Racing brothers looking to follow in father’s illustrious footsteps

Having a father who was a top road racer himself has left both Luke and Matthew Hazlett with a lot to live up to.
Luke Hazlett, left and brother Matthew preparing for the new season. Picture: Roy Adams.Luke Hazlett, left and brother Matthew preparing for the new season. Picture: Roy Adams.
Luke Hazlett, left and brother Matthew preparing for the new season. Picture: Roy Adams.

Their dad Stephen is a former Manx Grand Prix winner who has, on his day, beaten the best riders that Ireland has ever produced.

Matthew, the younger of the brothers, was first to start racing.

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He raced in the GP125 production series, moving to a GP125 bike when local joiner Bob Wylie decided he would buy him a 125.

Shortly afterwards Stephen bought Matthew bought a 125 Honda formerly ridden by Conor Parkhill and the improvements were immediate.

“I was taking one and two seconds off my lap times everywhere I went,” said Matthew.

Shortly afterwards, elder brother Luke took up the Aprilia that Matthew had raced – and Team Hazlett was born.

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“Luke showed no real interest in racing till Matthew started, and then he just took a notion that he would give it a try,” said Stephen.

For 2013, Matthew retained the wee GP bike while Luke went to the fiercely competitive Supertwins class.

Both lads will keep the same machines as last year, but Luke will have rather a lot more to get sorted for the start of the new season, having wrecked his bike at the Sunflower at the end of last year.

I had a trip to the team HQ last week and found both the boys there. Matthew was cleaning the frame of his bike while Luke was giving ‘helpful advice’ I think it was called, and drinking tea. “My engines away getting rebuilt so when it get back we can get stuck in,” he told me.

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The same group of loyal sponsors have stayed with the lads for 2014, and they have especially asked that I take a minute to thank them: Redz Piano Bar and Grill at Junction One; RD Mechanical Services at Mallusk; McKinstry Skip Hire; Plant Hoses; Hazlett Brothers Building Contractors and www.loungebarsMYC.com

“We won’t be bothering with the Masters this year, because there’s nothing for us in it. We’ll probably do the Bishopscourt round though,” said Stephen.

Other than that, Team Hazlett will just race at the ISB meetings both North and South. I wish them well.

Roy Adams

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