On Saturday night, Caolán Irwin has been announced as the recipient of the 2018 ‘Young Racer of the Year’ title at the Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship awards ceremony at the Westgrove Hotel in Clane, County Kildare.
Irwin, from Donegal, follows in the footsteps of previous winners, Jason Lynn and Robert English as he picks up a prize package of support worth more than €10,000, to assist him in furthering his Motorcycle Racing career.
The biggest award in Irish Motorcycle Racing is in its third season and once again benefits from backing from the late Martin Birrane, who passed away in June of this year, Pat Crowley of Dawn International and Peter McMahon of European Industrial Chillers Ltd.
During 2018 the award assisted Jason Lynn to progress his career into the Thundersport GB Championship, culminating in a debut British Supersport Championship appearance at the final round in Brands Hatch in October.
Caolán Irwin began 2018 with the aim of racing in the British Superbike supporting Superstock 600 championship, alongside a campaign in the Masters Supersport Championship, but date clashes saw him compete at the Masters on just two occasions.
His first appearance, in April, produced three scintillating performances and a hat-trick of second place finishes, despite riding a Superstock machine against the more powerful Supersport bikes. His speed and the quality of his riding secured the ‘Young Racer of the Year’ nomination for April and a place in the October shoot-out.
Speaking after the announcement Caolán Irwin said, “I can’t believe I’ve won this award. This will make such a difference to our plans for next year as we now have the backing to commit to returning to the BSB paddock.
“Finding funding for Motorcycle racing in Donegal is extremely difficult but this award will hopefully help us to secure the remaining funds we need to complete a full season again next year.
“I have so many people to thank, not least of all my family who have funded most of this year’s campaign and allowed me to be in a position to win this award.
“I have to thank the judges and Mondello Park for organising this fantastic competition and I’m looking forward to representing the sponsors to the best of my ability during 2019.”
Jim Halligan, representing the competition judges, said: “The standard was the highest we have seen so far in the competition and we believe our choice of the winner should get to the very top, as will many of the nominees. But unfortunately, there can only be one winner.”
Mondello Park, the competitions supporters and the winner Caolán Irwin will agree on a plan for the next stage of his career over the coming weeks and are all looking forward to working together to help Caolán continue his progress in the British Superstock championship.
