North West 200 stalwart John McGuinness made a special appearance at the race’s April press conference tonight at the Ramada, Portrush as the popular Morecambe rider celebrated his 37th birthday just days before the Kennedy International North West 200 in association with Coke Zero commemorates its first ever outing on April 20th 1929. The HM Plant team member who took 5th place at last week-end’s British Superstock Championship at Brands Hatch on board the Padgetts Honda, was in Northern Ireland to launch the Dewalts Superbike Race, the CP Hire Superstock and Clinton Enterprises 600CC Supersport together with the Black Horse NW200 Superbike race and an update on the McKendry Fabrications 125cc race.
Also travelling to Northern Ireland prior to his first ever North West 200 was Ben Wylie from Market Drayton who is set to enter the Superstock and Supersport 600 races. The promising 25 year old achieved 6th place in the World Endurance Championship in 2005 and has held top ten positions in the 2005 European Superstock and the BSB Supersport champsionships in 2007.
Black Horse NW200 and Dewalt Superbike Races
John McGuinness, a regular at the North West achieved two podium places (3rd) last year and came 5th in the Black Horse Superbike race and in 2007 won the first Dewalt Superbike race. John alongside team mate Steve Plater is set to enter both the Dewalt and the Black Horse NW200 Superbike races. Plater from Lincolnshire had four podium places in 2008 including the main Black Horse Superbike race. Also on the grid for both races is NW200 star rider with 12 wins under his belt, Michael Rutter on board the new North West 200 R1 Yamaha. Both races have attracted 80 top riders including battler Guy Martin on the Hydrex Honda who last year picked up 2nd place in the Dewalt Race. Relentless by TAS Suzuki team will again be represented by antipodean riders Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald. Last year Cameron took 2nd place behind Plater in the Black Horse Superbike race whilst Bruce was placed 4th and 6th. Ian Hutchinson rides this year on the Padgetts machines and will be pushing to improve on his 2008 8th position. Alastair Seeley will ride under the JMF banner having tasted success after winning last year’s CP Hire Superstock race. Ever youthful Ian Lougher will compete again on board the Black Horse sponsored machines.
Other top contenders include Ryan Farquhar, Gary Johnston riding the Robinson Concrete Hondas, Hong Kong based Macau Racing Team members Marc Fissette and Rico Penzkofer and newcomer Sandor Bitter from Hungary. Also Ballymoney man Adrian Archibald, Scotsman Keith Amor, Denver Robb and Conor Cummins riding the McAdoo Kawasaki.
Second race of the programme, the Dewalt Superbike event always attracts high quality entry levels and has for many years been supported by industrial tools manufacturer Dewalt Performance Tools. Said Paul Gault, “We’re now into our 10th year as Superbike sponsor and at Dewalt we believe our contribution to the North West gets excellent feedback from our customers. It’s a fantastic partnership and we would like to thank Mervyn and the full organising team for a great event and we look forward to a safe and exciting Race Day.”
Backing the penultimate race of the day is Black Horse Motorcyle Finance and Dave Macey the company’s Market & Franchise Development Manager said, "Once again Black Horse Motorcycle Finance is extremely proud to be back sponsoring the top race at the NW200, an event that is growing internationally year by year. We are pleased to be able to come back on board on this the 80th year of the global event and continue our sponsorship. We look forward to the Race Week events ending in a great day's racing on the 16th May."
New North West 200 Website
Entries closed on Easter Saturday and Clerk of Course Mervyn Whyte MBE is delighted with the range and quality of entries for this year’s event and also paid tribute to his hard working team of volunteer organisers who are gearing up for this year’s 80th anniversary event. Mervyn also announced full details of the event’s brand new website which was launched last week and welcomed David Curry from Redback Creations who re-developed the existing www.northwest200.org site.
Redback’s managing director David Curry said their overall aim is to provide a better and more convenient user experience. “The Redback Creations team all live locally and love the NW200 as an event. It’s fantastic to be involved in promoting the North West and the local region to a worldwide audience. Since the website went live at the beginning of April we’ve already attracted visitors from 50 countries worldwide and received emails describing NW200 memories as well as volunteering and sponsorship enquiries. Whilst we are looking forward to managing the site during Race Week, plans are already in place to make further improvements for the 2010 Race.”
DCAL Support
Mervyn Whyte played tribute to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure who have funded the new website developments which are already reaping benefits for both the event and tourism in Northern Ireland. “DCAL have been invaluable in terms of support and funding to take the North West to an even more professional level. In addition to our new website DCAL support has helped us to recruit our new Business & Operations Manager Laura McManus and we will have two new major projects launched in time for Race Week – a new volunteer programme and a visitor campaign targeting bike fans globally. Whilst both campaigns will be up and running for 2009 the benefits will certainly be long-term.”
Sports Minister Gregory Campbell said, “The development of the North West 200’s web-presence complements the fantastic coverage provided by BBC Northern Ireland. It brings Northern Ireland’s largest sporting event to life and enables people from all over the world to log on to the site to check on latest race news, to learn about the event’s history and even to buy the t-shirt!
“I’m pleased my Department has been able to support this innovation and I would particularly like to acknowledge all those involved in developing the site who have worked tremendously hard to ensure the site is up and running to mark race week during this very special anniversary year.”
CP Hire Superstock Race
Year on year the Superstock Race is brimming with talented riders and 2009 is no exception. The five lap race includes last year’s winner local man Alastair Seeley on board the JMF Team Millsport machine. Also on the grid will be Relentless by TAS Suzuki riders Cameron Donald and Bruce Anstey who last year achieved 3rd and 2nd place podium places respectively in the Superstock event.
Also entering the Superstock race this year is Guy Martin together with Keith Amor on board the Wilson Craig Honda, Harker Racing star Ryan Farquhar and Dungannon man John Burrows. NW200 newcomers Marc Fissette and Rico Penzkofer will also be on the Superstock grid together with Manx rider Conor Cummins. Attracting an entry level of 95 riders other competitors include Ian Hutchinson on the Padgetts Honda, Gary Johnston and Adrian Archibald.
Managing Director of CP Hire sponsors of the Superstock Race, Andrew Hutchinson said, "We have a long established relationship with the NW200 and are thrilled to be involved and support the event this year again on it's 80th anniversary year. As a local company we are proud to say that we are based in the region that's had its profile raised due to the NW200 which continues to get bigger and better each year. For years we have been attending the event and once again we very much look forward to another exciting and fun day of racing on the 16th."
Clinton Enterprise Ltd 600 cc Race
The first 600cc Supersport race has this year attracted a new sponsor with sports merchandiser Clinton Enterprises backing the event which has attracted over 90 top quality competitors. Tim Clinton, Managing Director of Clinton Enterprises said, “I am delighted to become involved with the prestigious International North West 200 as a race sponsor on this very special anniversary year. Clinton Enterprises has been involved with motor sport merchandising for over 20 years and currently produce merchandise for teams such as Suzuki, HM Plant Honda, Hydrex Honda, MSS Kawasaki, Kennedy NW200, Coca Cola Yamaha, Relentless Suzuki and rider James Toseland. I have watched the North West 200 over the years grow into what it has become today - an international global event and I would like to wish Mervyn and his team a very safe days racing on the 16th.”
Competitors topping the list are last year’s double 600 cc Supersport winner Steve Plater, Alistair Seeley and Black Horse duo Ian Lougher and Swede Matts Nilsson on board the Team Black Horse Yamaha. Dunlop brothers Michael and William will also line up along with TAS Suzuki pair Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald. NW200 Yamaha bike star Michael Rutter will also be joining the line-up.
Bingley rider Ian Hutchinson who took fourth place last year in the Supersport race will ride the Padgetts Honda with Ryan Farquhar on the KMV Kawasaki and John McGuinness riding the HM Plant Honda. Macau Racing Team member Rico Penzkofer will also compete with Honda’s Guy Martin, top female rider Maria Costello, Adrian Archibald and Swede Bjorn Gunnarrson also on the grid. Other entrants are Mark Lunney, Conor Cummins on the McAdoo Kawasaki, Italian rider Stefano Bonnetti and Chris Palmer from the Isle of Man. Also Keith Amor, John Burrows and Guy Martin.
McKendry Fabrications Ltd 125cc Race
Managing director Colin McKendry said, “I am delighted to be back on board for a second year as race sponsor for the NW200. As a local company we were thrilled to get more involved with the prestigious event last year and to continue this year on this its 80th anniversary. The company which was set up almost 9 years ago has been involved with the race over years with in kind sponsorship. We are looking forward to another successful day's racing and would like to wish Mervyn and his team all the best for another action packed and safe days racing on the 16th May."
The 125cc class has attracted 45 top quality entries and star names lining up on the grid this year are Manx man Chris Palmer who took the runners up accolade last year, Macclesfield rider James Ford who was 3rd in 2008, Belfast man Mark Lunney and Olie Linsdell from England. Also on the grid are William Dunlop, Paul Robinson and Darren Burns.
Associate Sponsors
Mervyn Whyte also paid tribute to the magnificent support the event has gained from associate sponsors including well known local brand Cookstown who are backing this year’s North West with their VIP campaign (Very Important Pork) and communications company Connect. Also supporting the event are location sponsors -Tyrone Brick at Metropole, Right Price at Church Corner and York Corner sponsor GMC. Race sponsor Clinton Enterprises will also back University Corner with the roundabout at Ballysally sponsored by Irish Racer Magazine. Ballykelly company Bob Mullan Motors will also support the starting lights and digital clock first introduced last year together with the Media Centre’s plasma screens. BT will once again sponsor the North West’s Media Centre.
Mervyn also thank title sponsors Kennedy Group and Coca Cola Zero for their huge support and sponsorship of the event as well as media partner BBC Sport NI and print media partner Belfast Telegraph.
BBC Sport NI
As part of their stunning coverage of the North West 200 viewers will be able to watch the last three races – CP Hire Superstock Race, Black Horse North West 200 Superbike Race and the Ballymoney Borough Council 600cc Supersport - live on the red button.
North West 200 80th Anniversary Programme
Irish Racer editor Paul Lindsay and his team are putting the finishing touches to a bumper 80th anniversary programme which is set to go on sale in just over a week’s time. Paul said, “Careva Publishing is delighted to be involved with the North West 200 and especially in this special celebratory year. The 100 page publication will carry a mix of historic and contemporary articles and promises to be an excellent read as well as a commemorative souvenir booklet.”
Coleraine Borough Council
Regional event partner Coleraine Borough Council have organized a superb programme of events to complement the race action and Clerk of Course Mervyn Whyte highlighted the excellent partnership between organizers and Council executives and councillors. Coleraine Borough Council will again sponsor the chicanes at Juniper Hill and Magherabuoy.
Mayor of Coleraine, Councillor David Barbour spoke at the event and said “as we fast approach race week, it is extremely encouraging to experience the support and enthusiasm the volunteers and the private company’s continue to provide to this international event. In celebration of the 80th anniversary, I congratulate Mervyn Whyte MBE, the Kennedy Group, Coke Zero and each and every company who continue to contribute their time, and or sponsorship, ensuring the event goes from strength to strength. As regional partner and sponsor, Coleraine Borough Council recognises the importance of high profile events, and how they attract enthusiasts and tourists to visit our Borough. I thank Minister Campbell, Department of Culture Art and Leisure for providing recognition and support, which secures this as being one of Northern Ireland’s best known attraction, which this area has to offer. I look forward to race day and wish everyone attending a safe and enjoyable event”
More information: www.northwest200.org
