O’Carroll to remain in support classes for the 2023 road racing season

O’Carroll to remain in support classes for the 2023 road racing season

Road racer Anthony O’Carroll will not move up the pro ranks for the 2023 season despite unofficially finishing third in the Ulster Centre Senior Support championship this year.

The Ballyduff racer competed in the full Irish Road Racing championship – north and south – for the first time this year.

He contested the Junior Support and Production Twins classes in closed road events like Armoy and Tandragee in Ulster.

He finished on the podium in several races and won his first trophy at the Kells Road Race in June and backed this up with a third place in Armoy in August.

He also finished second at Faugheen races in Tipperary in July
The run of good results meant he was in contention for the Ulster Senior Support category – a feeder series to the main 600cc pro class and only for the Antrim 100 getting cancelled due to local objectors O’Carroll was on target to finish third in the series.

With Tandragee also cancelled due to heavy rain there were not enough rounds run to declare a championship.

The Kawasaki rider finished third and the top three get promoted to the pro ranks for the next season.

However, O’Carroll has requested special dispensation from the Motorcycle Union of Ireland to remain in the support ranks for 2023.

“I am not ready to move into the big class just yet,” he said. “I am better off staying where I am and finishing in the top three than moving up and not being on the pace.”

If he moved up a class, he would face top Irish riders like Mike Browne and Micko Sweeney.

“On safety grounds alone I don’t have the experience to be up against the top lads,” he added.

“If the championship was declared they [Motorcycle Union] would have had no choice but to bump me up, I am happy the way it worked out.”

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