The first ever Mondello Masters series is building towards an exciting climax as Ireland's top motorcycle racers get ready to compete for the biggest cash prize of the year.
The three race Mondello Park series has grabbed the attention of all of Ireland's top motorcycle racers overe the course of the season and this weekends finale has attracted the biggest entry of star names yet. The reason for the extra interest is a doubling of the prize fund for the Masters race which will take place on Sunday alongside the penultimate round of the 2008 Irish Superbike Championship.
Heading the list and starting as favourite courtesy of his domination of the series so far will be Alastair Seeley who is out to grab the bonus money for winning all three Masters races. Chasing Seeley will be a who's who of Irish short circuit racing which includes most of this island's domestic and overseas competitors as well as a number of cross channel visitors.
Seeley's nearest competitor last time out on the Mondello Park National Circuit was fellow Ulster rider Marshall Neill who pushed him to lap record pace lap after lap. Neil will want to avenge his defeat on the International circuit this weekend and keep Seeley from making it three Masters race wins in a row.
Fresh from a fine showing in last weekends British Supersport round at Silverstone Jack Kennedy will also be looking to get into the prize money. Kennedy will be on board a Rob Mac Racing Yamaha Supersport machine so may struggle against the more powerful Superbike machinery unless of course the weather comes into play. Fellow British Supersport rider Marty Nutt, Yamaha R1 cup competitor Adrian Coates and Brian McCormick, who will ride a JTEC Sports/Bolster Group Honda Fireblade, should also feature in the shake up.
The Masters race is scheduled for 16:00 on Sunday with qualifying taking place on Saturday afternoon. Alongside the top twelve invited riders the fastest domestic Superbike and Supersport competitors from Saturdays ISB programme will also be invited to take part in Sundays race which will have a full grid of twenty eight bikes.
The full schedule for the weekend's races sees qualifying and the first of three races for each class take place on Saturday. All classes will then race twice on Sunday with the Masters race scheduled to take place between the two Irish Superbike rounds and as close to four o'clock as possible.
Despite the increased quality of the entry Mondello Park will keep admission prices at the same level as all domestic events. Adults admission will be a very attractive €15.00 while under 16's will be admitted free. Admission prices also include free admission to the covered grandstand and paddock and a complimentary event programme.
Riders wishing to take up the challenge should contact masters@mondellopark.ie as soon as possible to make sure of a space on the thirty two bike grid. For further information on the Mondello Masters series see www.mondellopark.ie.