McGee aims to stamp his mark
The 2019 Irish road race season roars into life when the KDM Hire Cookstown 100 takes place on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th of this month. The organizing club, the Cookstown & District MCC have been working hard ahead of this years event , with major re surfacing having taken place from Craigmount to Braeside, along with a new look starting area, which will now be at the exit of the Pits. Both of these changes have been well received by competitors. The club have also reduced both the number of practices and races, with only 12 races on Saturday, and the Opening Superbike race will take place on Friday evening! Entries have now closed for this years event, and we are glad to report, that all the top Irish road racers will be in action along with a couple of interesting entries. However, for the first time in many years, the overall entry total is down! Amongst the entry list is the Mullingar Missile, Derek McGee , Triple Irish Road Race champion of 2018. Derek returns to the KDM Hire Cookstown 100 with view to getting back on the top step of the podium. McGee, who last year failed to win any races at the opening road race of the season, went on to clinch three road race titles last season, and amassed a total of 18 wins en route!, and has entered Open, Supersport 600, Supertwin and Moto 3 races. Man of the Meeting in 2018,Adam McLean remains with Team McAdoo racing and with a season under his belt, coupled with sterling performances at the opening ISBK Short Circuit meeting last week at Bishopscourt, Adam will be out to reclaim this title. Last years Superbike race winner, Derek Sheils, is reunited with John Burrows in the new look RK Racing team. Sheils will contest both Open and Supersport 600 races ( Road House Macau Racing Yamaha). Man of the Meeting at the final road race of the 2018 season, Michael “Micko” Sweeney has a great finishing record at Cookstown, but is eager to get on to the top step in the larger capacity classes. Sweeney will go in Supertwin, Open and Supersport 600 races on the Martin Jones Racing /Kiely Heating bikes Signed for Dafabet Racing at the International road races, Magherafelt rider Paul Jordan will only have the use of one machine for both the 600 and open races, Paul will compete on his own 600 Yamaha, despite having a run at Bishopscourt on another machine, but that wont hold back the former pole setter here at Cookstown , who put in an excellent performance at the opening short circuit meeting, to finish second overall behind the regining 600 short circuit champion, Jason Lynn , its fair to say Jordan certainly upped his game during the 2018 season. Stepping back form modern day machinery is Lincolshire rider, Guy Martin. Martin has submitted a provisional entry for the classic race on board his home built 830 BSA. Guy is taking in a cycle race in the Desert the previous week. Another interesting entry in the Classic races comes from Andy Jackson, who will compete in the 350 class on board the Italian MV Agusta!. This is only the second time a MV Agusta has been raced here at Cookstown, the first was Mike Hailwood on a 175 MV in 1958!, when he won his first ever road race! Last years Manx Grand Prix stars, James Chawke, Mike Browne and Darryl Tweed represent an up and coming breed of road racers, and are entered in their respective classes. Popular Czech duo, Michael “ Indie” Dukopil and Veronika Hankocyova will also be in action. Amongst the newcomers to the Orittor circuit will be Tom Weedon, a former Manx Grand Prix winner, Weedon has signed for RK Racing and will be on board Yamaha and Suzuki machinery. Another exciting newcomer to have submitted an entry for this event, is Dutch Female competitor, Nadieh Schoots. Nadieh competed at last years North West 200, and has forsaken the ICCP Road races to participate here at Cookstown. Nadieh will compete in both Open races. Adrian Harrison, brother of Ulster Grand Prix and IOM TT Winner, Dean Harrison, also makes his debut , competing in the pen class on board the Top Gun Tools and Fittings ZX10 Kawasaki. Despite retiring on the final lap of last years Newcomers race at the Manx Grand Prix, former 50cc short circuit champion, Sam Grief did enough to convince the now retired Paul Robinson, to put him on board his Championship winning Moto 3 bike for this years Irish road race calendar, beginning at the KDM Hire Cookstown 100.. Practice Schedule; Friday 26th April 1 Newcomers A 2 Newcomers B 3 Open A 4 Open B 5 Senior Support A 6 Senior Support B 7 Moto 3/125/SS300 8 Junior Support A 9 Junior Support B 10 Junior Classic ( 250/350) 11Supersport 600 A 12 Supersport 600 B 13 Supersport 400 A 14 Supersport 400 B (unlikely as we go to Press!) 15 Senior Classic ( 351/1000) 16 Supertwins A 17 Supertwins B Friday Races; 1 Junior Support B 2 Supersport 600 B 3 Open A 4 Lightweight 400 B ( Provisinal) 5 Open B Saturday race Schedule; 1 Senior Support B 2 Moto 3/125/SS300 3 Supersport 600 A 4 Junior Support A 5 Junior Classic 6 Supertwin A 7 Supertwin B 8 Senior Classic 9 Senior Support A 10 Lightweight 400 A 11 KDM Hire Cookstown 100 A 12 KDM Hire Cookstown 100 B List of Event for Race Week : Thursday 4th April Press Launch Royal Hotel from 7.30pm Thursday 11th April Liaison Night, Royal Hotel 7.30 pm Sunday14th April Annual Bikers Service Orritor Presbyterian Church 3.30pm Thursday 25th April Annual Classic Bike Run Sign on from 6.30pm in Burn Rd, Car Park, leaving at 7.15pm Friday 26th April KDM Hire Cookstown 100 Practice Day - Roads Close at 12 Noon Saturday 27th April KDM Hire Cookstown 100 Race Day - Roads Close at 10.00am Newcomers A Lee Hempbury Andrew Sams Wayne Pither Ben Rea Phil Archer Adrian Harrison Aidan Cleary Tom Weedon Nadieh Schoots Chris Stuart Samanathan Scott David Robinson Adrian Heraty Scott Waterson Newcomers B; Nigel Colgan Gillian McGaw Kyle Parkes Mark Kirby Samuel Grief Mick Brady Gavan Duffy Peter Shannon Richard Duncan Paul Norbury. Female Competitors at Cookstown; Maria Costello MBE Supertwins Nadieh Schoots Superbike Veronika Hancokvy Support Yvonne Montgomery Support Gillian McGaw Support Samanatha Scott Support. If you require any more Information, Please get in contact with me, as I will endeavour to do my best to help you ; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Thank You Baylon McCaughey KDM Hire Cookstown 100 PRO Photo Attached ; Cookstown & District Club Members pictured with Represenatives from KDM Hire, Main Sponsors of the 2019 KDM Hire Cookstown 100; Left to right; Noel Henderson,Lynsey Turkington (KDM Hire Marketing and sales Manageress), Kenny Loughrin,John Cadoo, Marketing Executive KDM Hire) Fiona Ferris, Norman Crooks, Rebecca ( KDM Hire),John Dillon, Club Chariman and competitor Michael Sweeney, ( kneeling).<