October 12th 2006

Steve makes a welcome return to the Emerald Isle for Saturday’s Sunflower meeting at Bishopscourt. He will be riding the AIM Racing Yamaha R1 using the track time to familiarise himself with the bike prior to the Macau Grand Prix in November.

Steve is popular with the Irish racing fans having won both Superbike races at the North West 200 earlier in the year and is looking forward to meeting up with friends and fans on Saturday.

He rode the AIM Racing R6 earlier in the season when he deputised for the injured Chris Burns at the Thruxton and Oulton Park rounds of the British Supersport championship claiming a seventh place finish in each race.

Steve began his season with Dienza Performance in the British Superbike championship but switched teams to ride the JJL/UK Diggers Honda Fireblade until a crash at Mallory Park put him out for a while.

He then deputised for James Haydon at Rizla Suzuki for three rounds of the British Superbike series before heading off to France to join forces with Kawasaki France where he rode to a fantastic third place in the gruelling 24-hour Bol d’Or World Endurance race at Magny Cours.

Not content to sit back on his laurels Steve rode for MSS Discovery Kawasaki in the final round of the British Supersport championship at Brands Hatch on October 1 where, deputising for regular rider Pere Riba he brought the bike home in eighth place.

“I have never been to Bishopscourt before,” said Steve. “So I have no idea what the track layout is until I arrive for testing on Friday. I also have never ridden the AIM Racing Yamaha R1 before so we have a lot of work to do getting the bike suited to my riding style etc. I have been asked to do the Macau GP with AIM and so this weekend is an ideal time for me to get to know the team and my teammate Guy Martin and also familiarise myself with the bike.

“I am really looking forward to seeing all my fans in Ireland and hope to be able to produce a decent result for them.”