By Finishing joint fifth in Road Racing News top ten riders of the 2017 pure road racing season, are Cookstown 100, Walderstown Supersport race winner Adam McLean and Southern 100 Solo Championship runner up Dan Kneen.
The epitome of what is a rising roads star, Adam McLean has starred throughout this season in particular on 650 and 600 machinery.
Supersport wins at Cookstown and Walderstown, have been backed up by numerous notable results including brace of podium finishes at the MCE Insurance Ulster Grand Prix.
Additionally on top form at Oliver’s Mount, he regularly contended for wins at the Barry Sheene Road Race Festival and Gold Cup meetings.
Lead newcomer at TT 2017, perhaps his most notable performance this year at the international events arose within the second Supersport encounter at the North West 200, finishing a fine fourth in front of the likes of Bruce Anstey and Ian Hutchinson.
Whilst Manxman Dan Kneen has enjoyed arguably his best roads campaign since a splendid 2014 season within the Cookstown BE Racing fold.
Competing for the proven Penz 13 BMW team, the combination of the German outfits ambition to rise up the international roads pecking order and Kneen’s determination to prove his prodigious talent, proved an ideal match for both team and rider.
Additionally leading Danny Tomlinson Racing’s roads challenge, just some of the various iconic moments of 2017 included brace of rostrum finishes at the Southern 100, a Superbike victory on his debut at the famous Imatranajo meeting in Finland.
Plus of course a long awaited maiden TT podium finish in the Royal London 360 Quantum Superstock encounter.
Runner up in the second Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix, alongside becoming the second fastest rider in history around Dundrod, his performances in his maiden venture with Tyco BMW were more than enough to convince the Neill’s Philip and Hector to sign him for next season.
Both at corresponding points of their roads careers, Southern 100 runner up Kneen and MSS/Hotties backed for 2017 Adam McLean, have each individually in their own ways achieved what they wanted from what’s been a great season for two of road racing’s most naturally talented racers.
Words by Stevie Rial
