Spirit of Armoy Armada rides out again

Sports Minister, Nelson McCausland MLA, has welcomed the announcement that the inaugural Armoy Road Motorcycle race will take place this August.

In 1977 the “Hardy Bunch”, Mervyn Robinson, Joey Dunlop, Frank Kennedy and Jim Dunlop, placed Armoy on the map in terms of road racing. The racers known as the “Armoy Armada” dominated three seasons of racing from 1977 to 1979. During that time these men established the Armoy Armada as legends in the sport of Road Racing.

The Armoy Motorcycle club was set up in September 2007 with the objective of establishing a world class race in the Armada’s honour and is led by Bill Kennedy, Chairman of the Armoy and District Motor Club and Clerk of the Course for the Armoy Road Race. The Minister was joined at the launch by local riders William and Michael Dunlop who is hoping for a fantastic season which began with his first ever win at the North West 200 when he clinched the dramatic Greenline 250cc race.

Minister McCausland said: “Road racing is part of Northern Ireland’s culture. The road racing season starts in May with the North West 200 which is followed by a number of other road and circuit races throughout the summer and early autumn. These make Northern Ireland one of the best destinations in the world for race fans.

"The Moyle and Ballymoney areas have a long tradition of road racing and, for many fans of the sport, it is a key destination because of associations with the 'Armoy Armada’ Mervyn Robinson, Jim Dunlop, Richard Creith, Frank Kennedy and Joey Dunlop.

"It is an appropriate tribute to those riders that Armoy and District Motor Club has worked in partnership with landowners, residents and the sports governing bodies to establish a new road race in this part of the world.

Minister McCausland continued: “Northern Ireland is already an important destination for racing fans and, the development of new races like Armoy will put Northern Ireland even more firmly on the map as a premier destination for road racing fans.”

Clerk of the Course, Bill Kennedy, said: “I am thrilled that the inaugural Armoy Road Race is now up and running. The Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club would like to pay tribute to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for its invaluable support, as the event would not have been possible without their help. We would also like to thank Moyle District Council, local business, the competitors themselves and, particularly, our main sponsor, Coleraine Skip Hire and Recycling, for backing us as well as our individual race sponsors. We look forward to race day on Saturday 8 August.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club started in September 2007 with the main aim of establishing a Road Race in the area. The Club has 154 members and widespread community support. In 2008 the Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club established a new limited company, AMRRC Ltd. to be responsible for the development of the Road Race. The Club is affiliated to the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre).

2. There is a long history of road racing in the Moyle and Ballymoney areas and they have produced some of Northern Ireland’s most famous riders. The Armoy Race adds to the impressive calendar of road and circuit racing events in Northern Ireland. There are four national road races, the Cookstown 100 (April), the Tandragee 100 (May), the Bush road races (June) and the Dundrod 150 which forms part of Ulster Grand Prix week (August). There are also two international events, the North-West 200 (May) and the Ulster Grand Prix (August).

3. The Armoy race will be held on 7 and 8 August 2009. More details can be viewed at www.amrrc.com

4. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office. Tel (028) 9051 5047 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.