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
35TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
S E K O O R B JOSH
9 771369 121019
9 771369 121019
MAY 2021
No. 341
05 £4.95 05
IS THE TT DREAM OVER?
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MAY 2021
MAY 2021 | ISSUE 341
CONTENTS
16
NOTICEBOARD
04
PADDOCK GOSSIP
06
IS JOSH BROOKES’ TT DREAM OVER?
16
TEN MINUTES WITH JAMIE COWARD
22
TOP 10 NW 200 MOMENTS
24
NEW START FOR CHAZ DAVIES
32
ITALIAN GOVERNING BODY DENIES PERMITS TO RIDERS 36 VINNY BRENNAN - THE FLYING BARBER
38
AGHADOWEY ANTICS PICTORIAL
42
MOTOGP ROUND-UP
54
GARY DYNES - 2 STROKE STAR
56
FINAL FRAME
62
38
EDITOR’S NOTE
This is the 35th anniversary edition of Road Racing Ireland! I have been editor of the magazine for less than a year but have been a RRI contributor for almost 30 years. For me, and I hope for all of you, Road Racing Ireland has always been the Bible of motorcycle sport. Wallace and Gillian Rollins began their publishing venture during difficult times in Northern Ireland. The past year has also been far from easy for any of us. It has been a particularly challenging period for the publishing industry but each and every month, as it has done for the past 35 years, RRI has appeared on the news stands. Whilst headlines elsewhere have focussed on cancelled events and the doom and gloom the pandemic has brought to our lives, RRI has maintained a positive outlook. We have supported the events that have taken place, promoting road races at Scarborough and Cookstown and reporting on the short circuit events in Ireland, Britain and further afield during 2020. We will continue to do the same in this new season with this month’s issue carrying details of the forthcoming meetings at Oliver’s Mount and Armoy. RRI has also been spreading the news about the fantastic Irish Mini Bike championship, joining the long list of sponsors who are encouraging youngsters to become involved in motorcycle sport. The organisers have built their series from zero in just a few years, attracting new sponsors and scholarships that will reward the competitors. IMC events have become crucibles of fun and enthusiasm amongst riders of all ages. In 1986, when Road Racing Ireland appeared for the first time, Ireland had a reigning world champion in Joey Dunlop. Thirty five years on and Jonathan Rea holds the same lofty position. Perhaps one of the crop of young talent currently serving their racing apprenticeship in the IMC series will be on top of the world when RRI celebrates another major anniversary! Stephen Davison Editor Published by: ROLLINS PROMOTIONS LTD., 26 The Oaks, Newtownards, Co. Down BT23 8GZ Northern Ireland Tel: 028 9182 8211
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Email: editorial@roadracingireland.com Website: www.roadracingireland.com Advertisement Directors Wallace Rollins, Gillian Rollins Editor Stephen Davison Designer Mark Stokes Printed GPS
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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.
ROAD RACING IRELAND | 3
NOTICEBOARD
NOTICEBOA RD CAROLE NA WITH SH
If you have something you would like to be considered for our noticeboard page please send it in together with your name and address to: NOTICEBOARD, Road Racing Ireland, 26 The Oaks, Newtownards, Co. Down BT23 8GZ T: 028 9182 8211 E: editorial@roadracingireland.com
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RRI MERCHANDISE Following the popular launch of the new look Road Racing Ireland magazine and logo we have added a number of new official RRI merchandise products. New in is our RRI beanie hat featuring the new style logo which is available for £10 plus p&p.
DID Appoints Valentino Rossi as Global Brand Ambassador MotoGP chain supplier, DID, has appointed nine-time World Champion, Valentino Rossi, as its global brand ambassador in a three year partnership. “I am using DID on track with Yamaha for many years and now I am very glad to start this partnership as their expertise and great technology can support me and our VR46 Academy Riders on track and during our training activities”Rossi said. To mark the new venture, DID will launch two chain series – DID X VR46 and The Doctor – newly designed and test-approved by Rossi. The Doctor series, directly derived from the DID chain supplied in MotoGP, will be particularly prized by the most demanding riders and also by refined collectors as it is produced in a very limited edition.
You can can also purchase a RRI sticker and pin badge set for £10 plus p&p or if you just want the sticker on its own, then it is available for £6 plus p&p. Watch out for new products to soon be added including a new design t-shirt. To visit our store go to www.roadracingireland.com
PICTURE QUIZ
WIN A RRI PEAK CAP
“We are extremely pleased to have Valentino Rossi become DID’s world brand ambassador.” Hirofumi Araya, President of DAIDO KOGYO CO., LTD said. “DID and Valentino share a common, mutual desire to improve riders’ performance and to foster future talents in two-wheels motorsports. DID will become the Technical Partner of VR46 Academy by supporting all the different racing-training activities.” The collaboration between DID and Rossi will also involve the technical support to SKY Racing Team VR46 for the 2021 and 2022 Moto2 World Championships. DID is imported into the UK exclusively by Bike Alert and is available to motorcyclists through their local stockist. See more about Bike Alert’s ranges at: www.bikealert.com
IMC SCHOLARSHIPS Another Irish Minibike Championship scholarship aimed at encouraging young two wheeled talent has been provided by Chris Lennox of COREcut Ireland. Chris, whose son Reece competes in the series, has provided a Kayo MR 150 machine to be raced the Junior MiniGP class in 2021 by 13 year old Ryan Coyle from Coalisland. This brings the number of scholarships in the series to four including: 1. The Baylon McCaughey Scholarship, with Lee Hara riding a Tianda 300 TDR provided by the former racer and motorcycling photojournalist. 2. The Dualways 140 Ten 10, ridden by Alex McCalmont,
Where and when was this picture taken and can you name the first three riders please? The answer of last month’s Picture Quiz was Richard Quayle at Ballaugh Bridge at the 2002 TT. The winning entry was Andrew Lilley, Lisburn. Send your answer with your address and name to Picture Quiz, Rollins Promotions, 26 The Oaks, Newtownards, Co. Down, N. Ireland BT23 8GZ or email: info@roadracingireland.com Closing date for entries is 20th May 2021.
3. The VTL/Tag Racing IRL scholarship ridden by Oisin Moore. 4 | ROAD RACING IRELAND
MAY 2021
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MAY 2021
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