Former Irish Superbike Champion Michael Pearson will kick-start his 2009 Road Racing season this weekend, when the Ballygowan man takes in the Ian Watson Spring Cup Races at the Oliver's Mount Racing circuit in Scarborough.

Pearson, who rates the North Yorkshire venue as one of his favourite tracks, will be hoping to find the sort of form that will break him into his first full season of Irish Road Racing Championships, which get under way one week later with the annual Irish opener, the Cookstown 100.

Pearson will, for the first time at Scarborough, take in the Supersport 600 races on his GSMCC Honda, as well at the Superbike races on his Carryduff Forklifts R1 Yamaha.
 
"I really like riding at Scarborough. I rate it as one of my favourite road circuits, but don't be expecting to much from me this weekend as the opposition is as good as I have ridden against at Scarborough," said Pearson.

"Guy Martin, Ian Lougher, Michael Dunlop, Ryan Farquhar will be the main men to beat in the four stroke classes, and if I can slot in behind those guys in my races, then I will be well pleased.    I have had to stagger my racing this year due to financial restraints, that being the reason I only used the 600 at Bishopscourt, and sat out the Kirkistown round over Easter.   

"The Roads are my aim in 2009 and that's what I will give priority to. With the Cookstown 100 just two weeks away, I will be trying to see what I can learn from the road racers this weekend, so in fact its a very important meeting for me all round. Whatever happens, I will be there to enjoy my racing."