The quality of entry for tomorrow's end of season International Sunflower Trophy motorcycle races at Bishopscourt, Co Down is certain to ensure some fantastic racing in the 12-race programme, which includes a British Championship sidecar race. The line-up features Barry Brindley, Rob Fisher, Duncan Hendry, Tony Baker, Sean Kinsella and Andy Kinsella from the British series and Belgians Jean Cornet and Chris Baert.
Steve Hislop, Ray Stringer, Jim Moodie, Matt Llewellyn, Phil Borley, Jason Griffiths, Bob Jackson, Dave Goodley, Callum Ramsey, John McGuinness, Chris Palmer and Robin Appleyard are some of the top British riders entered. And the star studded Ulster entry includes Robert Dunlop, Derek Young, Phelim Owens, Owen McNally and Adrian Archibald.
Sunday's Moran Cup Trial, organised by the Dublin and District MCC, is the first of six rounds in the second half of the 1997 Irish Trials Championship. The top riders after the first six rounds are: Grade A - Andrew Perry 97 points, Brian McLoughlin 81, Colin Perry 76. Grade B - Stuart Martin, Thomas Regan 55, David Rodgers 50. Grade C - Johnny Kimm 88, David Lawless 86, Martin Drennan 70. Junior - Eric O'Sullivan and Michael Burton 37, Sam McCallion 20. Pre '65 - Nigel McKinstry 37, David Coughlan and Bobby McKee 20.
Damien Faulkner (22) of Moville, Co Donegal, who finished third in the British Formula Vauxhall championship and scored a brilliant end of season race win at Silverstone, makes his Formula Renault Sport race debut this weekend at Brands Hatch. He has been selected to drive the car driven by Marc Hynes to victory in this year's British Championship.
Faulkner knows Brands Hatch well, having won an FJV race there earlier in the year. For next year he is looking at Formula Renault Sport or Formula Vauxhall/Opel and may have an option of racing in the United States. But, like all aspiring young racing drivers, his future plans are determined by budgets.
Round Four of the RIAC Hewison Trophy Autotest series takes place in Sunday. The points standings after three rounds read: 1 J. J. Farrell 71; 2 Christopher Evans 68; 3 Paddy Power 61; 4 Liam Cashman 58; 5 Eamonn Byrne and Conor McCormack 50; 7 Sam Johnston 48; 8 Paul Phelan 47; 9 Dermot Carnegie 45; 10 Frank Lenehan.
Tomorrow: International Sunflower Trophy Motorcycle Racing, Bishopscourt, Co Down, 12 pm.
Sunday: IMRC, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, 12 pm; Birr & District MC, Autocross, Ballinakill, Monegall, Co Offaly, 12 pm; Connacht MC, Autocross, Ballisdare, Co Sligo, 12 pm; ALMC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Marino, Dublin, 12 pm; D&D MCC, Moran Cup Trial, Lacken, Co Wicklow, 12 pm; MRCCI, Midget Car Racing, Ballivor, Co Meath, 3 pm.
