William Dunlop on the IC Racing Yamaha.

A Supersport race will be held for the third year in succession following Friday practice at the SGS International Armoy Road Races at the end of July.

First introduced to the Friday schedule in 2014, William Dunlop has proven the man to beat and the Ballymoney rider will again line up as the hot favourite on the IC Racing Yamaha.

Coleraine company First4Printing will sponsor the race on Friday, July 29 for the second successive year and Clerk of the Course, Bill Kennedy, said the addition of the race has been a huge hit with fans.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Chris Atchison and First4Printing for their continued support of the races, in particular the Supersport race.

“In 2014 we decided to run a race on the Friday after practice. This proved a great success and the Supersport race is now a firm fixture on the Friday evening and a great culmination to practice.

“The race sees the bigger bikes take to the Armoy roads for the very first competitive race and it sets the tone for Saturday,” 

he added.

“The race also contributes to our ‘Man of the Meeting’ Award, which also includes the second Supersport race on Saturday, the Open Race and the SGS International ‘Race of Legends’.

“We really are indebted to our sponsors who support us so we can continue to put on a fantastic event.”

Dunlop was among the special guests at the recent launch of the 2016 Armoy Road Races at the Bushmills Distillery, which are being held for the eighth year.

Kyle White