Kick Start For World Trials Championships Announced

A world championship motor cycle event will kick-start in Northern Ireland later this year, under the title of the Adelaide GP of Ireland.

Jack Challoner, winner of the 2008 Youth Trial World Championship is pictured getting in some practice in the shadow of the Mournes for the prestigious event which takes place on 4 - 5 April.

It will see motorcycle champions from all over the world race into Newcastle to compete in the first two rounds of this year's SPEA FIM Trial World Championship.

At the press launch in the Slieve Donard Hotel the Lightweight Motor Cycle Club (LMCC) - which is hosting the event - revealed that for the first time the opening rounds will be held in Northern Ireland, in the all-new venue of Donard Park, Newcastle.

The world's top trials riders will all compete for the first points of the 2009 Championship under the watchful eye of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts.

Such luminaries as Toni Bou, Adam Raga, Dougie Lampkin and Takahisa Fujinami will come to south Down to take on the best of what the Mourne Mountains can throw at them.

An LMCC spokesman said they were extremely pleased to be working with Down District Council at this new venue, and excited about what this special event will bring to the town.

Offering a town centre location with seaside resort facilities, Donard Park will give fans the chance to see some of the World's best trialing sections only a few minutes walk from the promenade.

Donard Park itself is mostly thick forest, interspersed with rivers and streams carving their way from the Mourne Mountains to the sea, and also a large quarry area which overlooks the town, and marks the change from forest to open mountainside.

The club also announced a new title sponsor of the event, Adelaide Insurance Services, Northern Ireland's long-standing premier motorcycle insurance provider.

Adelaide were voted 'the UK's favourite motorcycle insurance broker' by the annual Rider Power 2008 survey.

The club spokesman also took the opportunity to thank the other sponsors whose continued support has made the event possible, including Uhire, a Newtownards based Plant Hire company, and Barkley Murphy Building & Shop Fitting incorporating O'Hares Bar & Lounge Newcastle, as well as numerous section sponsors.

Last year's Northern Ireland rounds were held in Bangor, Co Down, and brought over 15,000 spectators into the area over the weekend.

The upcoming trials seem well on its way to exceeding this footfall, with interest building for several months within motorcycling circles, all eager to find out where the new venue for the beginning of this year's World Trial would be.

See: www.worldtrialni.co.uk/

(BMcC/JM)