Motorbikes

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Jonathan Rea is to travel to the fourth round of the World Superbike Championship at Cremona in Italy "with the intention of riding", his Pata Yamaha team has revealed.

The Northern Ireland rider missed the first three rounds of the 2025 series at Phillip Island in Australia, Portimao in Portugal and Assen in the Netherlands after sustaining multiple fractures to his left foot in a crash while testing in February.

Rea subsequently had successful surgery in Belfast and has been continuing his recovery at home.

An update issued by his team indicated that the six-time world champion was to return "after consultation with his medical team in Northern Ireland, travelling to Cremona with the intention of riding pending official review with the FIM Medical Director on Thursday".

The statement added that Rea "had left no stone unturned in his efforts to recover as quickly as possible from the injuries sustained to his left foot at the Phillip Island Official Test in February".

The 38-year-old said he was "super excited" to be on the brink of a return to action.

"It feels like a really long couple of months, but in the last 3-4 weeks I've maximised regaining strength and function of my left foot," he explained.

The injury was a lot more serious than first expected and I just want to thank everybody that was behind me to get back on track, especially the fans and all the messages of encouragement.

He added: "I feel confident and ready – Cremona is a track that I haven't raced at before but I was able to spin a few laps in testing last season. I'm just so happy to be back with my team and riding my Yamaha R1."

Rea is in his second season with his Yamaha team after a disappointing campaign in 2024 which saw him finish 13th overall in the standings and secure a solitary podium finish at the UK round of the championship at Donington.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

A number of riders are recovering after suffering fractures in incidents at Saturday's Cookstown 100 road races at the Orritor circuit.

Scottish competitor Donald MacFadyen came off during the Open B race and was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital by air ambulance.

Writing on Facebook, MacFadyen said: "Thanks for all the help, kind messages. Getting looked after great here.

"Latest is I have 2 stable spine fractures, broken wrist and 8 broken ribs."

Noel Carroll from county Laois sustained broken ribs in the same race, a spokesperson for the Cookstown 100 club organisers confirmed.

The air ambulance was also deployed to carry Republic of Ireland rider Damian Horan to hospital following a crash in the Open A race later in the day.

Race organisers confirmed that the Athlone man had suffered fractures.

Both races were halted by red flags after the incidents happened.

Simon Lehane, who crashed in the Moto3 event, was taken to hospital for a check-up, but has been discharged and has travelled home to England.

Image source, Pacemaker

Michael Dunlop secured a win double and broke the absolute course record at the Cookstown 100 road races on Saturday.

Dunlop, riding a V2 Ducati, led from start to finish in the Supersport race, run in dry conditions over nine laps of the 2.1-mile Orritior course.

McGee, on an ex-Ten Kate World Supersport machine, pushed Dunlop for much of the race but trailed by four seconds at the chequered flag in finishing second.

Michael Sweeney, Darryl Tweed and Kevin Keyes made up the top five.

Later in the day BMW-mounted Dunlop ran out the victor in the feature Cookstown 100 event, holding a 5.6 seconds advantage over early leader Sweeney, with McGee a further 16.5 seconds in arrears in third.

The Ballymoney rider set the new lap record on his sixth circuit of seven with a speed of 91.773mph, one minute 22.377 seconds.

Mullingar rider McGee was a convincing winner of the Moto3 class, coming home 18.75 seconds ahead of Manxman Dan Sayle, with Nigel Moore third.

The Republic of Ireland racer then brought his KMR Kawasaki home 1.4 seconds ahead of Skerries man Sweeney in the Supertwins race, with Tweed occupying the final podium spot, Manx newcomer Joe Yeardsley fourth and Neil Kernohan fifth.

McGee, a former Irish Superbike, Supersport and Supertwin champion, is now based in the Netherlands and is making his first appearance at the Cookstown races since 2019.

Darryl Tweed won both the Lightweight Supersport and Classic Superbike races.

Saturday's race programme was punctuated by red flag incidents, including lengthy delays following crashes in the Open B and Open A races.

Friday's action was restricted to free practice sessions because of the wet and windy weather at the county Tyrone course.

Image source, Isle of Man TT

Sixteen-time Isle of Man TT winner Ian Hutchinson and Republic of Ireland Mike Browne have been confirmed as the riders for MLav Racing's debut appearance at the Isle of Man TT.

The team is owned by former British Supersport champion and 10-time British Superbike race winner Michael Laverty and has competed in the Moto3 World Championship and Junior categories, including the FIM Junior GP Championship and British Talent Cup.

Hutchinson will have both Superbike and Superstock BMW M1000RR machinery available for the Superbike, Senior and Superstock races, with Browne opting to concentrate on a Superstock-spec bike for all four 1000cc events.

Hutchinson will also contest the two Supersport races on machinery that has yet to be finalised.

The 45-year-old missed the 2023 TT after suffering a stroke but returned last year with the Milenco by Padgett's team, securing 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th place finishes.

Browne clinched his second TT podium in 2024 thanks to a third position in the second Supertwin race.

The Killeagh rider finished inside the top 10 in all seven of his races.

"Anyone who knows me knows I've always loved the TT and even though I never raced the Mountain Course, it's the pinnacle of our sport," said team boss Laverty.

"Plans for setting up a new team started with a casual conversation back in September and although initially, I was approached to assist a team, the more I thought about it the more it made sense to do it ourselves.

"My Grand Prix commitments keep me busy, and it's taken me a bit longer to get everything boxed off in of sponsors, team personnel and infrastructure, but I spoke to a couple of riders, getting Hutchy signed up first and then Mike."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Michael Dunlop says he is "keen to get back on the bike and get riding" after being confirmed as a late entry for this weekend's Cookstown 100 event.

The 29-time Isle of Man TT winner has recovered from a crash at last weekend's Le Mans 24 Hours and will feature in the first event of the Irish road racing season.

"I'm not too bad, just a few bumps and bruises...black and blue one side and black and blue the other side," Dunlop told BBC Sport NI.

"Whatever way I landed, I got a bit of a doing but my suit and helmet did a great job. I'm black and blue from the impact but no broken bones."

Dunlop, 35, is testing Ducati V2 and Superstock machines ahead of the North West 200, which begins on 7 May.

In 2024, the Ballymoney rider sured his uncle Joey's record of Isle of Man TT wins and he its that "took a lot of weight off my shoulders" ahead of this year.

"Last year, he TT was obviously the main objective," he said.

"I was just a bit disappointed with the North West, obviously picking up an injury here last year hindered me.

"I'm looking forward to getting to the North West and having a real good go at it. The bikes are looking well, we've a bit of work to do with the Superbike, we were left high and dry a little bit and we're working hard to get it done.

"Hopefully we get out on it very shortly and at the North West put a show on and then leads us on to the TT."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

"Do you really understand what living is if you never put your life at any risk">