The 2009 Irish Superbike Championships makes a welcome return to Kirkistown in County Down on July 14th, with the Killinchy & District, and Road Racing Club of Ireland Motorcycle Clubs,  dueling up to take over rounds 14 & 15 which where cancelled earlier in the year.

With this meeting taking place during the local holiday week, it is expected that a bumper crowd will converge on the Ards Peninsula circuit for what should be another day of high speed action.

At the half way stage, the Championship positions are starting to close up at the top, with the Supersport 600 and Irish Racer Superbike class's looking like going to the wire.

125GP Class:

After the last round at Bishopscourt, where only one of the scheduled two 125GP Races were run, Belfast's Mark Lunney extended his lead over Robert English and Drew Jamison, with Lunneys lead now 88pts over Ahoghill rider Robert English.    Ballymoneys Paul Robinson took the win at Bishopscourt and is making a late charge up the table, and could well prove to be a thorn in the leaders side as the year progresses.  Out of the twelve races run, Mark Lunney has notched up ten race wins.

Standings:   Mark Lunney = 270   Robert English = 182   Drew Jamison = 125

125GP Clubmans Class:

As expected, Ahoghills Robert English on the Stiff Kitten Honda, with nine race wins, has opened up a healthy lead over new second place man, Aaron McMillan.  With a massive 125pts lead over McMillan, it looks like the title may be going to the village of Ahoghill at the end of the year.  Carrickfergus rider Andrew Irwin is one point behind McMillan with this trio setting the pace in the 125GP Clubmans class.

Standings:  Robert English = 275   Aaron McMillan = 150   Andrew Irwin = 149

250GP Class:

Mark Lunney is making the 250GP Class all his own, with ten race wins giving the stylish Lunney a grand lead of 85pts over Ballynahinch rider David Craig.  With another double under Lunneys belt at the last round, it is beginning to look like the Belfast rider could top both the 2 stroke Irish Championship class's in 2009.   Craig on the other hand would need to be looking over his shoulder as he is being caught by Kildare rider Thomas Lawlor, with just ten points separating second from third.  Celbridge rider Ronan Shanahan is still in the hunt, albeit a further 24pts back on Lawlor.

Standings:  Mark Lunney = 250   David Craig = 165   Thomas Lawlor = 155

Isaac Agnew Van Centre 650cc Supertwins Class:

This is turning out to be one of the most hotly contested class's to hit the Irish Short circuit Championships, with no-less than five riders all scrapping at the top of the table for the 2009 title.    Ballyclare rider Lee Hill with seven race wins to his credit, has opened up a bit of a gap after his double success at Bishopscopurt at the beginning of the month.  He has placed a 39pt gap between himself and David Craig from Ballynahinch with 45pts then just between second place and fifth.   Dublin's Gary Matthews holds onto third place, just nine points clear of Co-Clare rider Keith Meere, and Coleraine's Malcolm McKinney.

Standings:  Lee Hill = 256   David Craig = 217   Gary Matthews = 183

Supersport 400cc Class:

The Supersport 400cc Class seems to be a head to head now between Emmett O'Grady from Ballymacelligott and Joesph Loughlin from Castleblaney.   With eight wins under his belt, O'Grady leads the way from Loughlin with a 64pt lead, with O'Grady taking great benifit from his last outing when he scored a double at Bishopscourt.   Ballyclares Michael McKinley just hangs in there in third place 34pts down on Loughlin.

Standings:  Emmett O'Grady = 276   Joesph Loughlin = 212   Michael McKinley = 177

Supersport 600 Class:

A disappointing run at Bishopscourt for Mark Lunney saw the Belfast rider just manage to hold onto his now slender lead over new second place rider Glenn Irwin who is putting in a hot challenge for the title.  With Lunney taking no points in the last round, it was left to Irwin to take a brace of wins, with Lunneys only consolation being that race one was only awarded half points.     Irwin, now only 19pts behind Lunney, should really have been seven points adrift only for the half point rule.   Corks Delcan Swanton keeps his hunt alive in third place with the popular Swanton just twelve points behind Irwin.

Standings:  Mark Lunney = 177   Glenn Irwin = 158.5   Declan Swanton = 146.5

Supersport 600 Cup Class:

Its hardly surprising that the top three in the Supersport 600 Cup Class are regarded as the stars of tomorrow with Dunadry rider Johnny Buckley holding tight at the top with three race wins to his credit.   But its that man Glenn Irwin from Carrickfergus who is making the biggest move, with eight wins now firmly under his belt, putting him just 7.5pts behind Buckley.  Skerries rider Michael Sweeny with two race wins is still in the hunt, a further 57pts behind Irwin, with Irwin and Sweeny now wondering who would have been on top only for both riders suffering early season injuries in this class.

Standings:  Johnny Buckley = 241   Glen Irwin = 233.5   Michael Sweeny = 176.5

Irish Racer Magizine Irish Superbike Class:

One of the closest Irish Superbike Championships is starting to take shape with 7.5 points all that splits the top three.   Randlestown rider Gerard Kingham leads the way, but is coming under severe pressure from Coleraine pairing of James Dickson and Mark Johnson.   Dickson trails Kingham by 5.5pts while Johnston sits a further 2pts behind Dickson, leaving this wide open.   Dickson is certainly the man on the move, with reports that he may be in new team colours come July 14th.   However, all three could see their hopes of maximum championship points dashed at Kirkistown, should Australian Cameron Donald take to the starting grid.   He along with Alastair Seeley may, come under starters orders next month, with Seeley sitting on 100pts from four starts and four race wins in this years Championship chase.

Standings:  Gerard Kingham = 165.5   James Dickson = 160   Mark Johnson = 158.5

Irish Superbike Cup Class:

Ballyclare rider Richard Rea is following in his brother Johnny's shoes as a Superbike star, with Richard leading the ISB Cup Class with six race wins and an 80pts lead over Michael Sweeney.   Rea, who looks set to take this championship class has taken to the bike bike class like a duck to water, and is moving in the right direction for future stardom.

Standings:  Richard Rea = 246.5   Michael Sweeny = 165   Malcolm McKinley = 116.5

Irish Sidecar Championship Class:

Dylan and Derek Lynch still top the board in the Sidecar class with five race wins, but are being caught by Newtownards pairing of George Kennedy and Colin Smyth.  Another Newtownards pairing of Alex Johnson and Kyle Graham move into the top three after solid results at the last round in Bishopscourt.

Standings:  Lynch/Lynch = 237   Kennedy/Smyth = 205   Johnson/Graham = 155

*Full championship points will be made available within the next week.

Picture:   Irish Superbike championship leader Gerard Kingham and Richard Rea