By Making a much welcomed return this month, the Around A Pound Tandragee 100 (27th-28th June) hasn’t lost any of its popularity, despite been two years off the roads’ scene.
The upcoming 61st Anniversary meeting, boasts an entry-list of 110 plus racers, mixing Irish roads royalty, top IOM roads aces, ambitious rising talents, event stalwarts and over 45 debutants.
BE/RK Racing’s Conor Cummins, who’s last T100 tenure was in 2007, the same year in which he captured the Duke Road Race Rankings title, is arguably the most high-profile returnee entrant, piloting M1000RR BMW, V2 Panigale Ducati metal.
Joining Cummins as anticipated pursuers of first-rate Supersport/Superbike/Super Twin results are Banbridge’s Shaun Anderson, Northwest 200 rostrum finisher Michael Sweeney (intention to compete, confirmed to Road Racing News) and Darryl Tweed (Novo Gen by FAO Racing – Aprilia).
Others with the skillset, aiming for the sharp end of Supersport Next Generation, Super Twins, Open, Feature Open races include Marcus ‘Spartacus’ Simpson (WH Racing Powered by Dynobike), James Chawke, Neil Kernohan, Andy Farrell, ten times TT winner Ian Lougher and Isle of Wight flyer Ryan Whitehall.
Outside the four stroke classes, 125/Moto 3, two stroke, 400, Supersport 300, Supermono, yesteryear racing alumni planning to race, include:
Barry Davidson, Richard Ford, Andy Hornby, Rad Hughes, Stephen Tobin, Gareth Arnold, Dave Walsh, Richard Ford, Mark Johnson and German road racing explorer Chris Meyer.
Moving focus onto the Junior, Senior Support fields, there’s to name but a few, Italian rider Enrico Rocchi, Noel Smith, John Cahill, Brian Loughlin, Pre-TT Classic podium finisher Ashley Robson, John O’Donovan and the evergreen Roddy Taylor.
Just some of the 45 exceeding T100 newcomers include Manx GP winners Joe Yeardsley (Scott Racing), Dan Ingham, France’s quickest TT racer Amalric Blanc (TH Racing), winners at Cookstown in April, Sean Brolly, Caomhan Canny.
Lee Osprey (Trison McMullan Racing), Owen Monaghan, Martin Morris, Sidecar TT hero Dan Sayle and ex works Honda BSB rider, Cowton Racing’s Franco Bourne.
Aside the entry-list latest, additional notable disclosures from last night’s press launch included that the race schedule will expand to twelve contests, with two non-Championship races, Classic Superbike race tilt added to the event itinerary.
The overall prize fund available to competitors, tops £12,500 pounds whilst the leading Irish pilot from Senior Support competition, will attain the newly created, Alan Connor Memorial Award.
Chapeau to organisers, the North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club Ltd for maintaining the T100’s continuous, never-ending place amongst real road racing’s most respected, prestigious and loved events.
Reminder, action commences on the 27th of June, with roads expected to close from 11:00 AM ahead of qualifying, opening races.
Photo credit: Tommy Vennard
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
