By Left feeling bored post watching the Ducati dominated World Superbikes, the perfect antidote unleashes into prominence this week, Irish road racings’ longest running national roads meeting, the Bear Competitions Cookstown 100!
Our pre-event previews series, begins today with focus upon the next-generation Supersport, Open and Grand Final races.
2025 Ulster Road Race Superbike Champion, former Duke Road Race Rankings Champion Michael Sweeney, runner-up in the past year’s Grand Final to Michael Dunlop MBE, is-expected to contest again for race victories.
The Skerries ace, holding his customary sixty-five plate, middleweight/1000cc categories machines assemblage, remains to-be-officially outlined.
Jackson Racing Powered by Prosper2’s Paul Jordan (runner-up within both of last week’s Davy Morgan Memorial Supersport races at Bishopscourt – national circuit configuration) makes his Cookstown comeback and will have eyes on a first road race win with new V2 Panigale Ducati tackle.
Current IRRC Superbike Champion, Darryl Tweed, aboard JLR (Jamie Lyons Racing) Racing by Ability Energy’s Honda, Stanley Stewart Racing by Novogen’s Triumph, victory potential as applied to Jordan, Sweeney is significant.
Daracore Racing’s Kevin Keyes, 2024 Grand Final podium finisher Ryan Whitehall (astride ex Jim Hind GSXR 1000 Suzuki equipment), Marcus Simpson (David & Donna Buckley) all have front running potential.
Don’t underestimate as well the likes of Austria’s top international road race Julian Trummer (Smith Racing), Senior Manx Grand Prix winner Caomhan Canny (Scott Racing Aprilia), Steve Henshaw Gold Cup top three finisher Don Gilbert (Parker Car Transport Racing), Kevin Lavery, Dean McMaster (Air NI Kawasaki).
Neil Kernohan, the Chawke brothers James & Liam, FAO Racing’s Lee Hara, Darryl Anderson (DKR Honda), Andy Farrell, Joe Loughlin (Parker Car Transport Racing) and the People’s Bike Team’s Sam Johnson.
Further depth to the 1000cc, 600cc/next generation fields is-provided by Dean Campbell (LDC Suzuki), Kidderminster’s Martin Morris, stock Supersport class winner x2 at the Oliver’s Mount Bob Smith Spring Cup, John Marsh.
Gareth Arnold, MD Racing supported Graham McAleese, Sean Brolly, the evergreen Stephen ‘Degsy’ Degnan.
Plus, newcomers in particular former IRRC Superbike Champion, Germany’s fastest TT Races competitor David ‘Datziii’ Datzer (Roadhouse Macau) and son of TT winner Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle, Illiam Quayle.
Not long at all now till the Orritor Circuit is-serenaded by Kawasaki’s, Honda’s, BMW’s, Yamaha’s, Suzuki’s, Triumph’s, Italian exotica.
Roll on Friday, Saturday 25th-26th of April, crackerjack, epic tussles are pending.
Photo credit: Derek Wilson
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
