NW200 News

Motorcycling - Rutter & Co In Dash For Cash

Michael Rutter could be in for a roasting from fellow Honda hotshots John McGuinness and Steve Plater at the Kennedy International North-West 200 on May 13!

That was the paddock chat among certain riders who attended yesterday's launch of this year's race which has attracted a new title sponsor.

We are delighted to have the Kennedy Group, a Coleraine-based construction and development company, on board," said the Clerk of the Course Mervyn Whyte during a packed Press conference at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

He added: "This is a three-year contract worth in excess of £200,000. That sort of financial injection has allowed us to increase the prize money and starting guarantees by £25,000 to £225,000.

"It means that the winner of the main Superbike race will now pocket a cool £8,000."

Dashing for the cash will be Rutter who with 11 wins is regarded as the N-W favourite but both McGuinness and Plater have already thrown down the gauntlet.

Rutter recently lost his job with the official Honda team and will in future compete under the umbrella of Paul Bird's Stobart-Honda team.

Somewhat ironically McGuinness will be on board the HM Plant Honda which Rutter rode to victory in the opening Superbike race last year.

"John will have no excuses this time," joked Rutter. "But I don't like the thought of being beaten by the bike which I had last season."

In turn McGuinness said: "I must have the best package going for me, I've never won a big bike race at the North-West but this could be my year."

Plater is of a similar opinion: "At the North-West I'll be riding for the same team as McGuinness, the choice of bike has still to be finalised but it will be either Karl Harris' or Johnny Rea's British Superbike Honda. "Last year I got ever so close to Rutter, this time I want to reverse those positions."

However, the anticipated Honda Hurricane can expect a couple of flashes of lightning from the likes of Ryan Farquhar and Adrian Archibald.

Both have been playing musical chairs during the closed season.
Farquhar makes no bones about the fact that that he's fired-up for his first term with the TAS Suzuki team.

"Just like everybody else I'll be chasing for a Superbike win," confessed the Dungannon rider. "From what I'm told the new Suzukis should be able to do the business."

Another local combination keen to make an impression is Yamaha Team Racing owned and managed by Sam Finlay who puts his faith in Adrian Archibald.

"Since the North-West is my home course I feel that I'm in with a shout," said Archie. "For sure the visitors aren't going to get it all their own way."

It will take in the region of £700,000 to stage what is Ireland's biggest sporting spectacle according to Whyte who is the driving force within the organising Coleraine club.

"Naturally we are delighted to have the Kennedy Group as our title sponsors," added Whyte. "However, we have been partners for a long time in that Kennedys previously built the grandstands as well as the commentary boxes and positioned the safety bales."

The commercial director of the Kennedy Group is Alistair Kennedy who said: "In my opinion the North-West is the best sporting event in Ireland and I am pleased to have been involved with the event for many years.

"Since we are a local company we are delighted to put something back into the local community. This is a world class event and we are proud to be part of it."

In addition to an increased prize fund the Junction-One International-Outlet Centre will again sponsor an award for the best overall newcomer.

So far the first-timers include California's Mark Miller, Michael Weynand from Brussels and James Edmeades from Birmingham. All three attended yesterday's Press function.

For race week there will again be two practice periods (Tuesday and Thursday, May 9/11) when the roads will close at five o'clock.

Race-day (roads close at 10,00am) consists of six events. Two Superbike races, a Superstock race, two 600 Supersport events and a 125/400 cc event running concurrently-with the 250 class.

Unlike previous years the main N-W 200 Superbike race will now become the penultimate event following by the second 600 race.

Coleraine Borough Council, the Northern Ireland Events Company, the NI Tourist Board and the North-West 200 Supporters' club are all involved in backing what has become a week-long speed festival.

Safety improvements are on-going and in this respect the organisers have planned to make use of an extra 50 Recticel safety bales on loan from Mondello Park.

In fact, the N-W organisers and the promoters of a BSB round at Mondello on May 21 are hoping to mount a combined advertising campaign.
The print order for the race programme produced by CarevaPublishing has been bumped-up from 18,000 to 20,000. This is the main source of race-week revenue.

The official race charity-is again the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children and last year the amount raised was £22,000.

Once again UTV with 35 cameras will be there to capture the action. Last year's production has been short-listed for the prestigious Broadcast Awards which take place next week in London.

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/story/25573

oohhhh,should be good then

Yes it is a great weekend.

Keep an eye on this topic and i will update it as more info is available.

I have some great pics taken on the grid from 2005 races, but they are only on my PC - need to put them on the web somewhere.

Have fun and b safe

im coming over for the racing ,so see it 'in the flesh'.maybe see a few bods on this forum cheers

Hi guys check out this link: http://www.u.tv/nw200/

scroll down to the "On board with Raymond Porter"

Brilliant link yvo.

Roll on NW 2006.

Originally Posted by H62

Roll on NW 2006.

Yea really looking forward to a new racing season.

I have bought a SV650 to race in the Nationals this year. So roll on the start of the season. More madness, but sure isnt life is a challange!

The bike is fully prepared in fact it raced in the Mini Twin series across the ditch before it was brought over here. The guy got injured and never raced it so i bought it. All being well i should be out at Easter Saturday at Bishopscourt and Easter Monday at Kirkistown.

Good luck for the coming season yvo.

I will hopefully be at a few more short circut races this year.
Look forward to seeing you on the track.

wouldn't be young mckeown's bike would it?

Originally Posted by midulster

wouldn't be young mckeown's bike would it?

No, sure Stephen is riding that one this year and doing a great job on it.