By “Unreal to be fair, didn’t really have any expectations going in, just wanted to enjoy it and the overall experience was mega.”
Ulster Road Race Junior Support Championship runner-up Bailey Harker issued nothing but upper beat vibes when surmising his maiden Mountain Course racing experience.
Twelfth within the Carole Nash Junior Manx GP encounter, Harker whose best lap-speed (109.895) neared the 110-mph lap mark, added about his first tenure, tackling road racing’s ‘Mount Everest’.
“Everything come naturally and each time I come in, I’ve gone an extra two mph faster and just small stuff like that which I didn’t expect but overall, there weren’t really anything bad what stuck out, everything was just all in a good direction.”
Hoping to race again for Cowton Racing in 2027, the Lincolnshire ace has had a standout season on the Irish roads.
Discussing terrific Junior Support, Senior Support category results achieved at Cookstown, Tandragee and Armoy, the 2024 Oliver’s Mount CB 500 Champion said:
“You couldn’t have write how this year has gone, how the year started massive play on my mental side of things after losing Aran (Sadler) and to then go to Cookstown to win there, to go to Tandragee and get a podium on the 600 and a second on the Twin and then to do the double at Armoy winning both on the 600 and the Super Twin was a dream come true.
Was a small ticked-box sort of thing because I want to be known as more than just a little bike rider, so to get a win on the 600 was unreal.”
Before 80th Anniversary Gold Cup action, Harker who collected two top eight finishes from Super Twin race endeavours, three top fifteen finishes in total, prime event goal was getting into the 1 minute 50 seconds lap range.
“If the weather’s good, want to get down into the 50’s, one minute 50.
I know realistically there’s no point looking at positions because of the strong competition so to me the main goal is improve on my times and make the main grid.”
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
