Teenage prospect Jack Burrows makes history at Kirkistown after becoming youngest ever winner of Irish or Ulster Supersport race
Teenage prospect Jack Burrows made history on Saturday at Kirkistown in Co Down after becoming the youngest ever winner of an Irish or Ulster Supersport race on his competitive debut in the class.
The 16-year-old from Dungannon won the restarted second race by three tenths of a second from former British Supersport rider Adam Brown on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Yamaha.
Burrows took the chance to race at the Ulster Superbike meeting during a break from the Moto4 British Cup series.
He finished fourth in the first race and wrote his name into the history books with a hard-earned win in the second race, capitalising on some pivotal set-up changes to his Yamaha R6.
Third at the end of the first lap, the Co Tyrone rider bided his time before pouncing for the lead into the hairpin on the penultimate lap.
Burrows held his nerve on the final lap despite pressure from Brown and set the fastest lap of the race in 56.233s (96.797mph) to clinch a sensational victory.
Classified as a Supersport Cup rider because of his rookie status, Burrows – who qualified third – smashed the lap record for the class by 1.3 seconds.
Christian Elkin (Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing Ducati), who won the first race from Brown and Caolan Irwin (Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Suzuki), claimed the Crown Prince of Kirkistown title overall at the final round of the Belfast and District Club’s ‘Big3Series’.
Young gun Burrows, currently third in the British Moto4 Cup standings, said he was “absolutely buzzing” after his performance on Saturday.
“I am absolutely buzzing to have won a Supersport race on my first ever race day on a Supersport bike,” said Burrows.
“We came here as a bit of fun whilst there was a break in my British Moto4 season and I was quite strict with myself to just enjoy it, zero pressure and have a good time.
“In Race 1 I watched closely what the front three were doing and knew I had more in the tank, both from me and from the bike.
“Arny [Mark Arnold] from Motoshox advised a set-up for Race 2 that I knew from the warm-up lap was a lot better. I just felt strong from the get-go.
“To come here and win a Supersport race outright at my first attempt is crazy when I look at the huge pool of talent that has come from this country,” he added.
“To be the youngest ever is a record I am very proud of, and the lap time backs that up quite nicely too.”
Proud dad and team owner John, an accomplished former road racer, said it had been a “special” day.
“Jack has been wanting a shot on the Supersport bike ever since he turned 16, but we were both aware that the British Moto4 season was our priority, so we’ve waited for the right time,” he said.
“I don’t think any of us expected to turn up here and win first-time. I knew from the lap times Jack had been doing on track days that he wouldn’t be far away, but to do what he’s done today makes me a very proud dad.
“For now, our focus turns back to the British Moto4 season at our next round in Assen, but today was a very special day for Jack, the team and myself.”