1981-1991

Moira Motorcycle Racing Club was formed back in February 1981 when a small group of enthusiasts got together and purchased a 125cc Honda Motorcycle. Over the years we have updated and bought various bikes that our finances have allowed us. The Club has had their fair share of riders coming and going through our doors over the years. Peter Baxter was the first rider for the club back in 1981 on the 125cc Honda. John Douglas replaced Peter using the same machine the following year.

In 1983 we started to win a few races on the short circuit scene in Ireland, with Woolsey Coulter riding for his second year. Woolsey moved on to race in England and Europe. Eddie Roberts, a very experienced ex-works rider from England took his place riding our specially built 250cc called a Kimoco which was featured on T.V. at the time. On only it's second outing, Eddie won the 250cc at the famous 'North West 200 Road Races' and 3rd at the world famous 250cc 'Isle of Man T.T. Races' behind the two Hondas of the late Joey Dunlop and Steven Cull. When Eddie retired at the end of 1985 we asked Geoff McConnell to ride and boy was he pleased.

During Geoff's term as club rider we purchased the 250cc Honda that had won the Isle of Man T.T. in 1986, with this and the clubs 350cc Yamaha, we won 6 championships out of 7. The 7th was The Embassy sponsored series for machines upto 1000cc were we finished 2nd. The Club then purchased the 500cc Suzuki that won the Embassy series. Following some excellent results and major wins. Sadly Geoff was involved in an accident which ended his racing career.

In 1989 Michael Swann the 500cc Road Race Champion rode the Suzuki for the Club, beating the new 750cc Honda's in several races. In 1990 we bought an ex- Steve Hislop T.T. winning 750cc RC30 Honda. Michael had decided not to contend anymore in road racing and stayed with the short circuits. Following many wins it felt that we needed to return to both area's of racing, the road's and short circuits for our sponsors and our own investment.

So in 1991 an internationally respected Yorkshire man, (Dave Leach) came to ride for us. We bought a brand new 250cc Yamaha costing £12,000 along with 5 Mitsui Yamaha (works bikes) that Dave gave to the club, this had to be the highest profile to date for the clubs history. At the end of 1991 Dave withdrew from 250cc racing with at least 4 races per meeting it was too demanding.