By The twenty second racer to take part in Road Racing News, recently launched Racing on the Irish Roads – Racers Recollections series is another paddock favourite, one of the sport’s good guys, synonymous with his Patch Racing squad, Davy Graham.
His answers to the Irish road racing themed set of questions, are as follows:
Q1: What is your first Irish road racing memory?
“My first memory would be from been a spectator as a kid, at the Ulster GP, laying under a hedge with the bikes coming around Irelands, mere feet from my face! Amazing!!”
Q2: Present favourite Irish road race?
“Favourite Irish road-race, always has been and always will be, the Tandragee 100.
I’ve had some great times (most promising newcomer) and some bad times (hitting a car on track) but I absolutely love the place!”
Q3: Who is your most respected fellow Irish roads exponent?
“I respect anyone willing to do what we do. I count them all as family but Stephen ‘Cargo’ Carr is right up there. An absolute gentleman off track and on it. Someone that taught me so much.”
Q4: If you could alter one aspect, in particular, within the sport, what would it be and why?
“The only thing I would alter about road racing, the amount of track time we get as privateers with one bike.
Apart from that, nothing. The facilities are basic, the tracks are fast and dangerous, the weather is unpredictable but it is Irish road racing.”
Q5: To date what has been your favourite Irish roads moment?
“My favourite moment, there is a few. But for the sheer buzz, my race from 2016 at the Ulster GP against the now sadly gone, Sandy Berwick, from Scotland.
We diced and swapped positions the whole race on our Super Twins. He was an absolute beast on the brakes but I had him on the flowing corners. I pipped him to the line in an amazing battle between the two of us.”
Q6: Irish road racing summed up in one word, what would it be?
“Unique”
Q7: Is there any Irish roads event, that you haven’t raced at yet that you would like to?
“I didn’t get a chance to race at the North West 200. I was to make my debut in 2020 but covid stopped us all in our tracks. Excuse the pun. So yeah, that’s one I wish I had raced.”
Photo credit: Baylon McCaughey
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
