Ballymoney's Darryl Tweed impresses during practice for KDM Hire Cookstown 100

The former Manx Grand Prix winner was supplied with a new Yamaha R6 by sponsor Stanley Stewart and was looking forward to testing at Almeria in Spain in March until the lockdown was enforced.

However, after a long and uncertain wait, Tweed is delighted to have the chance to get some road racing under his belt at the KDM Hire Cookstown 100, where he will also ride a 650cc McAdoo Kawasaki in the Supertwin class.

“We were meant to get out in March and we should’ve been on a plane, but then obviously with the coronavirus we missed out on everything,” he said.

“I got a Yamaha R6 provided by Stanley Stewart and we did a few test days at the start of the year. It was all looking good because I was beating my personal best lap times.

“The bike is definitely some piece of kit and it seems to be the 600 to be on, along with the Kawasaki, which is very strong as well.”

Looking ahead to Saturday's racing at the Co Tyrone meeting, which will be the only Irish road race to go ahead in 2020, Tweed said his main priority was to simply ‘enjoy a bit of craic’.

“I’m feeling excited and we’re looking forward to a run out,” he said.

“It will be a bit of craic with the boys again and there’s no pressure on me with any of the bikes I’m riding. I just want to go out there and enjoy myself,” Tweed added.

“It’s been a long wait for some road racing but 90 per-cent of the riders understand exactly what road racing is all about and I think they will ride accordingly. I expect the pace to be down a bit but it should make for good racing on Saturday.

“We’re all in the same boat roughly when it comes to track time apart from maybe Adam (McLean), who has been racing in the British championship.”

Tweed revealed McAdoo Racing rider McLean helped secure him the chance to ride the one of the team’s Supertwin machines this weekend.

“I’m friendly with Adam and I rang him and asked if he would mind if I asked for the chance to ride one of their Supertwins,” he said.

“There was no problem and the team has given me the chance, so thanks to them for that. The bike is completely new to me because I’d only ridden a Suzuki in the Supertwin class before, but it’s a great piece of kit.”

Tweed will also be in action on the M&D Kawasaki at Orritor in the Lightweight Supersport race.

He qualified an impressive third fastest in the Supersport class on Friday, second quickest on the McAdoo Supertwin and took pole for the Lighweight Supersport race.

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