Citi Bank worker, Matt Donaldson will be hoping its a case of third time lucky when he competes at this years KDM Hire Cookstown 100. His previous attempts to compete were thwarted by crashes and engine problems!.
Donaldson has always had an inkling for speed and completed his road bike test around the Famous North West 200 Course, when studying at Coleraine University.
Matt began circuit racing in 2013 in the ultra competitive pre injection class, whilst learning his race craft, Matt was a regular podium finisher, but took a sabbatical in 2015.
This year will be Matts fourth season in the saddle, and he is determined to be on the grid for Cookstown this year!.
In 2016, all was looking good, until a big crash just the week prior Cookstown, and last year his ageing machine decided to let go during practice!
Photo by Jimmy Graham
As mentioned earlier, the Banker took a couple years out from the sport, but as we all know, the addiction of this sport is incurable!, and Donaldson returned last year, and took his first circuit win at Bishopscourt.
Matt admits last year was a rather turbulent season, racing on a shoestring budget, where mechanical gremlins and crashes didn’t help matters!. But he did manage to compete at Armoy and Dundrod, hence catching the road racing bug in the process.
For this season, Matt has upgraded to a 2015 GSXR 750 Suzuki, on which Matt will focus on this years Senior Support class, hoping that this machine will bring better results and that he can enjoy himself more.
Of course, these things aren’t possible without the help and support of friends, such as his spanner men, Jonny and Karl, his fiancé Cathy , along with support from Glenn Thompson & the Pigshed Bodyshop, also, not forgetting his Bank manager for increasing his credit limit!!
Speaking about the upcoming competition at Cookstown, he stated:
“I’m looking forward to competing at Cookstown this year, as I think it’s a great circuit with a fantastic friendly atmosphere, a nice big jump at Blacks farm and a great pub on the start/finish.
I’ll be racing with number 54 in the senior support class so give me a wave or pop down for a chat.”
Words by Baylon McCaughey