Mid Antrim date set

The Mid Antrim Motorcycle Club are holding a 90s Night on Saturday, March 20, in the Rangers Club, Clough.

According to Derek McWhirter, there will be a bike film show, and also a display of period bikes, race photos etc. A chat show will be hosted by race commentator George McCann, where it’s hoped that Philip McCallen, James Courtney, Alan Irwin and Adrian Archibald will be on hand to answer questions on their careers, and anything else that punters might like to throw at them.

The evening will be rounded off by a disco, with music provided by Davy Black.

On Thursday, March 25, top bike photographer Stephen Davison, will give a talk and show photos from his files. This is in the Ecos Centre, Ballymena, at 8pm.

Further details can be found on www.midantrim150.co.uk

TRIAL CANCELLED

Last Saturday’s Irish Championship trial, the Mid Antrim clubs Shane Cup event, fell victim to the weather, when Clerk of the Course Jimmy Dickey and his team were forced to abandon plans run the event, due to snow.

The club inspected the Parkmore Forest course on Thursday, and decided that due to the amount of snow in the sections, the meeting should be posponed, and a new date applied for. It is hoped to go ahead within the next few weeks.

BISHOPSCOURT TEST DAY

The Bishopscourt Race Circuit is to stage a test day, for race bikes only, this weekend.

The cost will be 60, or 70Euro. Testing will begin at 10am, and no Classic bikes or sidecars will be permitted.

This is normally the only properly organised test day that is held solely for race bikes, and is usually a good indicator of how various riders are going to go this year. I will be down at Bishopscourt, and am going to try to sort out a few photos of some of the local riders.

EASTER WEEKEND RACES

The Easter weekend race meeting at Bishopscourt is taking shape, entry-wise.

The MCRRC and Killinchy clubs combine to organise this 2 day meeting, which will have the first three rounds of the Irish Championships. The dates are Friday and Saturday, April 2-3.

The feature race of the weekend, held on the Saturday, will be the 34th running of the Enkalon Trophy event, where last years winner, Keith Amor, has already confirmed his participation. He will come up against men like Cameron Donald, Bruce Anstey, Adrian Archibald, John Burrows, Michael Pearson, Stephen Thompson, Gerard Kinghan, James Dickson and last years ISB runner up, Mark Johnston.

In the 125/250 races, the English Brothers, Robert and Christopher, Paul Robinson, Barry Davidson and local man Denver Robb are all entered. Robert was one of the 'finds' of the 2009 season, taking the Clubmans title and ending his year in second place in the Irish 125 championship.

I have no further details at the minute of any other entries, but with all ISB classes catered for, including sidecars, I would imagine that all classes will be full.

I will have further details as we get a bit closer to the date, and I understand a press conference will be held on the 22nd of March, where final details will be announced.

LAVERTY TAKES FIRST BLOOD

Toomebridge rider Eugene Laverty fired off the first shots of the 2010 World Supersport championship, taking an emphatic win at Phillip Island, Australia, on Sunday.

Riding the Parkalgar Honda, Laverty won, by a convincing margin of 4.3 seconds, from Joan Lascorz. Former World champion, Kenan Sofuoglu was third, right on Lascorz's back wheel.

The race had to be red flagged, as an oil spill left a number of riders in the gravel. Laverty had already a healthy lead when that happened. On the re start, over a full race distance, he was second for the first half lap, and then made his move, breaking away from the rest of the field. Eugene was never in any real trouble, and watching his pit board, dictated the pace.

Another Ulster rider, Ballyclare’s Jonathon Rea, took a steady fourth place in the first WSB race. He was able to match the pace of the leaders, but in the closing stages, dropped back a few seconds, perhaps deciding that he wasnt going to be able to grab a podium.

In race two Rea overshot a corner on the opening lap, dropping back to stone last place. He fought back, and at the finish was up to sixth position. A fabulous result.