3 days ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Isle of Man TT star among big names in the field for return of Tandragee 100
The popular Co Armagh meeting is a favourite for competitors, with the spectacular 5.3-mile course often referred to as the 'Mini TT'.
Crucial resurfacing work has now been carried out, which had prevented the famous race from taking place in 2023 and 2024.
Event co-ordinator and former Clerk of the Course Anne Forsythe said: 'After two long years of not being able to host the event due to a delay in getting resurfacing work carried out, we are thrilled to be celebrating 61 years of the Around A Pound Tandragee 100 Motorcycle Road Races.
'We would like to thank the then Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd, for committing the necessary funds in 2024/25 and all those councillors, MPs and MLAs who supported us in this venture.
'A special mention also to Ian Milne for assisting us over the three years it took to get this across the line.'
Traditionally held in May, the event has been moved to a new June date, with practice and qualifying taking place on Friday, June 27 and the main race day on Saturday, June 28.
Isle of Man TT star Conor Cummins is among the standout names on the entry list with Dungannon's Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Team.
The Ramsey man claimed a best result of fifth in the second Superstock race at the TT last week with a fastest lap of 131.528mph on the BMW M1000RR, which was the quickest ever by a rider for John Burrows' team.
Cummins raced at Tandragee once before, making his debut in 2007 on Yamaha machinery for the JMF Millsport Racing team.
Another leading contender is fellow TT rider Shaun Anderson, who is a member of the organising North Armagh Club. Anderson was fortunate to escape injury after a crash in the Superbike TT race at Joey's, which left him with cuts and bruises.
The Banbridge man – a Mountain Course winner in 2024 in the Senior Classic Manx Grand Prix race – will be a key protagonist at Tandragee.
Skerries rider Michael Sweeney is not listed on the official press release but recently expressed a desire to return to Tandragee.
The Republic of Ireland rider achieved a lifetime dream of finishing on the podium in May at the North West 200 on his Aprilia Supertwin machine and would be the rider to beat if he arrives in the paddock.
The line-up also includes former Senior Manx Grand Prix winners Joe Yeardsley and Daniel Ingham, plus Ballymoney's Darryl Tweed – also a past MGP winner – and the Isle of Man's Marcus Simpson, who was the runner-up behind Yeardsley in the 2023 Senior race at the Manx.
Newcomer Amalric Blanc from France adds international flavour to the grid and is fresh from an impressive 12th place in the opening Superstock race at the TT on his 1000cc Honda.
Ballymena's Neil Kernohan and Ryan Whitehall from the Isle of Wight will be out to make their mark at Tandragee, while Andy Farrell, Liam and James Chawke are among a large contingent of competitors from the Republic of Ireland.
Derek McGee, a double winner at the Cookstown 100 in April, is set to miss out through injury after he was caught up in a crash during the opening round of the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) at Hengelo in the Netherlands in May.
A total of 113 competitors and 50 newcomers have entered this year's race, which has an increased prize fund of £13,000.
Roads will close on Friday, June 27 for practice from 11.00am-9.00pm and on Saturday, June 28 for racing from 9.30am-7.00pm.
