Latest news from the Cookstown 100

Dean Harrison all set for Cookstown

Mar-Train Racing’s Dean Harrison has been putting the miles in as he prepares for this weekend’s first Irish road race of 2015 at the KDM Hire Cookstown 100.The Mar-Train Racing rider will be making his second appearance at the 2.1-mile Orritor circuit in Co Tyrone after Harrison made his debut at the event in 2013.

Harrison faces a raft of top-level names this weekend at Cookstown who have the advantage of greater circuit knowledge, but the talented English rider is in good form and will be aiming to commence his preparations for the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT with some solid results on Saturday.“I’ve been doing some laps in the car this week and fair play to the organisers, the circuit is looking absolutely mint so I can’t wait to get out in practice on Friday afternoon,” Harrison said.“I’ve only ridden the circuit once, in 2013, but I enjoyed it and seemed to go okay so we’ll just take it as it comes and hopefully put on a good show.His rivals include the Tyco BMW pairing of Guy Martin and William Dunlop, plus Michael Dunlop on the Milwaukee Yamaha/MD Racing machines.

Dublin’s Derek Sheils is also a major contender at Cookstown on the BikeBitsNI Kawasaki, where he bagged a Supersport and Superbike double in 2014.John Burrows and Jamie Hamilton have teamed up this year and the Ballyclare rider is bristling with confidence after gelling with the Cookstown/BE Racing Suzuki in pre-season testing and at the Easter Monday short circuit meeting at Kirkistown, where Hamilton put the GSX-R1000 on the top step.New Wilson Craig Honda recruit Derek McGee is also among the favourites this weekend and will fancy his chances in the Supersport class in particular after signing the praises of Craig’s CBR600RR following his first outing on the machine at Kirkistown in March.

Roads close on Friday for practice from 12noon with four races scheduled, including a non-championship 600cc race featuring all the top names. On Saturday, roads will close at 10am sharp for a 15-race programme.