Kirk gets all clear to race

Kirk has thankfully received confirmation from consultants at Musgrave Park Hospital that his shoulder injuries should heal in time for the next round of the Irish Superbike Championships. Kirk dislocated his left shoulder during a qualifying crash on the Mar-Train R6 at Kirkistown on 1st May and despite managing to complete the days racing the initial prognosis was not good. After undergoing an operation on the same shoulder in 2001 it was feared that further surgery may be required, an option which could have spelled not only the end of 2010 but the end altogether.

Kirk "I had to wait 18 months for that surgery in 2001 and underwent a very painful six months of rehabilitation afterwards. So realistically if I ended up in the same boat again I doubt I would return to racing after two years out. I was worried that dislocating the shoulder again may have undone the work carried out back then and left me with an unstable shoulder which pops out under very little stress. Fortunately, after being assessed by my consultant it appears that there is no damage to the rotator cuff and the muscle damage is merely stretching, not tears. I still have to go back for further assessments in six weeks when the injury is not so fresh but it looks like I should be able to get into some physio and weight training in a week or so."

Kirk is targetting a test in the first week of June for a return to the track ahead of his Thundersport debut later in the month at Oulton Park. The irish Championships resume at Kirkistown on 13th July.

Winter Enduro

Kirk took a few days out over the Christmas holidays to have his first taste of Enduro riding in the Yorkshire Dales.

"Having not ridden off-road for many years it was definitely a baptism of fire as we disappeared into the bleak Dales in snow drifts and blizzards! I had been invited over to stay with my mate Wayne and we headed out with a few of his mates for what was an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable day. After making a complete idiot of myself at the beginning of the day by constantly falling off and getting stuck (including falling off on the lane on the way there when I hit ice!) I got to grips with it and really started to enjoy myself. I would like to thank Wayne and the guys for taking me over and supplying me with a bike and all the gear. I will definately be heading back again although next time I will be bringing a spare fuel can as running out 5 miles from home was not as funny to me as it was to everyone else! Cheers lads!"

Anglesey onboard video (SS600 race 2) uploaded

Anglesey, September 2008 onboard video added to the downloads section of the website.

Anglesey onboard video uploaded

Anglesey, September 2008 onboard video added to the downloads section of the website.

Kirkistown onboard video uploaded

Easter Monday 2009 onboard video added to the downloads section of the website.

Mini-moto draw

Jeremy McWilliams drew the winning ticket for the Mini Moto draw during the Sunflower Trophy Races at Bishopscourt, the winner was Cameron Ferguson aged 12 from Salisbury, congratulations Cameron!

Kirk "Thanks to Jeremy for drawing the ticket and congratulations to Cameron on winning this fantastic prize. I would like to thank all our club members who put a lot of effort into selling tickets all year and of course thank you to everyone who entered. A special thank you must however go to Alan Finlay for his generosity in supplying the bike and of course for doing such a fantastic job with the graphics and paintwork."

Jamison to debut for MAR-Train in Wales

Greyabbey's Kirk Jamison has agreed a deal to ride for MAR-Train Racing next weekend at rounds 16 & 17 of the Irish Supersport Championship. With his Jim Angus Contracts Yamaha still sidelined due to an engine rebuild the twenty nine year old agreed terms last night for a one off appearance on Tim Martin's GSXR600 Suzuki at Anglesey in Wales.

Jamison has endured a relatively quiet season by his standards with only an outside chance of lifting the ISB title remaining; however a win and a second place at Knockhill last time out may have signalled a welcome return to form after a run of bad luck. Two engine failures in a month looked like forcing Jamison to sit out the remainder of the Supersport races this season but after being thrown a lifeline by Tim Martin the father of four is now looking forward to Anglesey with renewed enthusiasm.

Jamison "I am over the moon to have come to an arrangement with Tim; this is a new challenge for me as, barring one race for Harry Corbett back in 2005, I have never ridden for anyone other than my own team. I have said before that MAR-Train are undoubtedly the most professional, best turned out team in the ISB paddock so I am excited about getting the opportunity to be a part of that. I will still ride my Jim Angus Contracts Honda in the Superbike class and in no way have split from my own team but with my 600 almost certainly unavailable next week I have to thank Tim for stepping in to ensure I still get a full quota of races. We have known each other for a couple of years now and get on well with their whole team so I am really looking forward to getting started."

Tim Martin "We welcome Kirk on board for the Anglesey round and believe with his wealth of experience he will be a great asset to the team. The deal is only for one race but we are always looking for talent and you never know where it might lead."

Jamison will test the MAR-Train Suzuki next Friday at Anglesey where he will join up with his new team mates, reigning Supersport Champion Alastair Kirk, last years Superbike runner up Denver Robb and James Dickson who currently lies second in the ISB title race in what is a formidable line up for the Lisburn based team.

Ards Shopping Centre

Kirk recently spent a day at Ards shopping centre with his race bikes promoting himself, his sponsors and the sport of motorcycle racing to all the passing shoppers on the day. His day was made all the more pleasant when PR girl Danielle Boyd joined him.

Minimoto raffle

Kirk's Supporters Club are raffling off a mini moto, superbly painted in Kirk's racing colours. The mini moto has been painted and presented to the club by Alan Finlay of Nice Bike Paintshop and will be raffled off throughout the year before being drawn at the Sunflower Trophy races at Bishopscourt in October.

Kirk to star in DVD

This year I am to be sponsored by RF Concepts, a Dundonald camera company owned by Roy Cardwell. This sponsorship is in the form of onboard camera equipment which I will use to compile a full season of onboard footage of my racing, footage which will be sold on DVD at the end of the year.

"Roy supplied me with the camera and all associated equipment to run it during 2008, my brother Cliff now has it all rigged up and after a few practice goes last year we are ready to go for 2009. It provides an interesting insight into how I see things for the rest of the team, especially those who have not raced themselves. It actually helps with my racing too as it allows you to sit back and analyse where you may be losing time, should it be lines or gearing etc. The footage will be edited into a couple of DVD's which will be sold by my Supporters Club at the end of the year. It is a generous offer by RF Concepts which I am very grateful for, when people see the quality of footage I have no doubt there will be a queue at Roy's door."