By One of Irish Road Racing’s fastest, most highly rated next generation roads talents will form part of BE Racing/RK Racing’s 2020 roads rider line-up, as Cork’s Michael Browne joins forces with the esteemed outfit.
Browne who’s stature within the closed roads scene has grown and grown throughout the past two years, consistent display of strong results hasn’t gone unnoticed and it’s no surprise to see a team of BE (Burrows Engineering) Racing’s ilk acquire his services.
At a glance tumultuous moments throughout recent years for the Irishman who will also compete this year for the Joey’s Bar team in 125/Moto 3 races, have included Supersport success at the Post TT, East Coast Racing Festival plus top twenty finishes in the Supersport races at TT 2019.
Ready to make that next step and regularly contend for podiums, race wins at national events, he’s also one to watch this year at the North West 200 and TT Races, competing on Superstock GSX-R 1000 Suzuki, YZF R6 Yamaha machinery.
Commenting about the latest major development in his already distinguished career, he stated:
“I’m delighted to be joining Burrows Engineering/RK Racing and John runs a great team, so I’m in good hands.
Having the bikes prepared for me will make a huge difference because I was spending a couple of nights a week in the shed doing my own spannering last season, which wasn’t really ideal.
I’ll be able to just get on with job of riding the bikes, so it takes a bit of the pressure off. As the season went on last year, I was getting closer to the lads running at the front and I was growing in confidence.
This year, once I get settled in with the team and get used to the bikes, I don’t see why I couldn’t be there or thereabouts at the Irish nationals.”
Browne added:
“It will take a bit of time to get used to the 1000cc Suzuki at the start of the season but hopefully we’ll get up to speed quickly and maybe by the middle of the year I won’t be too far away.
I’m ready to put in a lot of effort this year and try and make the most of this opportunity. I’m going to push and see how we get on, but definitely in the Supersport class I’d like to think we’ll be challenging at least for the national championship title.
The TT is the main target for us and I just hope this year that we get some good weather because both times I’ve been there, it has rained.
Between the Manx Grand Prix in 2018 and the TT last year, I’ve only done 15 laps of the course, so I need to get more laps under my belt and build up my experience.”
BE Racing Team Principal, John Burrows provided additional comment:
“I’ve been keeping an eye on Mike Browne for a while now and I had a good chat with him at the TT last year. I’m excited to work with Mike because he’s a young rider who I feel has good potential.
He has a good attitude to racing and I was impressed with his 18th place in the Supersport race at the TT, where he only had limited laps due to the bad run of wet weather. He is still very inexperienced at the TT so that was a really solid result and hopefully we can help Mike take the next step in his career.
He’s been building his reputation and he picked up a win at Killalane in the Supersport class at the end of last year. Mike knows the Irish road racing circuits and he fits into our strategy of trying to bring promising talent through the ranks.
He’s a hot prospect for the future and he could be the man to take over from the likes of Derek Sheils, Derek McGee and Michael Sweeney in the coming years if he keeps learning his craft.
We will supply Mike with a Superstock Suzuki and a 600 Yamaha and we’ll aim to do as many Irish national road races as possible, but our main focus will be on the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT. We are still planning on running two riders at national and international level.”
Burrows went onto thank now former team riders Derek Sheils and Tom Weeden for their efforts, exploits throughout recent seasons.
“Derek Sheils has left the team after four successful years together and we wish him all the best for the future, but we’re looking for a rider of his quality to come in alongside Mike and that is something that I’m currently working towards.
We also thank Tom Weeden for his efforts last year and wish him the best of luck in the future.”
Words by Stevie Rial, quotes courtesy of Baylon McCaughey
