Irish Road Racing Gets Inspirational Boost as New NI Team Launches with Julian Trummer Aboard Kawasaki
Ardee News and Sport – Irish Road Racing Gets Inspirational Boost as New NI Team Launches with Julian Trummer Aboard Kawasaki
The Irish road racing scene has been given a powerful and emotional injection of passion and purpose with the launch of Northern Ireland’s newest road racing team, spearheaded by cancer survivor Dwayne McCracken and fronted by Austrian rider Julian Trummer.
Unveiled in a special launch event at Hinch Distillery in Lisburn on Friday evening, the team revealed the striking Kawasaki ZX-10RR that Trummer will pilot at this year’s North West 200 and Isle of Man TT. The event offered an inspiring glimpse into both the sporting ambitions and deeply personal journey behind the team’s formation.
Team owner McCracken, from Bangor, was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in 2023 and given just six months to live. Against all odds, he has battled through treatment and is now channelling his resilience and love for the sport into building a competitive new outfit.
“This has given me a real purpose again,” McCracken said. “We’re not just turning up to take part – we want to be competitive, and a top ten at the North West and TT is our target.”
The team is backed by new title sponsor Legacy Resources, a security and risk management firm stepping into the road racing world for the first time. In addition to chasing results, the team has set its sights on raising vital funds for pancreatic cancer research — a cause close to McCracken’s heart.
Julian Trummer, already the fastest mainland European rider ever around the legendary 37.73-mile Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, is aiming to smash the 130mph lap mark this year.
“I know I’m capable of doing it,” said Trummer. “Last year I was on for a high 129mph lap but lost time due to a yellow flag. The 130mph mark is a goal now, but most of all I want to aim for a top seven finish. That’s the next step.”
Trummer, who previously rode for Jackson Racing, will make his competitive debut with the new squad at the Easter Ulster Superbike meetings at Bishopscourt and Kirkistown. The team’s busy 2025 schedule includes the Cookstown 100, Tandragee 100, North West 200, Isle of Man TT, and Armoy Road Races.
McCracken, a seasoned paddock presence who’s worked with top riders including TT legend Paul Jordan, is grateful for the support received so far: “It’s been humbling. People have come out of the woodwork to help, and I think that says a lot about the spirit of Irish road racing.”
The combination of racing ambition and heartfelt motivation ensures this new team will be one to watch — both on the roads and in the hearts of fans.
