Mid Season NDM awards
Words: Ian Marshall Photograph(s) � Ian Marshall
The NDM Aprilia 125 Championship has been hectic this year with as many as nineteen Aprilias on the grid at any one race meeting. The average numbers have been around fifteen at each meeting which is a great step up from 2005 which itself was an improvement on 2004.
In a way this is a reflection on the popularity of motorcycle racing especially with the explosion of Television coverage over the last three years. Valentino Rossi has had something to do with this increased popularity and our goal is to make sure that he and his successors have some Irish competition in the years ahead.
NDM also known as North Dublin Motorcycles stepped in at the beginning of the year to support our youngest riders. This is an important class as it gives the novice racers a chance to get out on to the circuits on machines that handle well, but are not wildly fast. The series has proved very successful just like the Aprilia Superteens Championship in the UK and has produced many fine racers over the last few years.
NDM have put forward a great package for 2006 with prize money and trophies and plaques stretching out to the top 10 finishers in the championship. In addition Stephen Harnett suggested that mid way through the season that it would be an idea to select three of the riders that he, and the Judges, felt warranted a bit of extra support to encourage them along. It was made clear that these would not necessarily be the championship leaders but they would be judged on effort, attitude, presentation etc.
The three winners selected by Stephen Harnett and the Judges are as follows:
Melissa Kennedy
Robert Marshall
Richard McNeill.
Stephen Harnett remarked “Each rider got their award based on merit but it was a very difficult decision for the Judges as there were a lot of riders under consideration and really they were all winners. I am very impressed with the overall standard and by the effort that all these young riders make and I wish them safe racing and great success in the future.”
The three riders will be provided with a sponsored one day personal race training programme by former British 250GP Champion Woolsey Coulter. The training will take place at Kirkistown as soon as possible.
Woolsey remarked, “ This is a great initiative and Stephen Harnett and his Company NDM are to be complimented for their efforts. I look forward to working with these young racers and I will help them as best I can.”
Date: 11-Jul-2006
