By Lead 400 competitor in the Dundrod 150 Lightweight race of 2016, currently second and fifth respectively within the standings for this years Irish road race 400, Junior Support championships, the hugely popular Stephen Morrison is the next rider to take part in Road Racing News, ten questions challenge.
A recent podium finisher at Tandragee, his answers to the popular series of questions, are as follows:
Q1: Favourite National Roads Meeting?
“Has to be the Tandragee 100. Amazing race track with a bit of everything in it and ran by one of the most friendly clubs.”
Q2: Favourite Racing Bike?
“I’ve had my ZXR 400 Kawasaki for 5 years now & have to say I love racing it on the roads, but favourite race bike would probably be a 250cc Honda.
Grew up watching the greats race them round the roads & had the privilege of riding one of Cleaver Brown’s at the Sunflower meeting a couple of years ago, pure racing bikes!!”
Q3: What’s the best part of competing on the roads?
“Best part of competing is the rush of racing on closed roads, and the technical aspects of every track being different, from fast flat out corners like Loughers at the Ulster GP, to roller coaster sections like Cooley Hill at the Tandragee 100. Awesome!”
Q4: TT, North West 200 or Ulster Grand Prix?
“My home race the Ulster GP without a doubt, have never raced the North West or Manx course, would love to give both a go to say I’ve done them, but am too old to race the Manx now & no class for us at the North West.
Living a mile from the Dundrod track has its advantages and it’s such a privilege to race on one of the greatest, fastest tracks in the world. Also another fantastic friendly organising club too.”
Q5: Most Respected Rival?
“Respect every rider that takes up the challenge of racing bikes, weather on circuits or roads, everyone has their reasons, goals & ambitions for racing.
But some of my favourite races have involved Paul Gartland, Darryl Tweed & Gareth Keys.”
Photo by Rod Neill
Q6: Best roads moment thus far?
“Suppose my best moment was the 2016 Ulster GP when I finished 1st 400, 7th overall in the Lightweight race at the dundrod 150. The Ulster G.P race on the Saturday I finished 2nd 400 & 4th overall just beaten to a podium by 0.9 of a second.
Also the recently ran Tandragee 100 where I had my best ever ‘official’ results getting 2nd in the 400 race & 3rd in the Junior Support.”
Q7: Is their one place or country in the world, where you would like to see a roads meeting held?
“Cant think of anywhere really to be honest, have the Ulster GP on my doorstep, with Tandragee & Armoy not too far away either, so I’m happy enough!!”
Q8: Who’s your road racing hero?
“Has to be Joey Dunlop, grew up watching him as a kid in the 80’s and 90’s and the way he rode a bike was something special to watch. James Courtney was also a bit special back in the day too.”
Q9: Supersport or Superbike?
“I think I’d like to give a Supersport bike a go if I had the money, not sure I’d have the build to throw a Superbike around the roads!!”
Q10: Pole position or fastest lap?
“Fastest lap, nice to know you’ve done the fastest time on race day!”
Words by Stevie Rial
