Local riders keen to return to the Manx Grand Prix – a look back at the island classic

Local riders keen to return to the Manx Grand Prix

Three local motorcycle racers have vowed to return to the Manx Grand Prix after poor weather disrupted their 2024 plans.

Ardfert’s Stephen Walsh, Tralee’s Darragh Crean, and Mountcolins’s Andrew Murphy represented  Kerry and West Limerick on the legendary 37.75-mile Mountain Course.

Poor weather on the island affected racing over the course of the two-week-long festival and all three rides only got limited track time as a result of near-continuous rain.

Walsh, a seasoned racer, returned for his second attempt at the prestigious event. Riding a Honda 500 Twin in the Senior Classic and a Honda CB 350 in the Junior Classic, he was determined to finish the race after facing mechanical issues last year. With the support of local mechanic Der Rahilly his bikes were in peak condition for the challenge at the start of race fortnight.

However, due to the weather the two classes were combined into one for Monday’s race..

Walsh elected to start on the CB 350 but, unfortunately, suffered mechanical gremlins and he had to retire.

Making their Manx Grand Prix debuts, Darragh Crean and Andrew Murphy were also eager to make their mark.

Crean, a familiar face in the British Superbike Championship support classes, rode an Aprilia SuperTwin to 22^nd in the Junior race and but his Yamaha R6 broke down on the opening lap of the Senior Grand Prix.  

Murphy competed in the Ultra Lightweight class aboard his Honda VFR NC30. He marked his first Manx Grand Prix with a 26^th-place finish.

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