Latest news with #Ballymoney
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Ballymoney exit Irish Cup after narrow loss to Bangor despite Ireland call-up's inspirational display
Ballymoney's Aaron Tennant celebrated his Ireland call-up on Saturday with a thumping performance against Bangor at Ward Park, but it wasn't enough to keep his team in the IBA Irish Cup. The Provincial side may have squeezed home – by only three shots – against their Premier League rivals Limavady in the First Round, but this time, they agonisingly bowed out of the sport's top knock-out tournament, beaten by two shots in a gripping tie.
Belfast Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Davey Todd content at Isle of Man TT as Dean Harrison sets a blistering pace
The Honda Racing UK rider came flying out of the blocks with a speed of 130.897mph from a standing start before upping the ante on his second lap to 133.069mph (17 mins 00.733 secs). Harrison, who now lives in Laxey on the island, was 15 seconds up on Peter Hickman (8TEN Racing BMW), who managed 131.076mph after completing three laps on his Superbike machine. Hickman's team-mate Davey Todd slotted into third on the leaderboard on Wednesday night (130.402mph). The 29-year-old did one lap on his Superbike and was more than satisfied after missing the Superbike and Superstock session on Tuesday. 'That's alright,' said Todd, who was stranded at Ginger Hall on Tuesday evening after an issue with the Padgett's Honda Supersport machine. 'Not bad for the first spin on the big bike, and I was gutted to miss the session last night. 'We've some work to do, some improvements to make, but it's a good start. 'There are areas to improve, a bit of stability, but that's not bad to start with.' Ballymoney's Michael Dunlop did a standing start lap on his ROKiT BMW Superbike at 129.975mph to go fourth ahead of Manxman Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles Honda), who clocked 128.825mph after two laps. Northern Ireland's Shaun Anderson was next on the Team Classic Suzuki (128.14mph). Todd did two laps on his Superstock machine and led the times at 131.231mph, with Harrison (131.098mph) and Dunlop (130.387mph) second and third respectively after their standing start laps. Paul Jordan from Magherafelt was an impressive fifth on the Jackson Racing Honda by Prosper2 machine at 128.055mph behind Dominic Herbertson (129.257mph), with Conor Cummins sixth on the Burrows/RK Racing BMW (128.041mph). Skerries man Michael Sweeney, who was 17th in the Superstock standings on his MJR BMW, said conditions were much improved compared to Tuesday evening. 'It's very windy out there from the start to Ballacraine and up on the mountain,' said Sweeney. 'But conditions are a lot better than last night and we can deal with the wind compared to the damp. 'We've a few issues, but we're going in the right direction and we're on the right way.' Dunlop, the all-time TT record holder with 29 victories, topped the Supersport times at 127.181mph on his Ducati Panigale V2. The 36-year-old was 6.3 seconds ahead of Harrison (126.436mph), with James Hillier (Bournemouth Kawasaki) and Todd (Padgett's Honda) third and fourth respectively. Hickman was fifth fastest on his Triumph 765 machine with a lap of 124.085mph from a standing start. Wigan's Rob Hodson (SMT Racing Paton) was quickest in Supertwin qualifying, setting the best speed at 119.521mph after doing two laps on the Italian machine. Hodson was 4.3 seconds up on Dunlop (MD Racing Paton), who lapped at 119.068mph from a standing start. Manxman Michael Evans was next in the standings on his Dafabet Racing Kawasaki (118.646mph). In the Sidecars, Ryan and Callum Crowe, who won both races in 2024, took the top spot on their Opul/Kelproperties LCR Honda) with a lap of 118.797mph from Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley (AWB Engineering Honda), who recorded a speed of 115.37mph. The Sidecar session was restricted to one lap as the weather began to close in on Wednesday night. Rain was expected overnight on the Isle of Man with more wet weather in today's forecast, which could have an impact on Thursday evening's planned second qualifying session, which is scheduled to begin at 6.30pm.
Belfast Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
I wouldn't come to Isle of Man TT if I didn't think I could win more races: Michael Dunlop
Practice is scheduled to start on Monday morning, but rain in the forecast later in the afternoon and evening could have a detrimental impact on the first day of the 2025 festival. Dunlop won four races around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course in 2024 to take over from his idolised uncle Joey as the most successful racer in the event's history. The 36-year-old extended his tally of victories to 29, three more than Joey's previous record of 26, which he set with a final treble in 2000. Dunlop began the road racing season on a winning note with victories at the Cookstown 100 before impressing at the North West 200 where the Ballymoney legend returned to winning ways on the north coast for the first time since 2016. Dunlop powered to Superbike success on his new BMW machine and won on his new BMW Superstock and Ducati Supersport bikes for a hat-trick. His performances turned heads at Ulster's top motorcycle race and he goes into the TT on a high. 'The preparations are going quite good, we had a good North West and we were on the money,' said Dunlop, who now has a section of the TT course named in his honour on the approach to the 27th milestone, with a previously unnamed left-hand bend known as MD's. 'We won three races and broke down in a couple, and I'm feeling really good. 'I wouldn't be coming here if I didn't think I could win more races, and I feel like I'm as fast as I ever was. 'We just need a bit of practice, hopefully, to dial them (new bikes) in, but the team's working hard and we're going to push on for them.' Dunlop may be the slight favourite before race week is scheduled to begin on Saturday with the first of two Supersport races, but he faces a formidable challenge from 8TEN Racing BMW riders Peter Hickman and Davey Todd and official Honda Racing UK contender Dean Harrison. Hickman remains the outright lap record holder at the TT after recording a blistering 136.358mph in 2023 on his BMW Superstock machine. The English rider won the Superbike race last June for his 14th victory after Dunlop's dominant lead was eradicated when he had to stop after his second pit stop to fix his visor, which hadn't been correctly fastened in the pitlane. Todd made a huge breakthrough when he won his first TT races in 2024, taking Superstock and Senior victories. The Saltburn man is hungry for more but hasn't enjoyed the best preparation for the TT, with Todd and Hickman – who co-own 8TEN Racing – pulling their team together in just a few months. The 29-year-old is yet to completely gel with his BMW Superbike, and Todd hasn't ruled out riding a Superstock machine at the TT. Roads around the Mountain Course on Monday are due to close at 10.00am with a Newcomers Speed Controlled lap from 10.40am. With adverse weather forecast, all classes will be given two laps of untimed practice and all roads are due to be reopened by 2.45pm. Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi won the British MotoGP on Sunday at Silverstone for the factory Aprilia team. Italian Bezzecchi delivered Aprilia's first victory of the 2025 season as the manufacturer returned to the top step in the premier class for the first time since the Grand Prix of the Americas in 2024. Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) finished second, while Championship leader Marc Marquez (Lenovo Ducati) pipped Franco Morbidelli for third. The race was restarted because of an oil spill, with Marquez and his brother Alex (Gresini Ducati) both crashing while leading. Frenchman Fabio Quartararo retired with a bike problem. The Second Round of the British Talent Cup series was held on the MotoGP undercard and there was jubilation for Northern Ireland teenager Peter Willis, who won his first race in the class.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Dunlop tribute 'an absolute privilege' for Rea
Six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea said it was "an absolute privilege" to be involved in a celebration of the life of motorcycle racing hero Joey Dunlop in Ballymoney, County Antrim, on Saturday. The 'Joey 25' tribute day was being held a quarter of a century after the revered 26-time Isle of Man TT winner was killed in an accident at a race in Estonia in July 2000. The event brought together a plethora of famous names from two-wheel motorsport past and present, including Rea, another multiple World Superbike champion in Carl Fogarty, Glenn Irwin, Brian Reid, Phillip McCallen and Ron Haslam. The special celebration to remember Joey and honour his legacy was hosted by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, in conjunction with the Dunlop family. "Joey Dunlop was an icon, not just in motorcycle racing but as a sportsman in the country," Rea, 38, told BBC Sport NI. "I grew up in race paddocks and didn't really understand the magnitude of Joey or the legacy left. "My father was racing against him but over time I've understood all his accomplishments and more of the human he was, the effect he had on the fans and the people here, understood what a legend he was, someone we can be really proud of." Thousands of people defied the inclement weather conditions to commemorate the life and achievements of the five-time TT Formula One world champion, who also racked up 24 Ulster Grand Prix victories and 13 North West 200 successes in an illustrious career. The occasion to mark the landmark anniversary included a closed-roads parade around the town centre with top riders using Joey Dunlop's original machines. "It's a really good day, not just to honour Joey, but everyone involved in the day has been really pumped to be part of it," added Rea. "I thought there would be a lot of people here but it has blown me away the crowd that came out."
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Dunlop tribute 'an absolute privilege' for Rea
Six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea said it was "an absolute privilege" to be involved in a celebration of the life of motorcycle racing hero Joey Dunlop in Ballymoney, County Antrim, on 'Joey 25' tribute day was being held a quarter of a century after the revered 26-time Isle of Man TT winner was killed in an accident at a race in Estonia in July event brought together a plethora of famous names from two-wheel motorsport past and present, including Rea, another multiple World Superbike champion in Carl Fogarty, Glenn Irwin, Brian Reid, Phillip McCallen and Ron special celebration to remember Joey was hosted by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, in conjunction with the Dunlop family."Joey Dunlop was an icon, not just in motorcycle racing but as a sportsman in the country," Rea, 38, told BBC Sport NI."I grew up in race paddocks and didn't really understand the magnitude of Joey or the legacy left."My father was racing against him but over time I've understood all his accomplishments and more of the human he was, the effect he had on the fans and the people here, understood what a legend he was, someone we can be really proud of."Thousands of people defied the unfavourable weather conditions to commemorate the life and achievements of the five-time TT Formula One world champion, who also racked up 24 Ulster Grand Prix victories and 13 North West 200 successes in an illustrious occasion to mark the landmark anniversary included a closed-roads parade around the town centre with top riders using Joey Dunlop's original machines."It's a really good day, not just to honour Joey, but everyone involved in the day has been really pumped to be part of it," added Rea.
