Darragh Crean returning to Cookstown 100 road races this weekend

Darragh Crean returning to Cookstown 100 road races this weekend  

By Baylon McCaughey

Tralee racer DarraghCrean, returns to the Cemcor Cookstown 100, having made his road race at this same venue, exactly one year ago.

Crean has been racing competitively since 2005, where he began with quad racing, something he continued with until 2013, before work commitments curtailed his progress on the four-wheel part of the sport.

During his tenure in quad racing, he was successful in winning the Irish Support championship, along with competing in prestigious events such as Pont de Vaux in France.

However, having Emmet O’Grady as a friend, and with Emmet making a return to the sport after a five-year hiatus, it wasn’t long before he was enticed back into the sport again, this time, on to tarmac, and basically hasn’t looked back since!

Crean did track days for a couple of years before making his race debut at the Mondello Masters in 2020, where he soon made his presence felt, he won the Mondello Masters Supertwins championship in 2021 and was runner-up in 2022.

He made his Cookstown 100 debut last year.

“I went there last year as a newcomer, and was immediately put at ease from two of the most respected guys in the race paddock, Baylon McCaughey and Barry Davidson! Where in the Newcomers bus, I along with everyone else, felt very welcome, their expertise, made things so much easier for me, so when I was ready to go out on track, I felt so much relaxed, plus, I also got good training on the track. I enjoyed the Friday practice and the circuit, so yes, mad to get back going and hopefully the weather will be kinder than what we got last year.”

On board the Faraldo Team’s racing team bike, Crean surprised many, by taking 3rd in the lightweight race, and despite qualifying second in qualifying, decided to opt out of the Support race, due to the inclement weather.

“Motor biking is an important part of my life, as I loved the competitiveness and the biking community, looking forward to seeing you guys again.”

Class(es) entered; Supertwin, main 600 race and open race.

DJ Racing/Husqvarna Ireland Yamaha R6 & DJ Racing/Elcofire Ireland Kmr Kawasaki ER650

Sponsors – DJ Racing, Husqvarna Ireland, Elcofire Ireland & Nedar Heat