Roy Adams’ Mid-Antrim ‘150’ preview

First used in 1989, the 3.6 miles Clough circuit is one of the most popular tracks in the Country with both riders and spectators.

With its combination of flat out sweeps, slow corners and the spectacular Alexanders Jump, means that the local track has a bit of everything.

Practice is on Friday, with roads closing earlier than normal, at 2pm. They will re open again before 9.30pm.

The first practice session is for circuit newcomers.

Reading down the entry list, the only newcomer from this area I can see is Neil Kernohan from Galgorm. Neil only started racing this year, and has made steady progress.

The Parade laps, as always, will run first, with riders completing 3 laps of the circuit. Sponsored by Carl Shaw of the Maine Driving School we will see a few riders from this area taking part.

Now retired from racing, Cloughmills man Jeff Shaw is entered on a 250 Honda, and is also giving his ex Mervyn Robinson Yamaha to Sam Dunlop. Broughshane man John Smyth is also entered.

As well as racing in the Junior Classic race, Barry Davidson from Glarryford will bring a 1992 250 Yamaha to the line, while Ballymena man Billy Bamber will have his beautiful sounding 250 Honda-4.

Event sponsor Carl Shaw will also have a run on his TZ350 Yamaha.

Keith McQuillan, who lives on the old, Rathkenny, circuit at the Mid Antrim, will bring out an ER6.

Roy Brelsford, from Clough is entered on a Spondon Yamaha while Mark Featherstone is due to turn out on his R6.

I’ve also hear that theres a possibility that a couple of other top riders will turn out here. One whos still racing at International level and is a former TT, NW and UGP winner, and another who used to race at an even higher level, but you’ll just have to go to Clough to see who I mean.

Add to these the names of Ray McCullough and Adrian Craig, Ryan Farquhar and John Burrows and we will have a treat.

JUNIOR CLASSIC RACE

The first proper race action is the Ballymena Borough Council sponsored Junior Classic race. A quick change of bikes for Barry Davidson after the parade laps, and he’ll face Thomas Hogg, Bryan Allan, Manxman Allen Brew, Sean Leonard and big Herbie Ronan in the 350 class, while Phil Shaw should have things pretty much his own way in the 250 category, but the Boyd brothers have local knowledge on their side.

SENIOR SUPPORT RACE

Next up is the Cleaning Doctor/Vivo Clough Senior Support race, which will be sponsored by Mid Antrim club committee member Robin Brown.

This race will be a counting round of the Loanends Support Championship.

Most of these riders are newcomers to roads, and in a few cases, newcomers to the Mid Antrim circuit.

Mark Hanna, on his own 675 Triumph won’t be too far away, I suspect, but the faster, more powerful 750s might just have an edge in speed.

Neil Kernohan from Galgorm is entered for what is his first ever road race on an R6.

I would expect men like Gavin Lupton, Connor Behan, who will ride in Ryan Farquhar’s KMR colours, Thomas Maxwell, James Kelly, Damien Horan and Shane Egan to be well in the hunt too.

OPEN EVENT

Race 3 is the Open event, sponsored by male grooming concern, American Crew.

With the retirement of Ryan Farquhar, and the non appearance of the Dunlops, this race is wide open.

Jamie Hamilton would be expected to do well in Farquhar’s KMR team, but he won’t have things all his own way. Davy Morgan, Michael Sweeney, Derek McGee, who rides an ex-Adrian Archibald machine, William Davison and possibly Seamus Elliott could be in the mix. Another man would be Michal Dokoupil.

Better known as Indi, the Czech Republic rider has built up a great fan base in Ireland with his extrovert burnouts and wheelies after races and his habit of wearing an Indian headdress in the paddock. Indi will ride a Honda for S&D Racing, with help from Keith Bruce, of Tower Cleaning.

Interestingly, Sam Wilson, from Ballymena is a late entry here. Hes down to ride for S&D Racing as well.

This will be the first run on a big bike for the current 125 Irish title holder. Apart from Sam, theres only two local riders in this race. Dennis Booth from Kells and ex Manx Grand Prix winner Stephen McIlvenna.

JUNIOR SUPPORT RACE

The Junior Support race is the next one on the card. It will be sponsored by a number of local businesses, who have pooled their resources. As is the Senior Support, it will be a counting round of the Loan ends Support series.

I would expect Gavin Lupton to be challenging for the lead in this race, but I can see the likes of Mark Hanna, who will bring the Emerald Road Racing magazine ER6 to the line, to be pushing him hard.

Connor Behan went well a couple of weeks ago at Walkertown, and could do so again, with the guidance of Ryan Farquhar.

Shane Egan and Damien Horan are two men well able to give a good account of themselves.

It will be great to see German rider Niklas Pfieffer and his lovely family back at Mid Antrim.

Local men are Mark Hanna, who could well be vying for a win, Mark McNeilly, who will ride an ER6 in the colours of Rathkenny Track & Enduro, and Neil Kernohan who is due out on a 250 Honda.

SUPERSPORT 600

The Hill Contracts Plastering and Flooring Supersport 600 race promises to be one of the best of the day. Jamie Hamilton could well put Ryan Farquhars bike on the top step, but the likes of Davy Morgan, Seamus Elliott, Michael Sweeney, Derek McGee, Michael Pearson, Manxman Paul Duckett, James Kelly and William Davison, who enjoys personal backing of Hill Contracts, could have a say in the final results.

Dubliner Derek Sheils has submitted a late entry for the meeting, but will have to make a quick run to Mondello Park, where MCI has allowed an Irish Championship short circuit meeting on Saturday and Sunday.

Local riders here are again Jack McIlvenna and Dennis Booth.

MOTO3/MOTO450/GP124/SS400

Maybe the classes are dropping off a bit in terms of entries, but by combining the Moto3/Moto450/GP124/SS400 races the Mid Antrim club have ensured a good grid.

Robert Logan Hardware, who now must be the Mid Antrim clubs longest serving sponsors underwrite this race.

To me at any rate, an unknown quantity is German rider Rene Lohse. I don’t know what experience Rene has, although speaking to Davy McCartney he is quite useful.

Top men here I would imagine to be Paul Robinson, Sam Dunlop, Sam Wilson, Nigel Moore, Jack Sands and Warren Reeve. Cullybackeys Mark McNeilly will ride his own 125GP Honda in the colours of Rathkenny Track & Enduro, and will be wanting to do well in what is his first race in a year. Current Irish title holder Sam Wilson from Ballymena will also start and I would think Sam won’t be too far away.

In the Moto450 class, just 4 riders have entered, and it’s hard to see anyone pushing Seamus Elliott.

He was the runaway winner at the ill fated Walderstown meeting a couple of weeks ago.

Running concurrently with the smaller classes is the SS400 race. Top of the entry list is Gavin Lupton, or Luppy, as his team call him. Gavins has been racing here for a while now, and with the backing of local men Seamus Dobbin and Davy McCartney’s S&D Racing team, he has posted some useful results.

Gavin won’t have things all his own way, though, as men like Andy Farrell, Derek Costello and Mark Shields could push for a place on the podium.

SUPERTWINS

The Emerald Road Racing Supertwins race is next up. Emerald have been great supporters of the Mid Antrim since they first published a couple of years ago, and as well as sponsoring the race, they are running their own ER6 in it as well.

This bike will be ridden by Antrims Mark Hanna. Jamie Hamilton, Nigel Moore, Micko Sweeney, Ian Morrell, Davy Morgan, William Davison, Michael Pearson, and Paul Gartland are all due to come under starters orders in this one.

Apart from Mark Hanna, the only other local down to race here is RT&E’s Mark McNeilly, where he will act as team mate to Veronika Hankocyova. Run concurrently with the Supertwins race will be the GP250 event.

Last year’s winner, Tommy Henry is down to go, as is Sam Dunlop and his cousin Paul Robinson, Seamus Elliott and Micko Sweeney are entered, with the only local interest being in Sam Wilson, who will ride Roy Hanna’s TSR250 Honda.

The Clough Glasgow Rangers Supporters Club and the Mid Antrim club have formed a unique friendship over many years, and this is shown by the fact that the football fans club sponsor the bike race. The only local men we have in this are Dennis Booth and Stephen McIlvenna.

It may be that Sam Wilson will start here too, although I don’t see his name in the entry lists, as he is to ride a Superbike for S&D Racing.

Top men are Jamie Hamilton, Indi, Derek McGee, Micko Sweeney, Davy Morgan, William Davison, Paul Duckett, big Shaun Anderson, provided he’s fit after his slip up at Skerries, and Michael Pearson.

It’s hard to see the amazing lap record on 109.4mph, set by Ryan Farquhar in 2007, being broken, but it’s likely that given decent weather, this will be the fastest race of the day.

SENIOR CLASSIC

The final race action is the Peoples Senior Classic event.

This one has just 8 entries at the time I wrote this preview. Manxman Allan Brew, big John Scott, Robert McCrum, Gary Jamison and Freddie Stewart should all figure well here. Again, we have no local interest.

Apart from all the many local businesses and people who have pulled together to try to make the 150 a success, the Mid Antrim club have asked me to thanks Ballymena Borough Council and Glarryford YFC, who are on programme selling duties in the area of the races.

It just remains for me to ask that you come early, buy a programme, because it’s the only source of income for the club, and obey the marshals.

On Saturday roads close at 10am, and will re open before 6.30pm.

My thanks to race secretary Derek McWhirter and Davy McCartney for their help and I hope everyone enjoys a safe and fun day out.

As always, we will have a two-page report and photos in the Times next week.