Martin and Dunlop to make 2015 Irish debuts at Cookstown 100

Grimsby based Martin, who has been suggested as a possible successor to Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear, said he sees the race as “great way to blow off the winter cobwebs”.

Speaking about his first Irish outing for the Moneymore based team, he said: “I’m really looking forward to it now.

“I missed last year and quite a bit of good racing from what I hear, so it’ll be a good way to roll out the big BMW for the first time.

“It’ll be mint and I’m sure a few of the other top boys will turn up for a decent bit of racing.”

William Dunlop, of legendary the road-racing family, said he is also looking forward to getting back on the Orritor circuit - and hopes that this year he will clinch a win.

“I was disappointed to lose out on the big bike win last year on corrected time,” he said, “so it’s a great incentive to go back to Cookstown next month.

“It is a great little circuit and the club put on a top event, so I’ll being doing my best to try to notch up my first win for Tyco BMW.

Team manager Philip Neil added: “Supporting our local event is always of paramount importance when the calendar allows.

“We are always very aware of our local supporters and how little they get to see us race at home these days, due to our British championship commitments.

“Taking that into consideration and with Cookstown being right on our doorstep, it’s always a pleasure to turn out at the event.”

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