By The first time I met future Ulster GP winner Adam McLean was in June of 2017 at the Cock O’The North Road Races at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough.
I remember one of the first questions I asked him, which was focused around the level he’d got to on the roads and he stated that when he first started road racing, it was just a bit of fun, he didn’t expect to be so fast, so soon.
Prior to his trip to Scarborough, McLean had excelled on his TT Races debut. Fastest Mountain Course debutant, a 120 mph plus lap and a top 20 Supersport race finish were amongst the prime highlights of a momentous first two week TT stint.
His impressive form aboard the MSS/Hotties ZX-6R Kawasaki continued at Scarborough, providing stiff opposition to Mount maestro, Silicone Engineering Racing’s Dean Harrison.
Although recording no race wins, his run of three successive Supersport A runner-up finishes, lapping sub 1 minute 47 seconds, allied to a very creditable fourth place finish in the showpiece race, more than impressed the road racing aficionados in attendance.
Fast forward three years and whilst McLean hasn’t ventured back to Scarborough, he’s more than enhanced his standing within the real roads fraternity.
Standout moments have included:
Race wins at Walderstown, Southern 100, Post TT Races
Ulster GP Super Twins success in 2018
2018 Lightweight TT – top ten finish
2018 Lightweight Classic TT runner-up
Whilst the bulk of his 2020 racing activities has been spent tackling the National Superstock 600 Championship with Binch Racing, last month’s KDM Hire Cookstown 100 saw McLean make an impeccable return to closed roads competition.
Photo by Rod Neill
Taking in his first roads outing since a major incident at last year’s Tandragee 100, McAdoo Kawasaki’s McLean went onto claim the ‘Man of The Meeting’ accolade, largely thanks to Supersport, Super Twin race victories.
Hugely respected, the Tobermore racer has the undoubted determination, core talent, ever improving race craft to enjoy countless more tumultuous moments at national, International roads events from 2021 onwards.
Words by Stevie Rial
