2014 Adelaide Masters Series

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MV Agusta set to race in Adelaide Masters Series
Following the announcement by Motorcycle Insurance Specialists Adelaide Insurance Services that they would increase their backing of the Adelaide Masters Series for 2014 a number of new bike and rider combinations are getting ready to announce their plans for the series.
First to break cover is growing Northern Irish Team, BikeBitsNI Racing, who have announced a two bike Supersport line-up and the very exciting news that they will bring works supported MV Agusta machinery to the Adelaide Masters for the first time.
The team have secured two MV Agusta F3-RR 675's for the season and these rare machines are bound to cause a stir amongst their competitors and the championships' fans. The new machines will carry two up and coming teenagers with Daniel Annett, who remains with the team for his third season, being joined by Dean McMaster, who moves over from his own self run Triumph.
The MV Agusta name is one of the most iconic in Motorcycle Racing with a long history of success. The Italian manufacturer’s machines carried the likes of John Surtees and Giacomo Agostini to multiple world championships in the sixties and seventies, before dropping out of racing for many years.
The company only made a serious return to racing last year but already their Supersport machines have made a big impact, taking their first world championship win since 1976 at the opening round of the 2014 World Supersport series in Australia.
The BikeBitsNI team are already gearing up for the season. Having run a shake down test at Kirkistown in very cold conditions when they took delivery of the bikes. The next step is a full test this coming weekend at Bishopscourt, following which they will head for warmer weather testing in Spain.
The arrival of works MV Agusta's is a big boost for the Adelaide Masters Series and one of the biggest endorsements yet of the efforts being made by the series organisers to boost domestic Motorcycle Racing. Further exciting announcements regarding the Supersport and Superbike line-ups will be made over the coming weeks, so watch this space.

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MSS Kawasaki chosen by Damien Byrne for Championship assault

As the new Adelaide Masters Series approaches, Ireland's top short circuit riders are firming up their 2014 plans and Kilkenny's Damien Byrne is the latest to announce a major assault on the Superbike class, with the news that he will run an MSS Kawasaki ZX10 in the series.
Supported by Motorcycle Insurance Specialists, Adelaide Insurance Services, the series has grown to the point where 2014 will see the biggest field of Superbikes since the series inception in 2011, line-up for the season opener on April 5th & 6th.
Damien Byrne has been one of the stalwarts of the Superbike class since the Adelaide Masters Series began and produced his most competitive season yet in 2013, to finish as runner-up to Derek Sheils. Having taken numerous podiums and pole positions with his ageing and underpowered Honda Fireblade, Byrne has taken the decision to step up his efforts to lift the Masters title by running new machinery this season.
The Kawasaki that the Castlecomer man will campaign this year has been built by famed Kawasaki specialists and British Superbike Championship team, MSS Kawasaki. The machine will run with support from the team and will appear in MSS colours. Damien collected the bike from the teams Colchester base a couple of weeks ago and is now looking forward to getting it out on track.
Damien gave his thoughts on his new mount, saying; “I'm really excited about the season ahead. After running the Fireblade for so long, it will be a bit different moving onto the Kawasaki, but the extra horsepower will be very welcome. I have just a couple of days testing arranged before the season starts, but I’m confident that MSS have given me a good base set-up and it should now only take a little bit of fine tuning to get the bike working the way I want it.”
Byrne's assault on the Adelaide Masters Superbike title will see him tackle fourteen races over five events, four at Mondello Park and one at Bishopscourt, starting on April 5th & 6th. Backing for his title challenge comes from Megabikes, X-Lite Helmets, SB Maintenance, Southside Motor Factors, JTEC Sports, MCM Engineering and Chex Nous Montessori.
To keep up to date with news of the Adelaide Masters Series go to www.adelaidemasters.ie or you can follow the series on facebook or twitter.

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Cancelled Motorcycle Race Meeting to be replaced with July date
Following the cancellation of rounds nine and ten of the MCUI Irish Championship at Mondello Park on May 11th Motorcycling Ireland's Short Circuit Committee and Mondello Park have released the following statement.
A meeting has taken place between Mondello Park, the organising clubs and Motorcycling Ireland's Short Circuit Racing committee. All of the issues arising from May 11th were discussed and the constructive comments received from riders have been taken into consideration.
Arising from that meeting it has been agreed to run an additional MCUI Irish Championship event at Mondello Park on Sunday July 20th. There are some logistical issues due to the current crowded calendar but all parties agreed a resolution had to be found and July 20th offered the only realistic date.
Because nearly all of Fingal Motor Club’s key officials are out of the country on July 20th the new event will be run by the Motorcycling Ireland Short Circuit Committee. This decision in no way implies criticism of Fingal Motor Club and their running of the May 11th event.
The meeting on July 20th will be open to all motorcycle racing competitors, whether they took part in the May 11th race meeting or not. All riders with fully paid entries for May 11th will receive a free entry to the new event, with additional entries being charged at the normal rate. All May 11th spectator admission tickets will also be valid for this date or any other Mondello Park motorcycle race date during 2014, including the Adelaide Masters Series
As the new date is a completely new event, all riders, whether they are entitled to a free entry or not, will be required to fill out an entry form. Forms will be made available on the Mondello Park web site and through other outlets in due course.
Along with discussing the additional date some of the events other issues were also discussed leading to agreement on new procedures for the clean up of large oil spills. The issue of communication will also be addressed with race organisers undertaking to make announcements every fifteen minutes (if practical and appropriate) during long delays.
In a final change, designed to make communication more effective, riders briefing and any additional meetings, if required, will now be held in-doors in one of the Pit Lane Hospitality suites.

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Adelaide Masters Series makes long awaited return to Action




Ireland's biggest Motorcycle Racing Championship, the Adelaide Masters Series, makes it much anticipated return to action this weekend for rounds four, five and six, following a long break since the season opening event back in April. This weekend's races take place on the Mondello Park National Track and once again will be broadcast LIVE! On Mondello.TV




The series, which continues to benefit from the backing of Motorcycle Insurance Specialists, Adelaide Insurance Services, had one of its most impressive ever entries for the April event, particularly in the headline Superbike class where the level of competition is higher than ever.




The growing competitiveness and entry level in the series has been aided by an increased contribution to the prize-fund by Adelaide Insurance, cost cutting through restrictions on the number of tyres used and Live TV coverage of all classes on Mondello Park's dedicated on-line Motorsport Channel, Mondello.TV.




This weekend all of the regular classes will race three times with their opening race on Saturday and two more on Sunday. Joining the programme for the first time will be the Avon Tyres Formula 1 class for classic machines and these will race on the Saturday only.




At the season opener it was Cody Nally who set the pace in Superbikes taking two out of three Superbike wins and the top spot in the Grand Final. Reigning champion Derek Sheils nabbed the other Superbike victory and was on the podium twice more to keep Nally in his sights in the championship. The others to make it into the top three were Former champion Brian McCormack, Isle of Man visitor Dan Kneen and Mark Glasgow.




The Supersport class was much less predictable with three different winners from the three races. Derek Sheils took the first race, Robert English took his first win in race two while 2013 Champion David Haire took the last race, but it was Carl Phillips who left Mondello Park with the series lead.




The Grand Final attracted its largest ever grid including a major increase in the number of Supersport riders taking part. The increase in numbers is due to riders not being able to 'buy' their way to the top, by putting on new tyres for the big prize money race, due to the new tyre regulations introduced for 2014. To encourage Supersport riders to continue to take part the prize-fund for the rest of the season has been adjusted to give Supersport riders their own prize purse to race for.




This weekend's event will follow the same format as always, apart from the addition of the extra class on Saturday. The Sunday Superbike and Supersport races will include pre-race interviews and post race podiums while all other races will have post race interviews for the top three. All of Sunday's races will be broadcast live on Mondello.TV.




Admission to the Adelaide Masters Series this weekend at Mondello Park is €12.50 for adults with under 16's admitted free of charge and all admission includes a complimentary event programme. For further information see www.adelaidemasters.ie or follow the series on facebook and twitter.