Munster Express Online

MOTO

Local under dogs team “Knee Down Racing” were among the winners at the ‘Nify Fifty’ which took place recently at Mondello Park. The ‘Nifty Fifty’ is a charity event run by the Blackchurch Racing Association, Lusk Co. Dublin.

It takes place in Mondello racing circuit once a year before the motorcycling race season begins to start and attracts top national as well as international riders.
William Dunlop(son of the late great Robert Dunlop), Scott Reading (Moto GP rider) Guy Martin TT rider and TV celebrity Phillip MacCallen were but a few of the big names that competed in the event which also attracted six teams from the United Kingdom/
Local fan favourites like Tramore’s Irish super bike champion Brian McCormack is also a regular attendee as well as the renowned Hilton Hinks, who had previously won the event in 2013
It’s a charity raised event with three classes, 50 cc 90 cc (the most popular) and also 90cc modified.
The entry fee for each team was €3,000 with all funds raised going to the winners’ charity of choice for each class. Entry tickets on the day raised by Mondello went to the rap crisis centre
The event itself is four hour endurance race based event with 50 bikes starting on a Le Mans start with teams consisting mainly of four riders. Near on 200 riders (lunatics) battled in the freezing cold to take the win and denote their winnings.
The local team ‘Knee Down Racing’ started 34th back from 50 and consisted of team manager and mechanic Richie Ryan, local speed freak and fast corner talker Tramore’s Ian Coyne and also Piltown’s road racer and again speed Patient James Cooney. took home the win and again bringing the much sought after title back to Tramore
This was the team’s fourth year completing but each year bad luck hindered the team and the best result achieved was a top 20.
This year the however the homework and preparation was done and given a bit of luck the lads knew they would go close.
Solid lap times put in by James Cooney got the team off to s great start and even when team mate Richie Ryan collided with a fallen rider on the first lap and lost control the team recovered to take the win.
After 143 laps Ian Coyne crossed the checker flag in style to win the main event and finished fifth overall in the modified class.
The team donated their winnings to three charities of their choice; Jack and Jill Foundation, Make a Wish Foundation and also the local Faithlegg Christmas Party for the disabled in conjunction with the emergency services
The team would like to thanks all their supporters on the day, Bolster Group for transport and all the event organisers and Mondello for hosting the event
They hope to compete again next year and for many to come raising much needed funds for charity