bishopscourt and Kirkistown racing circuits.
We would like to send our gratitude and thanks to Minister Lyons, NI Department of Communities, all the MLA’s who assisted the
Minister, SportNI and 2&4 Wheel Steering Group.
Road Racing Set to Return to Ireland in 2025 :
Insurance issues have resulted in no road racing in the Republic of Ireland since 2023 however the Road Race Alliance of Ireland have announced that they have secured an insurance policy for 2025 and racing is now scheduled to take place at Walderstown, the Faugheen 50 and the Limerick races at Athea. The RRAI have also stated that they are hopeful even more events will go ahead this year.
The Road Race Alliance of Ireland is the newly established body for Road Racing in the Southern Centre. The goal of the RRAI is to secure a future for the Sport, sustain and grow our Road Racing Sport.
After what seems like an eternity since the last motorcycles took to the roads here in the Southern Centre, the RRAl are pleased to announce that the organisation has in fact secured an insurance policy to cover several events for 2025. Ever since the Road Race Clubs took the unenviable decision to leave Motorcycling Ireland last October, diligent work was undertaken by the Clubs to work together under the RRAI umbrella and leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of securing a policy that will result in our sport returning to where it belongs, among the hedges and roads in the Republic.
The RRAI sought to address the MCUl Inter-Centre Conference last December to discuss several developments, however, this was sadly denied.
Triumph Joins up with KTS Racing and Jamie Coward for 2025 :
Triumph Motorcycles have announced, via a press release, that they have joined forces with KTS Racing and Jamie Coward for the Supersports category at the 2025 editions of North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT Races . KTS will also switch from Honda to BMW in the Superbike and Superstock Classes.
Triumph Racing’s Factory team in British Supersport and National Sportbike has joined forces with road racing masters KTS Racing to form KTS Macadam Triumph Factory Racing.
The team will contest this year’s North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT with three-time TT Privateer Champion Jamie Coward aboard a Triumph Street Triple 765.
In 2024 Coward finished the world-renowned Isle of Man TT in 4th place on his KTS Racing Triumph Street Triple 765, setting his personal best average lap time of 128.8mph and securing the Isle of Man TT Privateer award for the third year in a row.
Paul Jordan Remains with Jackson Racing for 2025 :
Paul Jordan will remain with Jackson Racing for the 2025 Season as confirmed by a Press Release.
Jackson Racing is thrilled to announce that Paul Jordan will return for a second season with the team in 2025. Alongside him, the team is excited to reveal that Josh Brookes will join as his teammate for the NW200 and Isles of Man TT.
The pairing of Jordan and Brookes promises to bring a dynamic and competitive edge to Jackson Racing, as both riders bring a wealth of experience and talent to the team. Fans and supporters can look forward to an exciting season ahead with this formidable duo on board.
Stay tuned for more updates as Jackson Racing prepares for the 2025 season!
“We’re thrilled to have Paul Jordan with us for a second year at Jackson Racing. His talent, determination, and ability to adapt have been evident from the start, and his performances in 2024 showed exactly why we wanted him on the team.”
Josh Brookes back for the 2025 North West 200 :
It has been confirmed via a Press Release that Josh Brookes will ride at the 2025 North West 200 Road Races alongside Jackson Racing.
JOSH BROOKES RETURNS TO ACTION AT 2025 BRIGGS EQUIPMENT NORTH WEST 200 WITH JACKSON RACING HONDA
Josh Brookes, a former double British Superbike champion and an outright lap record holder around the 8.9 mile Triangle course, will return to Portrush with the Jackson Racing Prosper2 team during this year’s Briggs Equipment North West 200 race week on May 5-10.
The 41 year old Australian will compete alongside Northern Ireland’s Paul Jordan on Superbike, Superstock and Supersport-spec Hondas prepared by Alan Jackson’s Preston-based squad.
Paul Jordan enjoyed a run of top six finishes on the Jackson Racing machines in the Merrow Hotel and Spa Superbike race, CP Hire Superstock event, Tides Restaurant and Fraser Homes Supersport races at last year’s North West.
‘We want to build on that success.’ the team principal said.
2025 Dakar Results :
The 2025 Dakar has come to an end following a dramatic two weeks of racing across every class. A two week period that saw bikes, cars and trucks cross the desert in a race, which is for most, simply to reach the finish line – which saw some of the sports biggest teams and names fail to cross the finish line after incidents including crashes, retirements and even FIA instigated withdrawals.
The highlight reel for the 2025 Dakar can be found here :
Todd Back with Milenco by Padgett’s for 2025
A Press Release has confirmed that Davey Todd will be back with the Milenco by Padgett’s Tram in 2025 for the Supersport and Supertwin classes at the 2025 Isle of Man TT Races.
Davey Todd will be reunited with former Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles Racing team at the 2025 Isle of Man TT Races, contesting the Supersport and Supertwin races for the Batley-based team.
Todd will ride the latest spec Honda CBR600RR in the two four-lap Monster Energy Supersport race and will also campaign a Paton in the three-lap Metzeler and Entire Cover insurance Supertwin races in what will be the Padgett’s’ team first foray into the Supertwin class.
Todd, who will line up for the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad team in the 1000cc races at this year’s TT, enjoyed great success with Clive Padgett’s team between 2019 and 2023, starting with a brace of top ten finishes in the 2019 Supersport TT races.
2022 and 2023 saw him compete solely for the team, one of the most successful in the history of the Isle of Man TT, where he took his maiden rostrum in 2022 when he placed third in the Superstock race, and fourth in the second Supersport and Senior races.
He went on to take three more top six finishes at TT 2023 before leaving the team in 2024 where achieved his best results in the Supersport and Supertwin classes.
He finished second and third as well as posting a new personal best Supersport lap of 128.785mph and a brace of sixths in the two Supertwin races where he lapped at 119.359mph.
No Road Racing for Lee Johnston in 2025 :
Lee Johnston has announced his plans for 2025, and there will be no road racing in 2025 for the Northern Irish riser. Lee will be joining the Swan Racing by SENCAT team for the 2025 season of the British Supersport championship.
He has given full details of his 2025 plans in his latest vlog which you can find here :
Hopefully he finds a seat in the commentary box for the TT+, he was brilliant in 2024! (If you are listening Isle of Man TT)
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Burrows / RK Racing to Ducati for 2025 :
BURROWS ENGINEERING / RK RACING WILL SWITCH TO A DUCATI V2 SUPERSPORT MACHINE IN 2025
Burrows Engineering / RK Racing have issued a press release detailing a big change in their machinery for the 2025 Season…
Burrows Engineering / RK Racing is excited to announce that we will be switching to the Ducati Panigale V2 for the 2025 season. After a lot of success on the Yamaha R6, it’s time for a fresh challenge, and we can’t wait to get started on the Italian machine.
The Ducati V2 has been proven as a very capable package on both short circuits and road racing over the past few years.
For our rider Conor Cummins, this will be a milestone – his first time riding a Ducati. Conor is no stranger to pushing bikes to their limits, and he’s excited to get to grips with the Ducati.
“I am really excited about riding the Ducati V2 next year, it will be the first time I’ve ridden a Ducati and it makes me excited for a couple of reasons. Ducati is an iconic brand within motorcycling and they always turn heads with how cool they look so that is one element. The second reason and the most important being that I think the Ducati will really benefit me in the way it rides. Coming from conventional 4 cylinder 600cc machines I’ve felt that the initial punch off the turn is somewhere I’ve always been compromised because of my stature, but with the twin cylinder Ducati being very strong in the lower rev range I feel that will be a big benefit to my riding. Overall together with the BMW M1000RR’s, I think John and the team have put a very capable package beneath me for next year and I’ll be ready to go come the start of the season.”
For team boss John Burrows, this is also the start of an exciting new adventure with another manufacture which he is looking forward too.
“I am really looking forward to running the Ducati V2 next year, we have campaigned the R6 for a long time now and I felt as if we needed a new challenge and to start to make our way into the new generation Supersport machines. In racing things change fast and you have to run with the times. I had initially thought about running the new Yamaha R9, but again that would have been an unproven package and logistically with timings it might have arrived too close to our important races next year. The Ducati is tried, tested and proven in both disciplines of racing and I felt it was the best package to go with for Conor. Ducati is an iconic brand and I’m looking forward to running it in 2025.”
FHO Racing Return to 2025 NW200 :
The NW200 have confirmed in a social media post that FHO Racing will return to the 2025 North West 200.
Following a two year absence, the FHO Racing BMW team will compete at the 2025 Briggs Equipment North West 200 with Peter Hickman and new signing, Davey Todd aboard M1000RR BMWs in the Superbike and Superstock races during May 5-10 Race Week.
‘Having missed the last two years, I am happy to say FHO Racing will be participating in the 2025 North West 200 with my two rider line-up.’ team owner, Faye Ho said.
‘I am very much looking forward to coming back and putting on a good show for everyone and it will be great to see all of the team’s fans again. Hope to see you all in 2025!’
A delighted NW200 Race Director, Mervyn Whyte, agreed the deal during November’s Macau Grand Prix, ensuring one of the principal race teams and two of the leading riders in the British Superbike championship will be on the grid at Portrush in May.
‘Davey Todd won this year’s British Superstock championship and moves up to the Superbike series for 2025 where he is joining Peter Hickman.’ Whyte said.
‘Both Davey and Peter are leading contenders on the roads and tracks and the FHO Racing BMWs have a well-established pedigree of success so this is very exciting news for North West 200 fans.’
Hickman won the JM Paterson and Milltown Service Station Supertwin races at last year’s NW200 and Todd claimed a brilliant hat-trick in the CP Hire and Amici Ristorante Superstock events plus the Tides Restaurant Supersport race.