Temple Motorcycle & Athletic Club host second round of Ulster Superbike Championship
This year’s SBT Ireland USBK Championship is set to be another exhilarating season of Northern Irish Short Circuit racing at its finest.
The Temple Motorcyle & Athletic Club are honoured to be hosting the second round of racing on Saturday April 18 at Bishopscourt race track and are particularly thrilled with rider entries, a veritable roster of well established seasoned racers, guest riders and some very promising newcomers.
At a recent Press Conference at Eight South, Carryduff, Temple Club Secretary Mark Harrison announced that this year the Temple Club will run their Supersport 600 race as the Davy Morgan Memorial Race in memory of Temple club member, friend and local road racing legend DM71.
Sponsorship for the prize fund of £1750 has been raised by local businesses and supporters of Davy Morgan. This is a great incentive for competitors plus the opportunity to be the first winner etched on the new Lincoln Stanley Davy Morgan Memorial Cup to be an annual race event.
BPE by Russell Racing represents accomplished riders Richard Cooper & Mike Browne. Team owner Alastair Russell confirmed at the Press Conference that both will be competing at Bishopscourt on April 18th. Spectators can look forward to seeing Cooper onboard his Yamaha R9 in both Supersport and Superbike races with Dublin’s Mike Browne racing a Honda Fireblade in the Superbike and Yamaha R9 in the Supersport class. Locally Ballynahinch rider Korie McGreevy will no doubt be up for the challenge and as reigning Ulster Supersport Champion welcome news of the DM Memorial race, ready to take to the grid.
Alun Gorman owner of SBT Racing introduced his 2026 team made up of ex BSB rider Luke Jones and Carrickfergus man Mark Conlin. Conlin will be making the shift this season from veteran Supersport rider to Superbike rookie, both will ride Ducati V4’s.
Also travelling from Carrickfergus to the Temple Club’s round is multiple winner at Bishopscourt Alastair Sealey who will take his place on the grid on April 18 in anticipation of what looks to be a big racing year ahead for him.
The JMcC race team run by Jason McCaw sees Ballyclare rider Warren Knowles who has worked his way through the ranks previously winning at Moto One, 600cc & Supersport Cup class, now competing in Supersport Pro on a Yamaha R6. Team mate Jamie Dickson from Moneyslane is no newcomer to the championship but now joins JMcC Race team to ride a Kawasaki 636 in the Supersport class.
The JMcC team will also be representing both Jeremy McWilliams & Andy Reid throughout the season with Jeremy Confirmed for April 18 taking part in the DM Memorial Supersport 600 race on his Ducati V2.
Jonny Campbell of 155 Racing had a slow start last season but pulled back the podiums and points to finish up second on his BMW M1000RR to Lisburn’s Carl Phillips.
This year Campbell hopes to prove he has what it takes to regain his USBK Champion title. With Korie McGreevy and Carl Phillips in his sights the 2026 title is there for the taking.
Up for that challenge in this season’s Superbike class and planning to secure pole position on his Honda Fireblade is HIllsborough rider and Temple Club Member Aaron Spence of Sebden Steel/Spence Engineering he’s onboard for a full season of USBK after competing in BSB last year.
It is always promising to hear an experienced rider such as Christian Elkin say he is excited about his 2026 Ducati V2, Aprilia 600 RS, tech team and race season ahead. Elkin looks forward to Bishopscourt on April 18, when he will share the grid with some impressive company, driven by the competition to improve lap time and overall performance.
Alun Gorman of SBT Ireland will be sponsoring the entire championship once more this year putting up a hefty £5000 prize fund for the top three Championship riders of the season and £1000 prize fund for the Temple Club’s round in Superbike Class.
The prize pot in place for the Temple club round alone is substantial with many local businesses supporting the club and the sport by sponsoring each race with trophys, winnings and advertising.
There is over £6000 in prize money on April 18 up for grabs, thanks to SBT Ireland, Spence Engineering, SG Jones, Ashvale Engineering, Air NI, Megoran Sand & Gravel and WD Foods plus the many loyal supporters of the inaugural Davy Morgan Memorial Race.
Big prize money draws big names and spectators can expect to see talent from all across the UK, Ireland and the Isle of Man at Bishopscourt in the second round of racing this season.
Coming in strong to next Saturdays race meet is Road Racer Paul Jordan on his Jackson Racing Honda he’ll compete against Jeremy McWilliams, Richard Cooper, Alastair Sealey, Mike Browne plus many more. Gary McCoy will be joining the grid in this second round and everyone will be delighted to see him back on track.
There is significant prestige and silverware up for grabs at the second round USBK to include: The Sam McBride Memorial Cup, The Lincoln Stanley Davy Morgan Memorial Cup, The Philip Wylie Memorial Cup. The Ashvale Engineering Cup, DKK Memorial cup, McCaw Memorial Cup and the Temple 100 cup.
The riders are signed up and tuning up to turn up, but no race would be complete without the Motorcycle Racing community’s support on the day.
With a full day of top notch racing planned and a healthy dose of adrenalin fuelled spectator sport, where else would you be but trackside at Bishopscourt April 18.
Racing starts at 11am. Admission £15. Under 16’s go free