By The seventh racer to take part in Road Racing News, recently launched Racing on the Irish Roads – Racers Recollections series is overall Anglesey Grand winner, 2022 Irish Road Race Senior Support Championship runner-up, Marcus Simpson.
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 Irish road racing memory was back in 2012. My Dad did the Ulster Grand Prix a few weeks after his final cancer treatment. We went over with Billy Cummins, who was also taking part as a newcomer.
My Dad and Billy ended up in a field together on there newcomers laps. Was not the best of starts to my dad’s first and last Ulster Grand Prix but it’s funny now to look back on.”
Q2: Present favourite Irish road race?
“This is a tricky one. Tandragee, Armoy and Skerries are all great for different reasons. But Tandragee probably just pips the other two because of how fast and flowing it is.”
Q3: Who is your most respected fellow Irish roads exponent?
“It’s got to be Michael ‘Micko’ Sweeney. People may not know what he’s done for me this year but he’s the reason why I’ve done the whole Irish Championship.
We had a chat after Tandragee was rained off in the back of his trailer and he suggested I come back to do the whole lot. The guidance he’s given me at every circuit in Ireland this year has been priceless and he’s kept me safe.”
Q4: If you could alter one aspect, in particular, within the sport, what would it be and why?
“More laps. I can sometimes take a few laps to get going in a race and a few extra laps would help me out.”
Q5: To date what has been your favourite Irish roads moment?
“Do I have to chose one? There’s been so many great moments this year from a class lap record at Armoy to finishing P1 every time we crossed the line at Faugheen.
But I guess if I had to pick one, Skerries this year taking my first win in the Senior Support class was special.”
Q6: Irish road racing summed up in one word, what would it be?
“Exceptional”
Q7: Is there any Irish roads event, that you haven’t raced at yet that you would like to?
“The North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix. I was also looking forward this year to the Munster 100.”
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
