WILLIAM DUNLOP RACING
Ballymoney rider William Dunlop goes into the final Irish Road Race of the season this Sunday, when the 25 year old will be hoping to make it a hat trick of Irish Road Race Championships at the Killalane Road Races in North County Dublin.
Dunlop, who has already sewn up the 250cc Irish Road Race title for 2010, has high expectations that he can also add the 125cc and Supersport 600 titles to his CV, with William up beat prior to this weekends meeting.
With a 19pts advantage over cousin Paul Robinson in the 125cc class, and just four points behind Dungannons Ryan Farquhar in the Supersport 600 title chase, William as ever, is hoping for a dry race day on Sunday so he can really have a good go at making it a three timer of Irish Championships.
William Dunlop: "At the moment I am building up my 125 Honda as I just got hold of new seals for the bike on Wednesday, so its a race against time at the moment. I will be riding in the 125, 250, Supersport 600 and Superbike Class's at Killalane, but its the 125 and Supersport 600 races that will be major on my agenda.
A top ten finish in the 125 class will be good enough to take the Championship on the number of wins, but as you know, I will be going all out for the win proper on Sunday.
I have know doubt that Paul (Robinson) will push me hard, but if I have to keep one place behind him that will do.
The Supersport 600 race will be a bit more difficult, with Ryan leading the way on 110 points from myself on 106, and then Michael on 99.
Michael will be keen to do well on his sponsors home track, so he will be the man to beat I think in the race. In a nut shell I need to be about two places in front of Ryan at the chequered flag, so it will be a close race to say the least. I will be riding Chris Dowds 600 Yamaha, which I believe is the bike to have around the Killalane circuit, so its up to me at the end of the day.
I will also be using Chris's GSXR1000 Suzuki in the Superbike races, so hopefully I can put it to good use. After Killalane I will be heading over to Scarborough for the Gold Cup, and after that, it will either be the penultimate round of the British 125GP Class at Silverstone, or if not, a trip to Froberg in Germany.
I will see how Killalane pens out first before making my mind up. It also looks like I will be riding in the two 125 races at the Sunflower next month, and it will probably be the only class that I compete in at it, but who knows what might happen".
2010 Irish Road Race Championship Standings.
125ccWilliam Dunlop Honda 161pts
Paul Robinson Honda 142pts
Wayne Kennedy Honda 90pts
250ccWilliam Dunlop Honda 141pts *Champion*
Davy Morgan Honda 97pts
Barry Davidson Honda 84pts
Supersport 600Ryan Farquhar Kawasaki 110pts
William Dunlop Yamaha 106pts
Michael Dunlop Yamaha 99pts
SeniorRyan Farquhar Kawasaki 125pts *Champion*
Michael Dunlop Honda 93pts
John Burrows Suzuki 75pts
William Dunlop Suzuki 60pts (6th)
