Paul Jordan eager to join list of NI winners at Armoy's ‘Race of Legends'
Held each year in memory of the legendary Armoy Armada road racing quartet of Joey Dunlop, Frank Kennedy, Mervyn Robinson and Jim Dunlop — who competed together at Irish road races from the mid to late 1970s — the race has been dominated by Michael Dunlop, whose victory in 2023 was his 10th Legends success.
The Isle of Man TT record-breaker is absent this year, as is English rival Todd, who was a winner of the big race in 2022 and 2024.
A new name will be added to the trophy today, with Magherafelt racer Paul Jordan putting down a marker yesterday after he claimed pole position in qualifying on the Jackson Racing by Prosper2 Honda.
Jordan lapped at 106.324mph, but Republic of Ireland rider Mike Browne was only a few tenths of a second slower on his Honda at 106.087mph.
Manxman Conor Cummins is another chief contender on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing BMW along with fourth-fastest Michael Sweeney (MJR BMW) and Yorkshire's Jamie Coward on the KTS Racing BMW, who made his return from injury at the Southern 100 this month following a crash at the North West 200 in May.
Phil Crowe, the runner-up last year behind Todd, also can't be ruled out on his BMW.
Jordan, though, will be fired up to emulate fellow Ulster winners Dunlop and Farquhar by winning the Superbike showdown.
The 34-year-old is having a fine season, winning his first race at the North West 200 in the Supertwin category and securing another rostrum at the TT, again in the Supertwin class.
Jordan, who also finished fourth in the second Supersport race at the TT in June, set a new lap record as he won the Supertwin race at Armoy yesterday and finished a close third in the Supersport race.
However, he has been eager to prove himself on the 1000cc machines and a win today would be a feather in his cap.
'I was able to do the lap times (in Superbike qualifying) on my own, so that will only help me,' Jordan said.
'It's been good, a win and a third, so it's good for the team and good for me.
'A backmarker just played a bit of a part on the last lap there (in the Supersport race), which sort of ended it (challenge for second place), but I'm happy. We'll get another go at it tomorrow.'
Browne will be aiming to double up in the Supersport class on the BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha after his win last night, while Jordan will fancy his chances of a repeat in today's Supertwin race.
Dan Sayle sealed pole in the Moto3/125GP class with Ballymena's Barry Davidson quickest in qualifying for the Lightweight Supersport/GP250 race on the Bry Joinery 250 Honda.
Former MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams is competing on a 400 Kawasaki in the Lightweight race and was third fastest in qualifying on his return to the event after a long absence.
Andy Farrell starts from pole in the Classic Superbike race with Sam West also on the front row in second place.
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The Guardian
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