The Easter weekend saw Crumlin rider Stephen Thompson complete a successful warm-up for the 2008 season, with outings at both Bishopscourt and Kirkistown on the T&R Motorsports Suzuki and the Sloan Developments Honda Fireblade. Thompson’s plans for making the events was thrown in doubt earlier in the month when he was forced to spend a number of days in hospital after being diagnosed with kidney stones.

This meant that the Easter Saturday Enkalon Trophy race at Bishopscourt was only Stephen’s second time on a bike since November’s Macau Grand Prix, following a midweek test at Kirkistown, and he admits to not pushing hard, retiring after only a few laps in each of the superbike races.

Monday’s Irish Superbike races at Kirkistown got off to a better start, with Stephen qualifying in 12^th on his first run on the Sloan Developments Honda he will campaign on the roads this season. A good start saw him make up six places on the first lap, and he was sitting comfortably in sixth when the red flags went out, calling an early end to the race and in fact the day.

Thompson has a busy week coming, with Tuesday seeing him jet off to France for the official World Endurance Championship test at Le Mans, then immediately back to Brands Hatch for the opening British Superbike round, where he will ride the T&R Motorsport Yamaha in the National Superstock championship.

Stephen Thompson: “I’m really glad to get back on a bike, although Saturday, wasn’t the best possible start, as I was feeling really sick after picking up a cold testing at Kirkistown! But Monday was great – the new bike felt really good, and I was getting up the field without pushing too hard when the red flags went out. I’d like to thank Ronald at Sloan Developments for giving me the bike at short notice for the meeting, and can’t wait to get back on it for the North West 200!”

Stephen’s 2007 Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike is for sale – anyone interested can get in touch on 07767270883

Image by Stephen Davison, Pacemaker Press International.