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BBC News
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Who will succeed Irwin as North West 200 Superbike king?
Glenn Irwin has dominated the Superbike class at the North West 200 in recent years, the Northern Ireland rider racking up an incredible 11 wins in a row in the feature blue riband category of the remarkable sequence, stretching from race two in 2017 right through until 2024, saw the 35-year-old become the most successful Superbike rider ever over the Triangle circuit, eclipsing the previous record of nine wins achieved by Michael Rutter and the late Joey Irwin announcing his retirement from road racing in October, an opportunity opens up for other leading riders to occupy the top step of the podium at this year's was the case for the first time last year, three 'big bike' races will be staged this time around, one on Thursday night and a further two on Sport NI assesses some of the potential contenders to assume Irwin's crown as the king of the Superbike class in 2025. Davey Todd Davey Todd ensured that Irwin did not have things all his own way in the Superbike events in 2024, the Yorkshireman coming a close second to his rival in each of the three 29-year-old remains on BMW machinery this year but has swapped the colours of the Milwaukee by TAS Racing team for his new 8Ten Racing Team as he aims to add to his six race wins and 16 rostrum finishes to two-time British Superstock 1000cc champion has moved up to compete in the feature British Superbike class on short circuits this term and is having his first competitive outing in the opening round at Oulton Park over the May Day Bank Holiday three victories at last year's NW200, two in Supersports and one in Superstocks, doubled his career tally of successes at the meeting, his maiden triumph having been achieved in the Supersports in his burgeoning CV also including Senior TT and Superstock TT wins, few would bet against the Saltburn-on-Sea pilot achieving a first Superbike win around the Triangle this currently sits as the second fastest rider ever around the 8.9-mile course with a lap speed of 125.673mph, set 12 months ago. Michael Dunlop Michael Dunlop will aim to bridge a nine-year gap since his last North West 200 win when he takes part in this year's races, his stable of machinery including a Hawk Racing-backed Ballymoney rider is most renowned for his record 29 victories at the Isle of Man TT but has also accumulated five successes at the North West, including wins in the Superbike class in 2014 and 2016.A former lap record holder for the Triangle circuit, Dunlop reinforced his pedigree in the feature class by taking two third-place finishes and a fourth in last year's big bike achieved three further third positions 12 months ago - two in Supersports and one in the Superstock credentials are further strengthened by the fact that he currently holds the Superbike lap record for the Isle of Man Mountain Course, albeit a very different circuit to the Triangle, and boasts five Superbike race wins and three in the blue riband Senior event at the fastest lap of the course stretches back to 2016 - 123.207mph. Alastair Seeley All-time North West 200 wins record holder Alastair Seeley returns to the event this year after sitting out the 2024 edition because he was unable to acquire suitable competitive 29-time winner will ride an SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW in the trio of Superbike outings as he aims to add to his tally of four victories in that class so far, his most recent in accomplished CV also includes a benchmark 13 Supersport wins at the North West and 10 in the Superstocks, also a 45-year-old is a former British Superstock and Supersport champion and holds the record for the number of podium finishes at the North West with 43, those rostrum spots gathered over a 15-year period between 2008 and rides the BMW he rode as part of the TAS Racing set-up on his last North West appearance in fastest lap to date is 124.484mph set in 2023. Peter Hickman Isle of Man TT course lap record holder Peter Hickman targets a first North West Superbike win to add to the two Superstock wins he has achieved so far and his 2024 Supertwins 38-year-old returns to the international meeting with a fleet of machines which include 8Ten Racing BMWs for the big bike Lincolnshire rider's career to date includes finishing in the top six in the overall British Superbike standings on four has 14 TT wins to his name, including three in the Superbike race and three in the is also a four-time winner of the Macau Grand Prix and secured a record seven wins at the most recent running of the Ulster Grand Prix in 2019, when he also set the course lap has stood on the podium 10 times already at the North West, holds the Supersport lap record and his best lap speed of 124.799mph sees him sit fourth in the all-time list of fastest is again contending the British Superbike Championship in 2025. Dean Harrison Dean Harrison is in his second season as part of the Honda Racing team and despite 10 North West podiums is still chasing his first victory at the 2024, the Yorkshire rider, now resident in the Isle of Man, had a best finish of second in Thursday's Superstock race, followed by a third place in one of Saturday's Superbike sits third in the all-time list of fastest laps at the North West with a speed of 124.973 set in the feature race of the meeting in 36-year-old was a regular on the grid in the British Superbike series in recent years but has switched to compete in the Supersport class at the end of the 2024 season and for 2025.A three-time Southern 100 Solo Championship winner on the big bikes, Harrison's best Superbike result at the North West to date is a second place in was the victor in the Senior TT of 2019, one of his three triumphs at the annual Isle of Man road race, in which he has racked up 30 podiums. Josh Brookes Australian Josh Brookes possesses the pedigree to compete at the sharp end of any race was crowned British Superbike champion in 2015 and 2020 and is having another tilt at the championship this year on board a Honda Fireblade with the DAO Racing 42-year-old teams up with Jackson Racing on Hondas for the North West as he takes part in the Triangle races for the first time since Sydney rider began his NW200 career in 2013 and set a new lap record for the circuit 12 months later in finishing second to Michael Dunlop in a Superbike race, his best result at the event to 2024 Brookes secured his first rostrum finish at the TT courtesy of his second place in the blue riband Senior TT fastest lap of the Triangle circuit is 123.141mph set in 2022.
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'GAA can lead gender equality campaign'
Conor Meyler's own GAA career may be on hold because of injury, but during his lengthy time out he is passionately throwing himself into something he hopes will help bring long-lasting and positive change to the sport he 2021 Tyrone All-Ireland winner is currently undertaking a PhD in sport, leadership and gender which is particularly aimed at examining the lack of genuine equality for women in Gaelic Games and indeed wider sport on this island. During a 2024 which included two knee operations plus an Achilles injury, Meyler's research took him down to Australia and New Zealand last year as he visited Australian Rules and rugby franchises to see how they are approaching gender equality in their sports. And with Saturday's International Women's Day looming, the Omagh St Enda's club-man talked about some of his research findings at Monday's launch of Sport NI's 'Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong' campaign aimed at supporting women and girls to find their place in sport."When Sport NI launched this, it was definitely something I was keen to be involved with," Meyler told BBC Sport NI."I suppose the first thing I wanted to find out was whether there was an action plan, more follow-up with it and seeing that and knowing that this is hopefully going to have a lasting impact for women and girls in sport, definitely made me want to get involved." Official Gaelic Games integration is scheduled to happen in 2027 with the amalgamation of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the Camogie says it is vitally important it becomes a reality on the ground and not just at the top table."I still struggle to stand over and say that we've got the best organisation in the world, when the opportunity provided to young girls and women is very different than boys and men," says the Omagh man who turned 30 last September."That's the vision, that every club is a one-club and every county is a one-county and at national level we're integrated. Then on a wider scale, what we do in sport has a knock on impact on society and how we treat women in sport. "Our largest sporting organisation is still run by men and boys for men and boys, then there's a kind of ripple effect into society. "The opportunities we give to women in sport has a knock on effect to society and that's just a healthier place to be and a healthier culture that we hopefully start to create here in Ireland." But Meyler admits it is not an easy task almost trying to over-turn history."If we go back and this is part of the research for me now, sport was created by men for men."All the values, systems, behaviours and beliefs were for men and it was a way for men to sort of show their masculinity and male dominance, strength, we associate with men. Women's sporting organisations came a lot later."In the case of ladies GAA, the Camogie Association was founded in 1904 - 20 years after the GAA's foundation in Thurles - with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association not arriving until 1974."It's a case of can we change sport to suit rather that just add women to men's sport and stir and hope for the best," adds the Tyrone footballer. "It has to be that we change sport, make it more inclusive, create the opportunities and facilities for the 50% of the population and also fund it because at the minute those opportunities still aren't there." 'Women must be in leadership roles' Meyler admits young boys are also opting out of sport but he insists not at level of girls because of the particular lack of opportunities for young females."I was very naive and ignorant to the inequality that existed for a long time until I started the PhD and got my eyes opened to some of the barriers that existed."Being a sports person, you're very narrow minded and selfish at times and growing up in a house and an environment and a club where women were given opportunities, you weren't directly seeing any imbalance. "It probably wasn't until I began the research that I realised that and then there was probably a moral sense of justice that I could do something here that had a wider impact and not just for me."Meyler is convinced the GAA can play a particularly transformational role in helping the island of Ireland foster genuine gender equality."We could be a leader in pushing women's sport and promoting gender equality. For me it's just giving those opportunities."It's actually getting women around the table and into leadership positions where they can impact change. "That's the thing for me. Can we get the right people? The right people create the right structures and systems and the right structures and systems will create the right long-lasting cultural impact and men are very important in driving that." As regards his own recovery from injury, Meyler admits that being forced out of the entire 2024 campaign was "mentally really tough" but believes he is going to get back into the Omagh and Tyrone jerseys."From a young age, the dream was always to play for Tyrone and while you've managed to do that and play for as long as possible, I still feel like I've a lot to offer if I can get the body right."At the minute, it's just a case of accepting whatever comes. I'm doing as much as I can, doing the right things. "I've a lot of really good people around me which is good. Part of a really good set-up and some of my best friends are up there as well so I want to stick it out as long as I can and throw everything at it and hopefully get back on the pitch this season."While he may not be involved this year, Meyler believes Tyrone can again contend for All-Ireland honours after a comparatively lean three seasons since their Sam Maguire triumph in 2021."I think from a Tyrone perspective, there's excitement because we know we've got such good quality [players]. "We have the new management and the backroom team that are certainly going to spark something as well. "And as a county, we're very fortunate to have the resources and the facilities that we have as well so we've a lot of things going for us. It's just a case of getting it all to gel now."
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mageean still targeting Tokyo World Championships
Ciara Mageean says she is still targeting this year's World Championships in September even though her return to running is currently confined to three days a week as she recovers from ankle surgery last autumn. Mageean, who will turn 33 next week, was forced out of last summer's Paris Olympics on the eve of her scheduled 1500m first-round heat. The Portaferry woman underwent an operation in September and says she's "on the tentative steps back to running". "I'm running three days a week. It doesn't seem like much especially for an athlete like myself but I'm learning to be patient," said the county Down woman after being one of the speakers at the launch of Sport NI's 'Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong' campaign aimed at about supporting women and girls to find their place in sport. "My aim this year is to try to get to the World Championships at the end of the summer. "It's something that's keeping me going through those tough cross-training sessions. We'll see how the rehab goes but for now I'm working my ass off in the gym." Mageean acknowledged that being unable to get in a full winter's training is not ideal in terms of plotting a summer campaign but she is remaining positive. "I'm doing every form of cross-training that I can to keep myself physically fit while slowly getting back running," added the Portaferry woman, who memorably clinched the European 1500m title in Rome last June before injury wrecked her Olympic ambitions. "My big goal is the next Olympics in LA so I have plenty of time to get ready for that. I'm probably not in the place I would want to be running wise but this is all part of the journey and success isn't linear." The comparatively late scheduling of this year's World Championships in Tokyo which take place from 13-21 September does give Mageean additional time to regain fitness. The County Down woman was giving the fitness update after speaking in typically passionate fashion about the importance of getting more Northern Ireland females involved in sport. "In my opinion, today's conference is vital," said the Ireland and Northern Ireland athletics heroine of the Sport NI initiative. "No matter what you look like, where you are from... no matter how you feel, you can find your place in sport." Mageean joined other local sporting role models including Lady Mary Peters and Tanya Oxtoby at the event while those attending included Tyrone gaelic footballer Conor Meyler who spoke of the importance of male support for the wider initiative. Meyler is currently undertaking PHD research in the area of sport leadership and gender with a particularly emphasis on the GAA. "We need more women on the sidelines coaching. We need more women in the boards making decisions," added Mageean, who played camogie for her native Portaferry before switching to athletics. "It's about encouraging women to have that confidence to step forward because there are so many more-than-qualified women out there who maybe haven't believed in themselves or taken that step because they look at the board and it's all men. "Whenever you look at women in major leadership roles across business, many of those women are participating in sport or have participated in sport. I see sport as an opportunity for me to evolve. It gave me a place to belong."
BBC News
03-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Mageean still targeting Tokyo World Championships
Ciara Mageean says she is still targeting this year's World Championships in September even though her return to running is currently confined to three days a week as she recovers from ankle surgery last who will turn 33 next week, was forced out of last summer's Paris Olympics on the eve of her scheduled 1500m first-round Portaferry woman underwent an operation in September and says she's "on the tentative steps back to running"."I'm running three days a week. It doesn't seem like much especially for an athlete like myself but I'm learning to be patient," said the county Down woman after being one of the speakers at the launch of Sport NI's 'Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong' campaign aimed at about supporting women and girls to find their place in sport. "My aim this year is to try to get to the World Championships at the end of the summer. "It's something that's keeping me going through those tough cross-training sessions. We'll see how the rehab goes but for now I'm working my ass off in the gym." 'Success isn't linear' Mageean acknowledged that being unable to get in a full winter's training is not ideal in terms of plotting a summer campaign but she is remaining positive."I'm doing every form of cross-training that I can to keep myself physically fit while slowly getting back running," added the Portaferry woman, who memorably clinched the European 1500m title in Rome last June before injury wrecked her Olympic ambitions."My big goal is the next Olympics in LA so I have plenty of time to get ready for that. I'm probably not in the place I would want to be running wise but this is all part of the journey and success isn't linear."The comparatively late scheduling of this year's World Championships in Tokyo which take place from 13-21 September does give Mageean additional time to regain county Down woman was giving the fitness update after speaking in typically passionate fashion about the importance of getting more Northern Ireland females involved in sport."In my opinion, today's conference is vital," said the Ireland and Northern Ireland athletics heroine of the Sport NI initiative."No matter what you look like, where you are from…..no matter how you feel, you can find your place in sport." Mageean joined other local sporting role models including Lady Mary Peters and Tanya Oxtoby at the event while those attending included Tyrone gaelic footballer Conor Meyler who spoke of the importance of male support for the wider is currently undertaking PHD research in the area of sport leadership and gender with a particularly emphasis on the GAA."We need more women on the sidelines coaching. We need more women in the boards making decisions," added Mageean, who played camogie for her native Portaferry before switching to athletics."It's about encouraging women to have that confidence to step forward because there are so many more-than-qualified women out there who maybe haven't believed in themselves or taken that step because they look at the board and it's all men."Whenever you look at women in major leadership roles across business, many of those women are participating in sport or have participated in sport. I see sport as an opportunity for me to evolve. It gave me a place to belong."
BBC News
04-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Motorsport receives investment for health and safety equipment
Motorsport in Northern Ireland is to benefit from a £187,000 investment to benefit health and safety equipment, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has equipment will be used at events such as motorbike road racing, car rallies, karting, hill climbs and at race the funding, the Minister said: "Motorsports have always been part of Northern Ireland's world class sporting legacy, attracting riders and spectators from across the globe to events such as the North West 200 and other road racing circuits every year."This funding will go towards the purchase of safety bales which can be shared across the sector at road races and other events into the future, helping to make these races as safe as possible. "The sector will also benefit from investment in other safety equipment, improving safety at race events and for those participating in track days."He highlighted the need to provide safer conditions for up and coming racers."We have some of the best motorsport talent in the world here in Northern Ireland and local races and circuits are important to develop their careers. "While the danger remains present, as it always will at high speeds, this funding, distributed through Sport NI, will boost rider and driver safety as well as the safety of teams, officials and visitors."
