Carl Phillips out to extend unbeaten run in Ulster Superbike Championship as Kirkistown hosts return of Norman Brown Memorial Trophy races

The event is being held for the first time in seven years and was last held at Kirkistown in 1991 before switching to Bishopscourt Racing Circuit.

Although his career was tragically cut short after only four seasons, Brown established himself as one of Ireland’s top riders and famously won the Senior TT riding Hector Neill’s RG500 Suzuki in his maiden year at the event in 1982.

Sadly, he lost his life in a crash at Silverstone the following year at the British Grand Prix when he was struck by Swiss rider Peter Huber while touring with his hand raised on the exit of Stowe Corner. Huber was tucked in behind another rider and was unaware Brown had slowed.

The trophy in his memory will be presented to the overall winner across the two SBT Ireland Superbike races at Kirkistown, when Lisburn’s Phillips is the man to beat after winning all six races in 2026.

Phillips won the title for the second time last year and has been unbeatable on the Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing BMW.

He clinched a double at Kirkistown earlier this month, beating Jonny Campbell (155 Racing BMW) in the first race by over 10 seconds.

In a closer second race, former champion Campbell slashed the deficit to 0.793s, although Phillips raised the lap record to 100.422mph (54.203s).

He previously smashed Alastair Seeley’s 2022 lap record (100.212mph) at Kirkistown in April.

The Belfast and District Club’s meeting is also the third round of the Big3 Series and round four of the Ulster Superbike Championship.

Contenders also include Korie McGreevy, Ryan Gibson, Ross Irwin, Jamie Lyons, Aaron Spence, Luke Jones, Mark Conlin and Mark Hewittt.

McAdoo Racing Kawasaki’s McGreevy was a double winner in the Supersport class at Kirkistown last time out and leads Christian Elkin by only four points in the standings.

Practice is scheduled from 9am with racing due to start at approximately 11am.