MIKE Browne has inked a deal to remain with Burrows Engineering/RK Racing for 2022 as he plans a full-scale assault on the Irish national road races.
The Cork ace returns to John Burrows’ squad as its sole rider next season, when he’s set to make his debut at the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT.
And while he’ll be Burrows’ only roads rider this season, he won’t be alone in the team as the team owner’s young son Jack steps up to take on the Ulster SBK Moto3 ranks.
As the 11-year-old continues to cut his teeth on Northern Ireland’s short circuits as well as in the Irish Minibike Championship, with the aim of joining British Talent Cup grid in 2024 – a move delayed following recent minimum age changes – Cookstown 100 Superbike race winner Browne will hit the roads with a Superbike, Supersport and Moto3 machine at his disposal.
“John and the lads put so much work put into the bikes this year to get them to suit me,” Browne said. “We got them right towards the end of the year, got some decent results, and now we can go into next year with a bit of a head-start.
“The nervousness of riding a big bike has definitely gone and now the aim is to just try and get even faster on the Suzuki GSX-R1000 next year. That’s what I want to concentrate on in 2022 and I feel happy and well settled in the team, so everything is looking good and at the moment it seems as though we’ll be in for a busy season.
“John is keen to really put a big effort into me next year and he has put a lot of work into the bikes – any little thing I’ve suggested or asked for with the bikes he has gone above and beyond this year, so the bikes will be among the best on the grid. With a bit of luck we’ll have a lot of bike racing to do next year, which will be great after two years with very little action because of Covid.
“The Irish nationals are obviously a big focus for us as a team but the main event in 2022 will be the Isle of Man TT, because I won’t be expecting too much at the North West 200 or the Ulster Grand Prix, where I’ll be going as a newcomer. I’m just praying and hoping for a good, dry two weeks at the TT and my main aim will be to try and do a good job for the team over there.”
