TANDRAGEE  100

It was great to have the opportunity to race again at the Tandragee 100, hats off to all the organisers for getting it back up and running.  It was a well supported meeting both by riders and spectators.

Mike Browne couldn’t have ridden our bike any better, winning both the Supersport races. He managed to qualify on poll and just got his head down from the get go. Mike also raced in the Superbike class on the 600, which ended up a very close race and just narrowly missing out on the podium, this was an excellent performance against the bigger bikes.

This was a very enjoyable weekend for all concerned and especially for Jordie & Family (BPE Engineering), with Tandragee being their home race.

IMATRA – Finland

This was both Richard Cooper & Russell Racing’s first time to visit Finland. This took quite a lot of organising both by Richard and the Team, but it was all well worth it.

The welcome and support that the whole Team experienced while in Imatra was first class.

First day of practice was cancelled due to weather conditions, so this meant less time on the circuit for Richard, but as usual Richard did not disappoint.  He put on his novice vest and delivered the results as Richard does. Three wins in the dry and one win in the wet made for some good racing. Two of these races were rounds of the IRRC – International Road Racing Championship. Heading home and being the new lap record holder was the icing on the cake for both Richard and the Team. What a journey!

We are hoping to return to this historic circuit in the future.

SOUTHERN 100 –Isle of Man

Back to the Isle of Man and Mike Browne once again showed his strength on the 600 Supersport bike, the races were awesome, we’re sure if you got to watch the action live, you were sitting on the edge of your seats! Close racing was an understatement. In the first race Mike finished in 2^nd place to Davey Todd. The second 600 race was another cliff hanger to the final lap, when Mike managed to pip Davey Todd to the top step.

We were lucky enough to acquire a Superstock Bike for this meeting also, with Mike collecting this bike just when he arrived on the Isle of Man and having little to no time to practice or set up this bike, Mike managed to achieve a very reputable 5^th place in both the Superbike races. Final Supersport race was on Thursday, which again was a good race, giving excellent viewing for everyone and Mike finished 3^rd spot on the podium.

Brilliant results for Mike Browne and all of the Russell Racing Team on both the Supersport 600 Bike and the Honda Superstock.

Armoy Road Races

A lot of time was spent on the Superstock bike after the Southern 100, a full rebuild, a few parts replaced and we were good to go. Mike rode in both the Supersport and the Superbike races. Tricky conditions with the changeable weather made it interesting when choosing which tyres to go on, but with the help of friends  placed all around the course, thankfully we managed to make the right decision for all races and Mike stormed to the front in both the Supersport Races and the Open Race for the Superbikes.

The prestigious “Race of Legends” was Mike’s final race of the weekend. We as a team had never won this blue riband Superbike finale.  After a very exciting few laps Mike moved to the front and stayed there, finishing 4.3 seconds out in front. Mike has added his name to the elite list of riders to win the “Race of Legends” at Armoy.

Mike excelled on this new Honda Superstock bike, for this to be only our second race meeting on this new bike, we were all delighted with the results. This finished off a fantastic weekend for both spectators and everyone involved in the Team.

Classic Bike Festival – Bishopscourt

Another busy weekend with both Richard Cooper and Mike Browne taking part. Once again the weather made this a bit tricky, but the organisers managed to keep the races going.

With some riders from BSB and the local short circuit riders attending this Festival it added depth to the competition, but Richard and Mike both were at the front of the grid. Richard managing to win the Supersport race on Saturday with Mike finishing a fourth. Sunday morning had a Superbike race which had been carried over from Saturday. Richard finishing a credible 3^rd on the Supersport bike. Mike unfortunately had to pull in during this race due to the wrong tyre choice. Sunday’s Supersport race again was close and exciting to watch and Richard got over the line in first place, with Mike finishing in fourth place.

All races over the weekend were grouped together on aggregate which meant Richard ended up 1^st and Mike 3^rd. Another very enjoyable and successful weekend for the team.

We do hope that you have had a chance to view some of the recent television coverage of all of the above races, it definitely bows for good watching.

We do feel with more television coverage and with recent live on-line coverage being available for most of these races, it is giving you our sponsors a better opportunity to be seen and noticed by the public.

It has been a very busy few months, but very rewarding and enjoyable thanks to both Richard and Mike.

A special word of thanks to Derek, Grant, Ally, Tim and David for all their continued hard work at race meetings, and all the other people who work behind the scenes to keep everything ticking over.

We are now taking a few weeks to get our breath back and re-group.

Mike & myself are heading back to the Isle of Man mid August to the Manx Classic Races, where Mike will be riding the Ducati 916 which he won on last year. Here’s hoping for another good year.

Our plan is to compete in a few short circuit meetings if the dates are suitable, the Scarborough Gold Cup and finish the season at the Sunflower meeting at Bishopscourt.

Once again we cannot emphasise enough that without your support none of this would have happened. We think with the list of results above it goes without saying that we have had an extremely successful run at both road races and short circuits. We are lucky to have two very successful riders who are both at the top of their chosen sport.

We would like to continue, striving to deliver high quality bikes capable of delivering top results and hope you have enjoyed being part of this journey. We really do appreciate your support and without it, we would not be able to be competitive and run at the front.

We look forward to your continuing support.

Kind regards

Alister & Team