Isle of Man TT star among big names in the field for return of Tandragee 100
The popular Co Armagh meeting is a favourite for competitors, with the spectacular 5.3-mile course often referred to as the 'Mini TT'.
Crucial resurfacing work has now been carried out, which had prevented the famous race from taking place in 2023 and 2024.
Event co-ordinator and former Clerk of the Course Anne Forsythe said: 'After two long years of not being able to host the event due to a delay in getting resurfacing work carried out, we are thrilled to be celebrating 61 years of the Around A Pound Tandragee 100 Motorcycle Road Races.
'We would like to thank the then Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd, for committing the necessary funds in 2024/25 and all those councillors, MPs and MLAs who supported us in this venture.
'A special mention also to Ian Milne for assisting us over the three years it took to get this across the line.'
Traditionally held in May, the event has been moved to a new June date, with practice and qualifying taking place on Friday, June 27 and the main race day on Saturday, June 28.
Isle of Man TT star Conor Cummins is among the standout names on the entry list with Dungannon's Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Team.
The Ramsey man claimed a best result of fifth in the second Superstock race at the TT last week with a fastest lap of 131.528mph on the BMW M1000RR, which was the quickest ever by a rider for John Burrows' team.
Cummins raced at Tandragee once before, making his debut in 2007 on Yamaha machinery for the JMF Millsport Racing team.
Another leading contender is fellow TT rider Shaun Anderson, who is a member of the organising North Armagh Club. Anderson was fortunate to escape injury after a crash in the Superbike TT race at Joey's, which left him with cuts and bruises.
The Banbridge man – a Mountain Course winner in 2024 in the Senior Classic Manx Grand Prix race – will be a key protagonist at Tandragee.
Skerries rider Michael Sweeney is not listed on the official press release but recently expressed a desire to return to Tandragee.
The Republic of Ireland rider achieved a lifetime dream of finishing on the podium in May at the North West 200 on his Aprilia Supertwin machine and would be the rider to beat if he arrives in the paddock.
The line-up also includes former Senior Manx Grand Prix winners Joe Yeardsley and Daniel Ingham, plus Ballymoney's Darryl Tweed – also a past MGP winner – and the Isle of Man's Marcus Simpson, who was the runner-up behind Yeardsley in the 2023 Senior race at the Manx.
Newcomer Amalric Blanc from France adds international flavour to the grid and is fresh from an impressive 12th place in the opening Superstock race at the TT on his 1000cc Honda.
Ballymena's Neil Kernohan and Ryan Whitehall from the Isle of Wight will be out to make their mark at Tandragee, while Andy Farrell, Liam and James Chawke are among a large contingent of competitors from the Republic of Ireland.
Derek McGee, a double winner at the Cookstown 100 in April, is set to miss out through injury after he was caught up in a crash during the opening round of the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) at Hengelo in the Netherlands in May.
A total of 113 competitors and 50 newcomers have entered this year's race, which has an increased prize fund of £13,000.
Roads will close on Friday, June 27 for practice from 11.00am-9.00pm and on Saturday, June 28 for racing from 9.30am-7.00pm.
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16 hours ago
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Riding his MD Racing BMW, Dunlop – back at the Co Armagh road race for the first time since 2013 – followed up his win in the Open race with a majestic display to win the six-lap finale for his 13th win at the meeting. The Isle of Man TT history-maker had to dig deep to fend off the threat from Republic of Ireland contender Michael Sweeney on the Martin Jones Racing BMW, who kept in touch with Dunlop over the first three laps. Dunlop shattered Sweeney's lap record of 109.796mph – set in the earlier Open race – on the second lap with a new mark of 110.497mph. Sweeney hit straight back, upping the ante to 110.997mph on the third lap as they broke away from Conor Cummins and Shaun Anderson. Dunlop finally gained some daylight by the end of lap four and was 1.3s ahead. He then turned the screw, recording the first 111mph lap at Tandragee to raise the absolute record to 111.584mph (2:52.403s) around the 5.3-mile course. It was enough to seal the deal and Dunlop went on to close out victory by eight seconds over Sweeney. Banbridge man Anderson finished on the podium in third on the Team Classic Suzuki while Cummins' chance was thwarted when he overshot at the last corner. The Manxman still finished fourth on the Burrows/RK Racing BMW. It has been a glorious year for Dunlop, who won three races at the North West 200 and increased his record of Isle of Man TT wins to 33 following another four-timer. The 36-year-old's achievements in the sport have been recognised with an MBE in the King's birthday honours. Dunlop, who will next be in action at the Southern 100 when he returns to the Isle of Man next month, said: 'The main job for me is the North West and TT, and I think we've done a successful job there and proven we're still one of the top men. 'For the first time in a while I was really competitive at the North West, which was good. 'To do a triple there and go to the TT and win another four it's been a great year. 'I'm riding faster than ever and there's no reason why we can't keep winning and adding to the tally.' Dunlop had to work hard to hold off Sweeney in the Open Superbike race earlier in the day. He was headed off the line by Sweeney and Mike Browne (BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha 600) and was lying in third at the end of the first lap. Dunlop worked his way into second place behind Sweeney on the next lap and then nudged ahead. Sweeney blitzed the seven-year-old absolute lap record set by Dan Kneen in 2018, raising the bar to 109.796mph on the fourth lap – slightly faster than Dunlop (109.755mph). The scene was set for a grandstand finish but it was Dunlop who held on by 0.4s. Cummins passed Browne on the last lap to earn a podium. Browne made it a double in the Supersport class, leading all the way from pole. The Republic of Ireland rider won Friday's non-championship race and followed up yesterday with another win. Sweeney was ruled out with an issue on the warm-up lap on the EM Building Yamaha. Dunlop, riding the Milwaukee Ducati, finished second on corrected time and set a new lap record at 109.276mph. He had to start from 17th position after failing to qualify on the Ducati on Friday, when he pulled in after a lap with an issue. Cummins claimed third on the Burrows/RK Racing Ducati after fending off Darryl Tweed (Novo Gen by FAO Racing Honda). Anderson had a successful day at his home race meeting, dominating the Classic Superbike race on the Wiz Norton to win by 20 seconds from Tweed (Stanley Stewart Yamaha 750). The Banbridge man later won the Lightweight race on a 250 Honda for a double. In the Supertwin race, Ballymoney's Tweed was toasting a thrilling win when he capitalised on a mistake by race leader Sweeney on the last lap. Sweeney went wide on his Aprilia at the final corner, leaving the door wide open for Tweed, who grabbed the win by 1.5s on his Aprilia. The Junior Support race, won by Sean Brolly on his Aprilia 660, was stopped on the final lap following a red flag incident. No official details were provided. The final national road race of the season takes place next month with the Armoy meeting in Co Antrim from July 25-26.
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Michael Dunlop lays down gauntlet by smashing qualifying record on return to Tandragee 100
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