Isle of Man TT well represented at prestigious awards ceremony
Tuesday 19 January 2010
TT
The Isle of Man TT was well represented at the prestigious Adelaide Racer Awards in Belfast.
The annual awards ceremony is one of the biggest off-track events in the motorcycle racing calendar, with more a star-studded audience of 500 attending the black tie event on Friday night.
Among the racing greats in attendance were many from the TT, as well as other stars of road racing, Grand Prix, World Superbike, World Supersport, British short circuit racing and more.
The evening’s big winner was Ryan Farquhar who, despite a disappointing 2009 TT, had a staggering season. The two-times TT winner took an amazing 61 race victories, secured six National Championships and broke Joey Dunlop’s longstanding record of 119 National race wins.
At the ceremony the 33-year-old picked up National Road Racer of the Year – beating competition from fellow TT riders Keith Amor, John Burrows, Michael and William Dunlop – and his team, KMR Kawasaki, was named Team of the Year.
The Dugannon man was also presented with the Geoff Duke Trophy as winner of the 2009 Duke Road Race Rankings.
It didn’t all go Farquhar’s way however; he missed out on International Road Racer of the Year and the evening’s top award, the Irish Motorcyclist of the Year.
International Road Racer of the Year went to Steve Plater, who won the 2009 Senior TT, with Ian Hutchinson – who won two TT races in the same day in 2009 – second and 2009 Senior TT podium finisher Conor Cummins, the fastest Manxman around the Mountain course, in third. The Dunlop brothers and 15-times TT winner John McGuinness were also shortlisted.
The TT was also represented in the Irish Motorcyclist of the Year category, with Michael Dunlop and Ryan Farquhar shortlisted. The award went to World Supersport runner-up Eugene Laverty, World Superbike race winner Jonathan Rea second and Farquhar third.
Guest of honour was MotoGP legend Loris Capirossi, the Suzuki star who will start his 300th Grand Prix at the first race of the 2010 season. As well as being on hand to present awards, the Italian GP great was handed the Lifetime Achievement Award.
TT stars were also asked to present awards. McGuinness handed the Young Rider of the Year to Jamie Hamilton, multiple TT winner Brian Reid presented the Fans’ Race of the Year award to Jonathan Rea for his race-winning exploits at the Assen round of the World Superbike campaign and Phillip McCallen joined Grand Prix star Jeremy McWilliams to announce the induction of Gary Cowan to the Bridgestone Hall of Fame.