Rising star Adam McLean hoping for a change of luck at North West 200

Rising star Adam McLean is hoping for a change in fortune at this year’s fonaCAB International North West 200 in association with Nicholl Oils.
Adam McLean pictured with his McAdoo Racing Kawasaki on the north coast.Adam McLean pictured with his McAdoo Racing Kawasaki on the north coast.
Adam McLean pictured with his McAdoo Racing Kawasaki on the north coast.

The 22-year-old only finished one race in 2018, taking fourth in the first Supertwin event.

He was also fortunate to escape injury following a spectacular crash during qualifying after clipping a kerb on the exit of Juniper chicane on his Kawasaki Supertwin.

McLean, though, has shown his potential at the North West after clinching a superb fourth place in the Supersport class in 2017.

“I had no luck at last year’s North West,” said McLean

“I only finished one race, taking a fourth place in the first Supertwin event.

“I’ve shown I have the pace for some decent results. I just need to bring it all together to get some solid results,” added McLean, who was a regular podium challenger at the Irish national road races in 2018 and a Supertwin winner at the Ulster GP.

“I’m still learning my way around the ZX10-RR Superbike. At the minute it’s really taking me for a sail!

“But my priority is to get lots of miles in during testing and to learn. I know it can take two to three years to get to grips with a Superbike - I’m not panicking.”

The young Ulster rider was left stunned last year following the tragic death of his McAdoo team-mate, James Cowton, in a crash at the Southern 100 on the Isle of Man.

However, McLean decided he would race on and he really came to the fore at the Ulster Grand Prix, sealing a podium in the Supersport race and taking victory in the Supertwin class – his first international road racing victory.

“I felt really down after what happened to James,” he said.

“But I wanted to race on and at the Ulster Grand Prix I put the visor down and rode the best that I’ve done in my career.”

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