With only another 72 days to go until the 80th anniversary running of the most popular road race in Northern Ireland, Clerk of Course Mervyn Whyte has confirmed that two teams from the Far East and a British Supersport regular will be making their Kennedy International NW200 in association with Coke Zero debut on 16th May.
Belgian rider Marc Fissette and Rico Penzkofer from Germany will represent the Macau Grand Prix Team whilst Hong Kong's "Halfen Team of Paris" will include riders Gerald Muteau, Pierre Chapuis, Amaury Beratin and Emmanuel Cheron, whilst Jenny Tinmouth.
Marc Fissette was amongst the guests last night at the BBC’s Blackstaff Studios, where the BBS played host to the second Press Conference for this year’s anniversary event, where details of some of the individual races sponsor’s were announced.
Macau Racing Team pair Marc Fissette and Rico Penzkofer signed up to take part following Mervyn Whyte's trip to last November's Macau Grand Prix under the auspices of Tourism Ireland when the hard working Clerk of Course set about marketing the event to teams and competitors taking part in Macau. Fissette is no stranger to road racing in the North of Ireland as he competed at the Ulster Grand Prix in 1997 finishing second to Joey Dunlop and set a new UGP lap record achieving over 120mph.
During his recruitment trip to Macau Mervyn Whyte also secured entries from Hong Kong based team, 'Halfen Team of Paris' comprising French riders Pierre Chapuis, Emmanuel Cheron, Amaury Baratin and Gerald Muteau.
All four riders are experienced professionals based in Hong Kong and have competed regularly in World Endurance races as well as Superbike races in Europe, Japan, Qatar and Sepang in Malaysia. Conor Cummins was part of the team in Macau in 2008 where he chalked up the fastest practice time and was in attendance last night and is looking forward to taking part in the bike race this season with his new team this year, locally based McAdoo Racing.
Also present at BBC was British Supersport rider and newcomer to the North West circuit Jenny Tinmouth from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Billed as the fastest female Supersport rider in the UK, she is set to give the NW200 men a run for their money in the Supersport classes.
Whyte welcomed back race sponsors Ballymoney Borough Council who are celebrating a sixth year as 600cc Supersport backers, portable hire specialists Greenline who have sponsored the 250cc race since it made its popular comeback in 2005 and Coleraine based manufacturer McKendry Fabrications Ltd who came on board last year and in 2009 will lend their name to the 125cc race: "All our race sponsors play a vital role in helping us bring together such a high calibre and fantastic line-up of riders and the Coleraine Club is hugely grateful to all the help we receive from Greenline, McKendry Fabrications Ltd and Ballymoney Borough Council." Mervyn Whyte also went on to pay tribute to NW200 media partner BBC Sport Northern Ireland, who last night also announced that despite this year being the last of the year of the three deal they signed, which has saw many exciting changes to take this top sporting event to a worldwide audience, they will be continuing to improve the coverage for 2009.
Not only this, but they also have signed another five year deal to continue this coverage. Whyte said; “The Coleraine Club is indebted to the team at BBC Sport led by Shane Glynn for hosting tonight's press conference and of course for all the excellent coverage they provide both on local and network TV and online where NW200 images reach millions worldwide. Shane has outlined in a separate BBC release information about BBC's 2009 NW200 programmes and worldwide coverage and he has also given details about our future partnership with the BBC.
NW200 organisers are thrilled that our working relationship with BBC NI is further cemented - this is excellent news not only for the North West 200 but for Northern Ireland Plc as BBC coverage really places Northern Ireland on the world sporting stage."
Moving on to details of entries to date and for the three races for which sponsorship was announced, Ballymoney Borough Council 600cc Supersport Race, McKendry Fabrications 125cc and Greenline 250cc Races and Sponsors, Whyte went on to say; "Entries for all races are starting to flood in with over 45 received to date for all classes." explained Mervyn Whyte. Lining up on the grid for the Ballymoney Borough Council Supersport Race will be HM Plant team members John McGuinness and Steve Plater.
Macau Grand Prix team mates Fissette and Penzkofer will make their Supersport debut as will first lady of the British Supersport circuit Jenny Tinmouth. Another newcomer to the NW200 is 25 year old Brazilian Rafael Paschoalin, who chalked up a victory at the Brazilian Championship and will compete in both Supersport races at the North West.
Honda pair Plater and McGuinness will also ride in the Superbike as well as the Supersport races with John throwing his helmet into the ring for the Greenline 250cc race on board Clive Padgett's machine. Star of last year's 250cc race Michael Dunlop who dedicated his victory to his father Robert, will compete in both 600cc races and will ride a Norton in both Superbike races.
Other entries in 2009 include Manx rider Conor Cummins, this year part of the McAdoo Kawasaki Racing Team. In addition to both supersport races Conor will also enter the Superstock, and both Superbike races on board the Kawasaki ZX6 and ZX10 machines. Alastair Seeley, popular winner of last year's Superstock race will ride on behalf of the JMF Millsport Yamaha team competing in the 600cc, Superstock and Superbike races.
Newcomer and Cheshire lady Jenny Tinmouth is set to enter the McKendry Fabrications 125cc Race whilst Darren Burns will compete in both the 125 and 250cc races. TAS Suzuki team member Cameron Donald will line up for both Supersport and Superbike races.
Already the entry for this the 80th anniversary looks to be a packed field of past, present and hopefully future winners, that will bring plenty of exciting action on the 16th May.
