THEY defy death between the ditches as they race at breakneck speeds of up to 160 m.p.h (even more on the faster circuits) on roads that were never intended for such antics. They are the motorcycle road racers, the originals of the daredevil species.
Tomorrow it all starts again with the opening of the "pure" road racing season, the Cookstown 100 over the seven-mile Sherrygroom circuit near Stewartstown, Co Tyrone.
They will be there from early morning, with thousands of fans taking up their vantage points before roads close at 10.30 a.m. It will be non-stop action, with practice at 11.00 and the first race at 1 p.m.
No doubt they will be behind Joey Dunlop, as the 45-year-old veteran takes to the roads once more in a remarkable career covering more than a quarter of a century. Dunlop is as motivated today as ever, even under big time pressure from Phillip McCallen, who will be making his first appearance for several years at the Co Tyrone circuit.
James Courtney, Alan Irwin, Phelim Owens, Dennis McCullough, Bob Jackson, David Goodley and Paul Cranston (double Cookstown winner last year) will all be on the pace.
The green light is on for the first Monaghan motor-cycle road races on September 21st/22nd. Racing will be over a 2.6-mile circuit at Glaslough, which is expected to be quite fast as it includes a 160 m.p.h straight. Monaghan County Council is already working to ensure that the roads will be in first-class condition for this final round of the 1996 Irish Championship.
Vernon Mount in Cork City is the venue for the weekend's second round of the Irish Motocross Championship. The third round will be at Red Bog, Blessington, on Sunday week. The entry for the Munster MC and CC's event includes all the leading points scorers in the championship: Experts: Brial Steele 54 points; Trevor Cubitt 47; Philip Neil 35; Semi-experts: Richard McKeown 57; Marty Nutt 52; Stephen McBride 36: Support: Hugh Ennis 57; David Jones 39; Keith Steenson 37.
Foyle MCC run the second round of the Irish Enduro Championship at Dungiven, Co Derry on Sunday. Ulsterman Paul McGuire, riding a Yamaha, leads the series from Dubliner Stanley Callaghan (KDI Kawasaki).
Ford Escort RS Cosworth drivers Eamon Boland (Wexford) and Belfast dentist John Gilleece will set the pace in Sunday's Castleblaney-based Monaghan Stages Rally, the third event of the National Rally Championship. Local drivers Maurice Moffett in an Escort G3 and Niall Maguire in an Opel Manta 400 will give hard chase under pressure from Micky McArdle and Kevin Barrett in two more Escort G3s. Gene Meegan is in a Toyota Celica GT4 with Group N contenders Eugene O'Donnell (Escort Cosworth) and Willie John Dolan (Subaru Impreza).
Robert Moffett will drive either a Metro 6R4 or a Subaru Legacy, PJ Woods is entered in a Sierra Cosworth, Seamus Leonard and Seamus Gallagher will run a pair of Honda Civics, and the battle for two-litre honours will no doubt see a fierce contest featuring Eugene Donnelly, Norman Armstrong, Joe McHugh, Robbie, Hamilton, Pat McCafferty and Trevor Speer in Escort Mk.2's and Sunbeam drivers Mac McKenna and Brian Murphy.
In addition to the National Championship, the Monaghan event is also a round of the Border Championship and as a result has attracted a capacity entry of 130. Paul Harris (Sierra Cosworth), Eamonn McAleenan (Escort Cosworth) and Eugene Donnelly (Manta 400) are on the reserve list, hoping for a late call.
The 3x3 stages locations are Ward's Cross, Tasson and Ardaghey, with service on the Monaghan-Dublin road.
Championship points standings after two rounds show Stephen Murphy on a maximum score of 40 points. Eamonn Boland is second on 36 and Ed Synan third on 23.
