Ian Lowry won last year's Sunflower race

Ian Lowry will defend his Sunflower Trophy title in the colours of Paul Bird's Kawasaki World Superbike team at Bishopscourt on Saturday 16 October.

Lowry won the trophy for the Relentless TAS Suzuki outfit last year.

The Moira rider has been riding the Kawasaki as a replacement for the injured Chris Vermeulen in the World Superbike Championship.

Fellow PBM Kawasaki rider Tom Sykes has not yet committed to competing at the end-of-season short circuit showpiece.

Lowry's opposition at the Sunflower will include Relentless TAS Suzuki duo Michael Laverty and Alastair Seeley, plus Buildbase Kawasaki man John Laverty.

Michael Laverty is a former multiple Sunflower winner.

Young American rider PJ Jacobsen, who finished third in the 125cc race behind Mark Lunney and William Dunlop in 2008, will return to Northern Ireland for the event next month.

Jacobsen, who is competing for New York-based Celtic Racing in the AMA Supersport series, will race Chris Dowd's 600cc Yamaha.

Another American rider, Shane Norbonne, will also compete at the Hillsborough Club's meeting.

A full quota of Irish Championship races will be run, complementing the feature Sunflower race.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version