By National Superstock 1000 race winner Franco Bourne, goes into the Briggs Equipment Northwest 200 looking to impress, highlight his already visible roads scene potential.
Five times an Oliver’s Mount race winner, Bourne formerly of Honda’s official BSB outfit, admitted that after BSB struggles in 2023 and 2024, he could have been on the sidelines from racing last year.
“I had lost my mojo a little bit and I was replaced in the team at the end of the year. I lost a load of sponsors and was back to square one. I was really worried if I was going to be racing at all last season.”
Since a first real roads mission at Cookstown, the prospective NW200/TT Races newcomer has caught the attention of several road race paddock stalwarts, including notably Welsh legend Ian Lougher, whose Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments team have attained services, providing 600cc/1000cc Hondas and a S1-R Paton.
Surmising the deal, Bourne said:
“I met Ian at Tandragee last year, but I didn’t know who he was. I was wandering around the paddock, and I liked the look of his Paton and asked him if I could have a ride on it.
I was so embarrassed! But now I will be racing for Ian at Scarborough and maybe Cookstown before making my Northwest debut.”
Bourne’s first outing in Team ILR colours at the Bob Smith Spring Cup, was an instant success, scoring two race wins, 3 top three finishes.
He led the opening stages of the feature Spring Cup race before slipping off unscathed at Drury’s Hairpin.
Quotes courtesy of Stephen Davison.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Davison.
