DROMARA based rider Ian Lougher is preparing for his last ever North West 200 race.
Lougher has notched up nine wins at the famous circuit and will be looking to bring a tremendous career to a close by adding to that tally.
Recently Lougher, who is manager of Team Blackhorse Yamaha, swapped his team manager's cap for his Shoei ra
cing helmet as he got acquainted for the first time with the new Yamaha 2008 R1 Superbike during testing at Darley Moor.
To say the vastly experienced Welshman was impressed would be something of an understatement as he blasted the FW Developments tuned machine to lap record pace after only ten laps.
Speaking afterwards, a delighted Ian said: “Although it's come together very late I'm really pleased with how the R1 bike has turned out.
“The Yamaha turns and drops into the corners so well that it makes things much easier for a smaller rider like myself. That, coupled with the revvy engine, makes it feel very 'two stroke like' to ride.
“I can't wait to get cracking at the North-West 200.”
With unrivalled knowledge, expertise and a full stable of Yamaha state of the art machinery at their disposal Team Blackhorse Yamaha have been campaigning in the 600cc Supersport, 1000cc Superstock and for Ian, the prestigious Superbike classes throughout the 2008 racing season.
The full article contains 232 words and appears in Banbridge Leader newspaper.
