Bike fans gear up for show

Fittingly, the event will be held in the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre on Friday, March 5 from 5pm until 10pm and Saturday, March 6 at 10am until 5pm.

In its 12th year, the show has proved to be one of the most popular events in the sporting calendar, attracting visitors from across Northern Ireland as well as a host of motorcycling's top names.

Over the years this show has donated part of the proceeds to a wide range of charities.

This year the organisers have decided the Robert Dunlop Memorial Sculpture Fund would be a worthy cause, so they encourage the public to support the event by attending.

Bikes used by Joey and Robert as well as Raymond McCullough, Adrian Craig, Con Law, Paul Robinson and Michael, William and Sam Dunlop will be on show.

As well as 2010 road bikes there will be off-roaders, classic, vintage, custom, fun bikes and racing karts. And due to demand, an auto-jumble will also be held.

Around 60,000 is required to commission the tribute statue to the famous Ballymoney road racer, who was tragically killed following a crash during practice for the 250cc race at the North West 200 in 2008.

To date, over 20,000 has been raised through a series of fundraisers.

Event organiser Davy Louden said: "My main aim this year is to have as many racing bikes as possible and I also hope to try and get in touch with people like Ken Beckett and other guys who raced along with Robert Dunlop in the 50cc class to get some of their machines along to the show.

"All the proceeds will be going to the Robert Dunlop Memorial Sculpture Fund.

"Anyone who wants to book trade space at the show should get in touch with me as soon as possible, because it always sells out fast," he added.

"Trade space will be provided free of charge, but all I ask in return is for a donation to the Robert Dunlop Sculpture Fund.

"We're hoping to have a lot of riders at the show and William and Michael Dunlop should be there along with Paul Robinson and others."

For further information, contact Davy on: (0792) 206 0107, admission is just 6 with under-12s and OAPs paying just 2 to enter