Sunday's 16th Annual Killalane Moto Cycle Races have the unique distinction of being the last traditional Irish road races of the century. Appropriately the quality entry reflects the significance of this meeting, led by Joey and Robert Dunlop, Adrian Archibald, John Donnan, Gary Dynes and Denis McCullough.
Martin Finnegan rides a 250cc Honda and is fancied for a win. Also on form is Dublin rider Mark Curtin (Crumlin) who finished sixth in the 125cc race at the recent Ulster Grand Prix.
All eyes will be on the incredible Joey Dunlop who is virtually certain of taking one or more victories on his quartet of Hondas in the 125cc, 250cc, 600cc and 750cc races.
Roads close at 11 a.m. tomorrow for practise, followed by races for 125/200cc and 201/1010cc machines. The Irish Team of Paul McMinn (Co Down), the Belfast trio of Paul Maguire, Adrian Lappin and Robert Davidson, and Dublin riders Stanley Callaghan and Vinny Fitzsimons compete in the International Six Days Enduro at Coimbra, 100 miles north of Lisbon, starting on Monday and running through to the following Sunday (September 19th). In the recently concluded Irish Enduro Championship, Adrian Lappin won the Experts Class by one point from Stanley Callaghan. Niall Stapleton, Stepaside, won the Senior Grade; and Brendan McKevitt (Armagh) on 57 points each.
With six rounds to run in the Southern Centre Trials Championship, including Sunday's Dublin & District Motor Cycle Club's Bob Thompson Trophy Trial, the clear cut leaders of the six categories are: Paul McLoughlin, Warren Hendy, Derek O'Neill, Gordon Clarke, Tom Deane and Johnny Carroll.
Jonathan Taylor, John Keaney, Gordon Kellett, John Morris, John Whelan, George Grozier, the Donegan brothers, and either Shaun Magill or Morgan Dempsey Jnr (in Magill's car) will all be chasing Dunlop RT2000 race honours at Kirkstown tomorrow. Taylor leads the championship on 268 points from Whelan 195 and Keaney 194.
Padraig Forde and Karl Cleary battle for second in the two final rounds of the Dunlop Hillclimb Championship, at a new venue near Lettergull, Co Donegal tomorrow and Sunday. The Karting `Race of Champions' takes place over the weekend at Mondello Park, and with over 200 competitors this is the biggest kart racing fixture on the calendar. Over 70 entries have been received for Sunday's first round of the National Forestry Stages Rally Championship, based at the Duhallow Park Hotel on the Mallow-Millstreet Road. Reigning champion Dermot Kelly and runner-up Noel Driver are entered.
Two rounds of the National Autocross Championship are listed for the weekend, but no details regarding entries or championship points are available.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday: Kart Racing, Mondello Park, 10am; Hillclimb, Lettergull, Co Donegal, 11.15am; Motor Racing, Kirkstown, Co Down, 1.30pm; Autocross, Jerusalem (Athy Road), Carlow, 1pm.
Sunday: Kart Racing, Mondello Park, 10am; Hillclimb, Lettergull, Co Donegal, 11.15am; Killalane Motor Cycle Racing, Skerries, Co Dublin, roads close 10am/racing 1am approx; Forestry Rally, Dunhallow Park Hotel, near Mallow, Co Cork, 10am; Motorcross, Ballinsloe, Co Galway, 12pm; Motor Cycle Trial, Ballinagee Wood, Wicklow Gap, 12pm; Autotest, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, 12pm; Autocross, Pudden Hill, Ardcath, Co Meath, 12pm.
