Mondello Park begins a new era for Irish Motorcycle Racing this weekend with the first of four events that make up the 2011 'Adelaide Masters Series '. Having grown from the circuits own championship, which was introduced last season, the new series will make history as the first ever Irish Motorcycle Racing Championship to have its entire season televised.
The success of the 2010 season has been instrumental in attracting the support of sponsors and riders, necessary to put in place such a high quality series. The package of prize money, TV coverage and media exposure now on offer, has attracted the cream of Ireland’s short circuit racers along with some of Ireland’s most familiar Road Racing names. A wide range of manufacturers will also be involved with Aprilia, BMW, Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki machinery all likely to feature at the front of the grid.
One of the biggest results for the 'Adelaide Masters' is the attraction of three overseas teams to the championship. Reigning champion Marshall Neill will return to defend his title on a works Aprilia while Colin Appleyard Racing will bring Jack Kennedy, fresh from his maiden World Championship race last weekend. Isle of Man rider Gavin Hunt will also join the grid and should be a major contender. In addition to the overseas teams the standard of machinery on show will also be boosted by the arrival of 2010 BSB machinery in the shape of an ex James Ellison Swan Honda which has been purchased by TAG Racing for Brian McCormack.
The Superbike Class features its strongest ever line-up with more than forty entries, including Michael Dunlop, Marshall Neill, Brian McCormack, Mark Pollock, Gavin Hunt, Jamie Hamilton, Derek Shiels, Michael Sweeney, Mark Johnson, Kirk Jamison, David Haire and Robert Kennedy, all of whom are capable of making the podium. The Supersport class is similarly strong with Jack Kennedy, Brian McCormack, Alastair Kirk, Damien Mulleady, Keith Farmer, Michael Sweeney, Declan Swanton, Jonny Buckley, Jordan Bonar, Gary Jeffers and Robert Lanigan the likely stars among its fifty four entries.
The event kicks off on Saturday with un-timed practice and qualifying, followed by the first of the weekend's three championship races per class. Following a warm-up on Sunday morning the remaining two championship races will be run. Sunday's feature events will be the third championship races for Superbike and Supersport along with the Grand Final which will bring together the fastest thirty riders from the weekends racing to compete for the €3,000 prize fund.
The feature races will begin with Superbikes at 14:00 and will be completed by the Supersport race at 14:50 and the Grand Final at 16:00. All three races will feature the Adelaide Grid Girls, grid interviews and podium presentations for the overall winners and the Bridgestone 'Cup' class. A full timetable and entry list can be found on
www.mondellopark.ie/adelaidemasters and discount ticket offers can be found on the special offers page of the Mondello Park web site.