By Age is no barrier when it comes to enjoying motorcycle racing as 51 year old James Rothery has proven, now entering his 6th season of racing, the Whitehaven rider enjoys nothing better than racing between the hedges. This will be James 4th visit to the KDM Hire Cookstown 100.
You don’t have to be a winner to enjoy yourself, and James has taken his road racing in his stroll, competing in the Support class, Rothery took 15th in the Senior B Support race on his debut, but a slip off the following year at Gortin didn’t deter the motorcycle mechanic.
Last year James rode both his 675 Triumph along with Dave Brough’s 400 Yamaha, Brough unable to attend the meeting due to a pre event practice spill. Last year, James also competed at Armoy, and in the 400 support race, took 11th place and was the recipient of the Lee Vernon Memorial trophy.
Alongside his roads feats, James has also in his racing career thus far, finished second in the 2015 Melville Scottish 1200 Pre Injection series on his old R6 Yamaha, along the way gaining 3 wins through the season.
Photo by Baylon McCaughey
But despite success on the circuits, nothing, but nothing compares to the atmosphere and thrill of racing between the hedges in Ireland.
Speaking about his machinery line up, for the 2018 KDM Hire Cookstown 100, he stated:
“This year I’m on my own prepared Triumph 675 Daytona and Dave Brough’s FZR400 again prepared by myself, my sponsors are: Sign-It, KC Superbikes and Dave Brough, Jimmy Rothery #179 BIG J ROAD RACING.”
Words by Baylon McCaughey
