By The tenth racer to take part in Road Racing News, recently launched Racing on the Irish Roads – Racers Recollections series is Cookstown, Kells and Skerries Junior Support race winner, Eoin O’Siochru.
His answers to the Irish road racing themed set of questions, are as follows:
Q1: What is your first Irish road racing memory?
“God, I suppose watching the racing on what was it called again? On the Limit Sports or something like that.
All the cheesy late 90s/early 2000s graphics and old school bikes gear and riders were awesome. That’s what got me into road racing. All that coverage was fantastic.
My first Irish race I ever went to was Skerries being my ‘home’ race in Dublin. The first time seeing the bikes up Sam’s Tunnel blew my mind.”
Q2: Present favourite Irish road race?
“First and foremost, being a ‘Dub’, it’s got to be Skerries. Since going in 2011 I haven’t missed a year either watching or competing.
Even when I stop eventually competing, I’ll always be sure to get to it. It’s a great event that does not get the coverage it deserves like the races up north.
From a circuit perspective though it has to be Tandragee. That place is nothing short of amazing to ride a bike around, if not a little scary!”
Q3: Who is your most respected fellow Irish roads exponent?
“Hard question. I respect different riders for different reasons. Direct competitors it has to be the likes of Keelim Ryan for how methodical he is when it comes to bike preparation.
I don’t like lining up against someone who doesn’t maintain their bike at least as well as I do my own. It puts me on edge. Keelim goes above and beyond which you have to admire.
The likes of Marcus Simpson and Ryan Whitehall making the effort to come over to Ireland deserves major props as well.
It’s cool seeing them do well cause of the effort they put in to get here. We Irish take it for granted sometimes that these races are lifelong goals for some people and not just a couple of hours up the road like it is for us!”
Q4: If you could alter one aspect, in particular, within the sport, what would it be and why?
“I think there is a clear division between the northern and southern championships and I think that needs to go.
Excluding only a few big names, the grids you get up north are far bigger generally speaking and seem to attract more high calibre international riders.
If the sport is to continue and grow, I think more emphasis needs to be put on all of the rounds of the Championship.
This messing of only racing northern rounds or only racing southern rounds is a lose/lose for everyone, in my opinion.”
Q5: To date what has been your favourite Irish roads moment?
“I think Armoy in 2021. It all just fell into place that weekend. It was the weekend of my birthday. I got two wins, the Junior & Senior Support races beating Ryan Whitehall and Jack Oliver in two really hard-fought races.
Also got a 2nd on the Faraldo Racing Moto 3 bike, having only just thrown my leg over it on Friday for the first time on the roads. And all as a newcomer.
If I’m honest I think my performance that weekend was overlooked by a few people a bit but oh well, such is life.”
Q6: Irish road racing summed up in one word, what would it be?
“Raw”
Q7: Is there any Irish roads event, that you haven’t raced at yet that you would like to?
“I’d love to give Killalane a go. I’ve driven around the track a few times and it looks class.
The Munster 100 is one that’s currently running that for sure is on the list, as I have a bit of family out that neck of the woods that I’d love to drag out to a race.
Saying that, I’d like to do all the available races to support the sport as much as I can.”
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
