Rea set to jet in for Cornmarket Motorbike Awards bash

The factory Kawasaki star will take a short break in pre-season testing in Spain to attend the sold-out event on Friday, January 29 in the Ramada Plaza, Belfast.

Rea is a red-hot favourite to be crowned the 2015 Irish Motorcyclist of the Year among the 20 contenders from various disciplines of the sport.

Fans have voted in their thousands ahead of motorcycle racing’s glamour night, when the prestigious Joey Dunlop trophy - currently held by Michael Dunlop - will be presented over to the winner in association with the Enkalon club.

Ballyclare man Rea, who won 14 races as he dominated last year’s World Superbike Championship, said: “The Cornmarket Motorbike Awards are one of the highlights of the motorcycling year and to celebrate my world title at home is something I have been looking forward to for some time.

“My feet haven’t touched the ground since Christmas. I have been in Australia, Thailand and then going straight to Spain. It’s a hectic schedule but I wanted to make sure I was able to fly in for the awards.”

Other star names confirmed include fellow contenders Josh Elliott, Lee Johnston, Alastair Seeley and Andy Reid.

British Superbike riders Michael Laverty and Glenn Irwin plus Jeremy McWilliams, Ryan Farquhar and William Dunlop will also attend the glittering occasion.

A dozen awards will be presented, including IFS International Road Racer, JWA Team of the Year, Black Horse Short Circuit Rider and the special RPS Hall of Fame recognition.

Kawasaki UK Off road rider, RPS hall of fame, Noonan Services to Motorcycling, Digital Printing outstanding achievement, Belfast Telegraph best rider on UK and Ireland circuits, Greenlight Television special recognition, and the popular A.McClean Bookmakers race of the year.