Here is the official Press Release from Honda Racing re the 2017 NW200 – All you John McGuinness fans lift a McPint in his honour and join me in wishing the chap a full and speedy recovery! We will miss you John on the Mountain Course this year! For all you Guy Martin fans, wish him all the luck in the world on his only ride this year on the Wilson Craig Honda!
Thursday Night traditionally brings 3 races to open the events actual racing. It is a pleasure to say this year the Thursday Night passed without incident, all 3 races getting off on time, to their full duration and a cracking evenings racing, marred only by the crash involving John McGuinnes earlier in the days Superbike Session.
Here are the results of the first three races of the 2017 International North West 200!
Another glorious day at the North Coast and another early morning into afternoon qualifying session, then it all got underway with the Thursday night Race Session.
So without further a do here is how the qualifying went :
A gorgeous sun drenched North Coast of Northern Ireland set the scene for the first Practice / Qualifying Session of the 2017 International North West 200.
This is why we love the North Coast – when it’s good it’s so good!
The sun was out and just after 10am the riders came out and entertained us for the next 5 hours or so.
Here is a quick run down of the results from each of the sessions.
(I have plenty of pics to sort out too, but first things first, here is how things are playing out leading up to Thursday’s session).
SUPERBIKES :
1. Alastair Seeley (Tyco BMW) 4m 25.1s 121.811mph
2. Michael Rutter (Bathams/SMT BMW (4m 26.670s 121.093mph
Race week is fast approaching and here are all the details you need to catch all the action…
|
Tuesday 9th May |
Practice |
9.15am – 3.00pm |
|
Thursday 11th May |
Practice |
9.15am – 3.00pm |
|
Thursday 11th May |
Evening Racing |
5.00pm – 9.00pm |
|
Saturday 13th May |
Race Day |
9.15am – 7.00pm |
After last weeks soaking I had been keeping an constant eye on the weather forecast for Cookstown and the Cookstown 100 Races.
It changed every day! Sunny, wet, overcast, wet, sunny but cold… it just changed every time I looked it up!
By this morning the forecast was dry but overcast and then some rain round about 1pm that should blow over pretty quickly.
With that in mind I figured the trip would be worth it and I ventured towards my first ever Cookstown 100.
It wasn’t far wrong…
As I said above this was my first Cookstown 100 and it is instantly one of my favourite race meetings.
Maybe I was just lucky but the spot I managed to find was outstanding. The bikes were close, fast and spent most of the time I seen them either on the back wheel or in the air. It was truly amazing and has instantly made me a huge fan of this event! The effort these guys were putting in was breath taking.
The event had many red flags, pretty much a red flag for every race – bar the 125 / Moto 3 race and the Classics. Thankfully there were no reports of any serious injuries. More than that, even with so many incidents to deal with the organisers still managed to get the full program raced – leading to a great day for the riders and spectators alike.
I haven’t had a look through my camera yet but I think I managed some awesome photos so a full gallery will follow shortly but in the meantime here’s what you came here for…
The 2017 Cookstown 100 Results :
Episode 2 of the outstanding BBC Documentary Road Riders aired on Wednesday, so if you
missed it it is still available on the iPlayer.
Here is the Official BBC Micro Site : Road Riders
Here is the link to the iPlayer Page with the latest episode ready for your viewing pleasure : Road Riders Series 1 Episode 2 – BBC iPlayer
So it is practice day for the for the Cookstown 100 and the roads are currently closed (until 21:30) so there is still plenty of time for you to get there and get watching some high octane pre race sessions.
Tomorrow is Race Day and the roads will close at 10:00am sharp – so don’t be late.
Here is some vital information to make sure you get there on time :
Oh and in case this has any sway on your attendance, Motorbike Racing Royalty will be in attendance : (William Dunlop has also confirmed a late entry 😉 )
Bye bye #Texas ❤️ I'm off to meet some of the bravest people in the world #roadracers @cookstown100 ??? pic.twitter.com/B46o4hwAlZ
— Suzi Perry (@suziperry) April 26, 2017
Today (25/04/2017) it was tragically announced that Italian Road Racer, Dario Cecconi, succumbed to injuries received at the Tandragee 100 on Saturday 22nd April 2017.
Rest in Peace / Ride in Peace Dario.
PRESS RELEASE 11 TANDRAGEE 100 2017
25th APRIL 2017
STATEMENT REGARDING DARIO CECCONI
The North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club (Tarmac Section) Ltd deeply regrets to announce that Dario Cecconi, a 38 year old competitor from Italy, who sustained serious injuries after the chequered flag had gone out for the Senior Support Race on Saturday 22nd April 2017 has succumbed to his injuries.
Dario was a much loved competitor, who called the Tandragee 100 his ‘home’, did much to promote the Tandragee 100 across Europe and even had a tattoo of the Tandragee 100 Course on his arm. Dario started racing for fun at track days in Tuscany on a 600cc Suzuki and at the end of 2009, he decided that road racing was what he wanted to concentrate on. On the 12th June 2010, Dario set out on his first road race, Carpasio-Pratipiani.
When Dario first came to Tandragee in 2012 and was asked for his opinion of Irish Road Racing he replied “I completely fell in love with the Irish Road Racing World! I like the riders, the courses, the spectators and everyone in and around the paddock…I come in my van, by myself, for about 45 hours only to travel 45 hours back home again and I love it. There is a special atmosphere we can find only there. No other tracks give us this thrill, and no other meetings give us the sense of being part of a family.”
When asked what makes him love racing, he gave what can only be described as an honest answer, “When I race, I feel free – I do not think, just act or react. It’s a sort of trance and it is absolutely amazing. I feel at home and calm when I have my helmet on and the visor down, it’s hard to explain…everything is natural.”
Dario will be very sadly missed by the Club. Dario was an experienced competitor who had competed in a number of Irish Road Races; this year being his 6th year at Tandragee.
The Officials and the Club extend their sympathy to Dario’s family and partner at this saddest of times.
Anne Forsythe
Clerk of Course
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW6Z_zWcwE4&w=560&h=315]
Guy Martin’s return to the road racing scene took an early spill at the 2017 Tandragee 100 when his Honda collided with that of fellow racer, Paul Jordan, at Marlacoo Corner, on the opening lap of the Superbike Race.
Most importantly neither rider was hurt and as the photographs show it turned into probably the most amicable spill ever with the two guys sitting up, having a chat and a cup of tea.
Paul Jordan even found the light hearted side of the crash a short time later on his Twitter Feed.
So today Guy Matrin wanted to meet me, had to tell him after there is always easier ways to say hello. Both of us were totally fine. ?? pic.twitter.com/j00bVVClpx
— Paul Jordan (@PaulJordan61) April 22, 2017