Young Kerry motorcycle racer Kevin Coyne received help from some of the biggest names in world motorsport at last weekend’s HEL Performance British Junior Supersport Championship meeting at Snetterton.
Coyne, 18, is contesting the championship for 13 to 23-year olds, it is considered a feeder series to the main British SuperBike championship and this was his second meeting at this level.
Last month he made his championship debut at Donington Park and he is the first Kerry rider to commit to this class.
HEL Performance British Junior Supersport Championship races are run at the same meetings as the professional BSB series.
On Sunday, while preparing for his second race and stationery in the pitlane, his Kawasaki was hit from behind by another rider who was unaware that the road ahead was congested.
The incident damaged the gear lever and other parts of his race bike and it looked certain that he would not be able to make the start.
The mechanics from Paul Bird Motorsport Ducati spotted his plight and repaired his stricken machine just in time for the race start.
The mechanics should have been celebrating with their professional riders Tommy Bridewell and Christian Iddon who had just taken second and third in the main race of the day, but they stopped their journey to the podium to help the young Kerry rider.
Alan Irwin, father of top Irish rider Glen Irwin, who had just won the feature British SuperBike race, also helped Coyne as he made his way to watch his son’s victory celebration.
“We are so grateful,” his father Mark said, “Without their help, there is no way we would have started the race and they certainly had more important things to be doing with their riders on the podium. We can’t thank them enough.”
Their efforts were in vain, Coyne was forced to retire from the race after his bike suffered an electrical fault, an issue related to the pitlane incident.
However, he was running as high as 17th overall, well inside his target of a top 20 finish when he retired.
(picture credit: Knee Down Photography)
