Deja Vu for Wylie Racing

Wylie Racing will continue into the 2016 race season with both riders being remaining on board. Speaking at a Press Launch on Saturday last, Team Owner Bob Wylie, a former competitor turned sponsor, will again run Kilmacrenans Richard Kerr and Antrims Christain Elkin in his blue and white liveried bikes in 2016.

For Antrims Bob Wylie, a former joiner by trade, this is just another shining example of Bobs interest in motorcycling. Bob has been involved in the sport for many years, sponsoring Steve Hazlett, when he won the Manx Grand Prix, and followed up with a podium at the IOM TT on his TT debut!

The team have also joined forces with Red Line Racing, headed by Nick Carpenter, who masterminded Stefan Deroue on his way to the 2015 British Championship victory. Carpenter also worked with Christain Elkin, when Elkin gave Carpenter his first Championship title riding for Team UK 1!

Christain Elkin, the current Irish and Ulster Supertwin champion,a former British 125 Champion, and past UGP Moto 3 winner, intends competing in all Irish championship short circuits, as well as his three favourite road races, Armoy, the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix.

For this season, Kerr will have the use of a very special machine, an ex Grand Prix machine in the form of a 2015 KTM RC250 MOTO3 as ridden by Jakub Kornfeil who finished 12th in the world championship, and scored a second place at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Last year was a learning curve for the former Irish moto 3 champion, but with sheer determination, on a bike which was visibly down on speed, 15 year old schoolboy, Kerr rode with the skill of a champion, taking a personal best of third at Cadwell Park, and 9th at Knockhill.

Richard feels that he has served his apprenticeship on the British Championship circuits, and feels, that with the right machinery and set up, he hopes to be able to make inroads on the top six riders and has set a personal goal of podium placings.

“R Kerr “Im Really looking forward to the season ahead ,My aim is to be running at the front and hopefully get podiums and maybe win races!.

It won’t be easy, theres a lot of quick guys my age and older , all with same frame of mind. I need to be giving 100percent all the time with myself and when I am riding the bike, I have been training hard over the winter, mountain biking, pit bike racing, etc. Im grateful to Bob for believing in me, and continuing his much valued support. The new KTM will be a new challenge for me,I know what the bike is capable of , so if the bike is running how it should be, then it’s down to me, the rider .

I admit it will probably take a wee while to get used to riding this new machine, but I am hoping that I can adapt to the Bob Wylie Racing KTM ok. My main target is to win a race this season”

Christain Elkin “ Its fantastic to have continued support from Bob, we go racing to enjoy ourselves, and I couldn’t ask for more. Budget outlay for 2016, means I will just be riding the Triumph this season, Circuits and selected road events for me in 2016”

Bob Wylie; Team Manager/Owner; “ Its great to have two riders who appreciate my support, Christain will continue to race the Triumph in all Irish championship short circuits and selected roads, and Richard, will have the use of an ex works KTM for the British Moto 3 Championship, Richard is a quality rider, and I just want to give him the best equipment possible”.

Both riders will be in action at Bishopscourt and Kirkistown for the Easter weekend meetings, Kerrs first outing in the British Championships, will be at Silverstone 8/10th April.