By A must have accolade for two stroke racing connoisseurs, the Aubrey McAuley Cup prize returns this year.
Baylon McCaughey, takes up the story:
This year, a powerful tradition is reignited at the heart of Irish road racing with the revival of the cherished ‘Aubrey McAuley’ Memorial Cup. More than just a trophy, the Cup represents decades of passion and camaraderie, and its return is a beacon for those who remember the golden era of two-stroke racing.
Through the dedication and vision of Joe Wright and Barry Davidson, this influential prize will once again command the spotlight at the National road races, awarded to the top 125 GP competitor at the conclusion of the 2026 Irish Road Race Championships.
The Aubrey McAuley Memorial Cup is not simply an accolade, but a living tribute to the spirit of competition and the enduring legacy of one of Irish racing’s most beloved characters.
Only riders willing to embrace the thrill and challenge of racing a 125 GP Machine can compete for this prestigious honour, ensuring that the values of grit, determination, and sportsmanship remain at the core of the event. The revival of the Cup stands as a testament to tradition, inspiring a new generation of competitors while rekindling pride and nostalgia throughout the racing community.
The Aubrey McAuley memorial cup was-first presented in 2000 to the Loughshinny Motorcycle Club by Joe Wright, David Whan (USA), and Roger Moore in memory of one of Irish road racing’s characters.
Aubrey was the life and soul of the race paddock and was known to everyone. A serious crash at Killalane in 1997 saw Aubrey suffer serious injuries. Sadly, Aubrey passed away in 1999.
The first ever winner of this trophy was Barry Davidson, and it was then that Joe Wright first met Barry. Since then, they have become lifelong friends; Barry would go on to win more trophies in the two-stroke category, with Joe Wright again involved in the award presentations. The Trophy was then-presented at the Killalane road races; amongst the winners since then are Mick Chatterton (2002) and Ellie Forrest (2003).
By this time, the TSRRSC (Two Stroke Road Racing Supporters Club) was gathering momentum, and it was-decided that they would use the cup amongst their awards, the roll call would then look like this:
2007 Phelim Lunney, 2008 Sean Leonard, 2009 Ciaran Donnelly, 2010 Sam Wilson, 2012 Warren Reeve, 2013 Mark McNeilly, 2014 William Cowden, 2015 Melissa Kennedy, 2016 Adam McLean, 2017 Paul Jordan and the final winner in 2018, Nigel Moore.
This beautiful Trophy will be, presented at the final road race of the year, to the GP 125 competitor with the highest points score in the Moto 3/125GP Championship.
Photo courtesy of Baylon McCaughey
Words by Baylon McCaughey
