Teenage sensation prepares for battle

Pic: moto-racer.com
By Carly Rathmell
May 5 2004

Langley Mill based Kieran Clarke will undertake his biggest challenge to date this weekend. It’s the first round of the British Superbike championship at Silverstone circuit on Sunday 28th March.

Kieran, at only 18-years-old, has secured himself a ride with the Keighley based Colin Appleyard British Superbike team. Running on factory R1 Yamahas throughout the year, Kieran will undertake a new venture in his already successful career.

He started riding competitively at the age of seven, and gained many British Motocross Championship titles. A spate of serious injuries forced Kieran to hang up his motocross boots and focus himself in the new direction of road racing. In 2002 Kieran competed in six rounds of the British Junior Superstock series, fighting tough battles and securing valuable results.

In 2003 Kieran completed his first full season on a road bike, contesting the fiercely competitive Yamaha R6 Cup - a series set up by Virgin Team Manager Rob McElnea. Each rider competed on a standard R6 Yamaha, and the series was targeted at riders aged between 18 and 22.

Kieran’s confidence and skills grew stronger and stronger throughout the year, and this was very evident in the results he was gaining as the season progressed. His first win came at the Rockingham Motor Speedway circuit at the beginning of July.

Named as one of the best races of the year, Kieran truly came into his element. Looking smooth and confident, Kieran made a point of making the win his. His first success at Rockingham gave Kieran a taste for winning and made him more eager to go out and do it again. Looking strong and determined he headed to Donington Park.

The races were being run alongside the Donington MotoGP in July, in front of a massive crowd of 80,000 people. In scorching temperatures, Kieran dominated both the races. He fought two tough battles but gained an impressive lead in both races. Never stepping off the podium in any of the last races, Kieran managed to finish third overall in the championship - a very healthy position for his first full year as a road racer - and was named by Rob McElnea as the smoothest R6 Cup rider out on track.

Kieran’s good year didn’t finish there. In December he was named as the ACU Academy Rider of the Year - an achievement that was a credit to how he had ridden over the past season.

Kieran Clarke, Team Colin Appleyard, Yamaha YZF-R1

2004 brings a new task for Kieran and his team as he prepares himself for the big step into the fiercely competitive British Superbike championship. Labelled as one of the toughest national championships in the world, it has produced recent World Champions Neil Hodgson and Troy Bayliss. Kieran is eager to be a part of this stunning series.

Gaining support from Hydrex, Black Horse, Shell, Heanor Haulage, Furygan Leathers, OGK Helmets, Oxstar Boots and Poole Motorcycles, Kieran is keen to ensure he does the best possible job for his team and his sponsors in 2004.

Kieran will be competing in a championship, which has seen a massive spectator growth in recent years. It is becoming ever popular within media circles with live showing on Sky Sports for each race, plus highlights the following week on terrestrial BBC. Plus national coverage in the seven specific motorcycle magazines, the weekly newspaper Motor Cycle News, local and national papers are also provided with full race reports of Kieran’s progress.

The British Superbike championship is now being pushed into the public’s faces, and is proving to be one of the best ways to promote a product. Adding to those, full updates on Kieran’s website www.kieranclarke.com will ensure everyone is thoroughly up to date at all times.

His race dates for 2004 are as follows:
26-28 March, Silverstone
10-12 April, Brands Hatch
23-25 April, Snetterton
1-3 May, Oulton Park
21-23 May, Mondello Park, Ireland
4-6 June, Thruxton
18-20 June, Brands Hatch
2-4 July, Knockhill, Scotland
16-18 July, Mallory Park
13-15 August, Croft
28-30 August, Cadwell Park
10-12 September, Oulton Park
17-19 September, Donington Park