T H E W O R L D ’ S O N LY R O A D R A C I N G M A G A Z I N E
ING ROAD RACIRELAND
JOHN , S S E N N I U G c M MBE!
TT LEGEND GETS HONOUR BUT ADMITS “I WON’T CATCH .” W O N D R O C E R T T ’S Y E JO PLUS ALL THE LATEST ROAD RACING NEWS AND STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY
SKERRIES FLYEEYR MICHAEL SWEEN THE ITALIAN JOB MARTA AND DIEGO’S BETWEEN THE HEDGES PASSION
IRELAND’S FACTORY GP RRAOCNEGR REG ARMST ITH TEN MINUTES W JAMIE HAMILTON
FEBRUARY 2021
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No. 338
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FEB RU A RY 2 0 21
FEBRUARY 2021 | ISSUE 338
CONTENTS
14
NOTICEBOARD
04
PADDOCK GOSSIP
06
McGUINNESS GETS HIS GONG
14
SKERRIES FLYER: MICHAEL SWEENEY
22
MICHAEL SWEENEY’S CV
26
TEN MINUTES WITH JAMIE HAMILTON
28
THE ITALIAN JOB
30
WORLD MOTOGP CHAMPION JOAN MIR’S IRISH CONNECTION - GRAEME IRVINE
40
McADOO BREAKTHROUGH FOR DARRYL TWEED
46
LAST CHANCE SALOON FOR EUGENE LAVERTY?
50
REG ARMSTRONG - IRELAND’S GRAND PRIX FACTORY RACER
54
FINAL FRAME
62
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EDITOR’S NOTE Happy New Year and welcome to the first edition of Road Racing Ireland of 2021! By now you will have noticed the magazine looks rather different this month. Our writers, photographers and design team have spent the winter break giving RRI a major rebuild! It isn’t just about the bright bodywork of our new logo and cover design, the whole engine has been given a re-tune, with a host of go faster parts bolted into place! Proudly produced in Ireland, RRI is the world’s only road racing magazine. Providing international coverage of the sport, we have tracked down stories from Spain and Skerries to Tandragee and Turin for this month’s edition. Accompanied by stunning photography in dynamic new layouts, the excitement of the sport is brought to life like never before. In this edition we hear how the recently honoured John McGuinness is keeping retirement at bay as he plans for a final push at the TT and we also recall the exploits of Dublin’s Grand Prix legend of the Fifties, Reg Armstrong. The future looks bright for up and coming Ballymoney racer, Darryl Tweed as he discusses joining the famous McAdoo Racing team. He will be hoping to emulate the success of Michael Sweeney, one of Ireland’s leading stars of the sport also featured this month. During the darkest days of the pandemic, RRI has continued to appear on the newsagent’s shelves each month. Twelve months ago no-one could have imagined life as it is now but with new vaccines offering hope of brighter days ahead, your favourite motorcycle racing publication is heading into 2021 full of optimism. And we are celebrating our 35th year of publishing with a brand new look! I hope you enjoy it Stephen Davison Editor Published by: ROLLINS PROMOTIONS LTD., 26 The Oaks, Newtownards, Co. Down BT23 8GZ Northern Ireland Tel: 028 9182 8211 Email: editorial@roadracingireland.com Website: www.roadracingireland.com Advertisement Directors Wallace Rollins, Gillian Rollins
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Editor Stephen Davison Designer Mark Stokes Printed GPS Every care is taken in compiling the contents of this magazine, but the proprietors assume no responsibility for manuscripts and photographs submitted to Rollins Promotions Ltd. They accept no responsibility for loss or damage. All photographs sent in must be accompanied by a SAE. All prices and data contained in advertisement and editorial are accepted by us in good faith as being correct at the time of going to press. The publishers cannot be held responsible for any variations affecting prices or availability. The views expressed in R.R.I. are not necessarily those of the publisher. All material in the publication is strictly copyright - all rights reserved 2021 - and may not be reproduced, in whole or part without the express permission of Rollins Promotions Ltd.
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