Derek McGee won last years Supertwins race in the wet at the Ulster Grand Prix

Mullingar Missile Derek McGee has come to an agreement with John Burrows’ Cookstown B.E. Racing team to contest the Supertwins races at Armoy and the Ulster Grand Prix this summer.

McGee, who claimed his maiden international road racing success with a win in the Supertwins race at Dundrod last August, will ride a 650cc Kawasaki alongside the team’s regular rider, Derek Sheils, in the class at both events.

Last year’s top newcomer at the Isle of Man TT, McGee is riding under the Noel Williamson banner this season on a BMW Superstock machine in the Superbike class and also runs his own Yamaha R6 in the Supersport category.

McGee has also been competing in the 125cc class this year on the Joey’s Bar Honda and finished a close second behind Adam McLean in the wet at the Skerries 100 last weekend.

The quiet Irishman’s deal with Dungannon team owner Burrows offers him an excellent opportunity to defend his Ulster GP title next month on Burrows’ competitive Kawasaki ER6.

“I’m putting a Supertwin together for Derek McGee and he’ll be joining Derek Sheils in the class at Armoy and the Ulster Grand Prix,” said former road racer Burrows.

“Derek won the Supertwins race last year at the Ulster Grand Prix and he doesn’t lose too many races when he’s on one.

“Even last year at Armoy he pushed Ryan close and his bike wouldn’t have been up to the same level as the bike Ryan was running,” he added.

“There’s no doubt he’s a strong rider and I’m confident that Derek will do a good job for us at both races.”

Tragic Lancashire rider Malachi Mitchell-Thomas currently leads the Ulster Supertwins Championship ahead of the final round at Armoy on July 30 and Burrows hopes the 20-year-old, who was sadly killed in a crash in the second Supertwins race at the North West 200, will be crowned champion later this month.

“Malachi leads the Ulster Championship for us and Armoy hosts the final round.

“So depending on results there, Mal could be crowned champion and that would be very fitting for us,” he explained.

“I’m hoping that Mal stays on top of the championship because sadly he’ll never have another chance at becoming champion.”


Meanwhile, Dubliner Sheils will be in action for Burrows’ Dungannon team this weekend at the ‘Race of the South’ at Walderstown.

Sheils was narrowly beaten by 13-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop in the Open Superbike race at the Skerries 100 and will be among the favourites this weekend in Athlone on the Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike.

He is also set to ride the Cookstown B.E. Racing Honda Supersport and Supertwins machines.

Sheils will also compete on all three bikes at the Armoy ‘Race of Legends’ at the end of July.

He currently leads the Irish and Ulster Superbike Championships and has won on the big Suzuki at the Mid Antrim 150 and Cookstown 100 this year, bagging a brilliant double at the Orritor course in Co Tyrone.

Kyle White