Aug 19th – Dubai based Brit, Steve Blackney sets off today to complete a life long dream of racing the famous TT circuit at the Manx GP on the Isle of Man. Steve is better known in Dubai for his multiple Motocross titles, he holds nine Middle East Open Motocross Championship titles and has raced UAE Desert Challenge for the past ten years, with a best result of 10th in 1997.
As if that wasn’t enough he’s competed admirably the Australian Safari Rally in Aug 2007 with Gecko Team Honda. Recently Steve has changed terrain to circuit racing on asphalt rather than off road, and is also a regular competitor in UAE National Sportsbike Championship in Dubai, he has been preparing himself physically and mentally for over a year for this challenging race.
The IOM race was a dream borne by the many occasions which Steve, his dad and brother went to IOM for the TT.
“It’s something he’s always wanted to do so when he looked into it and realised that the GP was certainly more accessible than he TT he poured money, heart and soul into getting himself there this year.” commented excited fiance Dara
Steve racing at Dubai Autodrome March 2010- Image darren Rycroft - www.anysportphotos.com
Steve will be racing a fully prepped Yamaha R6 from ‘Ducks Cross racing’, from Bedford, a team regularly seen on the National Endurance Circuit in the UK. His team mate will be Grant Wagstaff who was at the Manx GP last year and was the first newcomer to hit a 113mph lap. Steve raced with the team at Cadwell Park and Oulton Park in UK in the National ACU Championships earlier this year, coming a respectable 9th and 7th.
Steve is joined in Isle of Man by his Dubai friends, off-road team mate and fellow motocrosser, Jason Socket and fiancé Dara McKenna. Steve and Dara are due to be married in just a few months and this will be Steves last major race before cruising down the isle(..somehow we doubt that Steve!)
Lending some fine elbow grease and expert road racing tips will be flying Scotsman from the UAE National Superbike series, Alan Boyter from the Vendetta Racing team alongside pit chef extraordinaire Jenny Stallings.
With no (little) time for partying, Steve will be hard at work over the next week practicing the course for the first big race on Aug 30th.
From all the team at www.CircuitproDigital.com we wish Steve the best of luck in his biggest challenge yet.
More info about the Manx GP and live timing updates can be found here:
Schedule – http://www.manxgrandprix.org/racepro.html
Manx GP Official sites – http://www.mgpfestival.com/
http://www.manxgrandprix.org/
Fast facts about Steve
