Faugheen 50 Road Race – Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd July 2017

The star attraction at the Faugheen 50 road races this weekend might not be the fantastic racers but Joey Dunlop’s Iconic Honda RC45.  The very bike Joey, 24 times winner at the Ulster Grand Prix, had rode in an epic Ulster Grand Prix win, will be on the circuit at the Faugheen 50 road races this weekend for some demo laps in the hands of Ireland’s two top riders, the two Derek’s, Sheils and McGee.  What a machine.  Such history.  So, no wheelies Derek Sheils and Derek McGee!

The Club would like to sincerely thank Gary Dunlop for making this happen; Gary will be out in the 125cc for fun as well, as will his cousin Sam. 

Grids are full, indeed bursting at the seams with only room in the 125cc, 250cc/400cc Championships and they look fantastic! It’s almost as if it’s the complete list of Irish Road Racing ranking from whose leading the Championship in each and every class from top to bottom! Practically every racer has confirmed entry. The list is too long for each class to include below, so I have just highlighted those few generally at the top of their classes.

Leading the charge in Faugheen this year in the National classes is Derek Sheils, Derek McGee, Michael Sweeney, Paul Jordan, Darryl Tweed, Davy Morgan and Club Members Brian McCormack, Graham Kennedy and Sean Connolly who will all be battling for the Open, Grand Final and 600cc Championship titles. Without exception, the grids for these National classes have Ireland’s top racers in them.  Should be lots of exciting clashes!  

The Supertwins/650cc Championship is by far the biggest grid and if everyone turns up, the there will be a non-qualifier/B race.

The Support grids are led by the rising star, man of the minute Joseph Loughlin. Chasing Joseph will be Michael Browne, Oisin Watson, Liam Chawke, Jonathan Gormley, David Howard and Damien Howard and Club member Tommy Heaphy all vying for top positions and Championship points. Again, all those leading their classes from top to bottom will be there. But will Joseph be too hard to catch?

The Classic racing this year is proving to be an eye catcher with tough battles, with all the top racers in each class coming to Faugheen, these include Barry Davidson, Sean Leonard, Richard Ford, Brian Mateer, Philip Shaw, Freddie Stewart, Robert McCrum and Trevor Rufus to name but a few.   Again, all those leading their respective classes from top to bottom will be there.

The narrow roads of Faugheen are buzzing with activity with the build up to the races around our fantastic and challenging 2.2 mile circuit. Roads close early, we are hoping to get Newcomers out on the grid around 12noon on Saturday and racing will start at 11am on Sunday. With many of the top Irish road racers competing at this national round of the road racing calendar, spectators will have a weekend of pure speed with riders travelling at speeds in excess of 180 mph on closed public roads with viewing vantage points so close you can see the rider’s eyes as they pass.  Then later you can meet the same riders in the paddock and see how very normal and down to earth they are without their helmet on.

I would like to ask all spectators to please watch the racing in the safe allocated zones and observe the Race Marshals instructions and advice. Viewing points on the circuit are noted in the circuit map inside the Club’s programme.  

I would also like to thank all of our sponsors, all officials for attending (we could not run the weekend’s racing without them) and a big thanks to all the racers who have confirmed entry.

And my last wish is for all those travelling to Faugheen is to have a safe journey and bring the sunshine with you!

Yours in sport,

Maeve Walsh,
Race Secretary
Faugheen 50 Supporters Club Ltd

Images: Faugheen RRC and Andy Quinn