Top newcomers Jamie Coward and Pierre Yves Bian set for Armoy Road Races as Adam McLean confirms return

The popular Irish national meeting, which will take place on the challenging three-mile course in County Antrim from July 29-30, was officially launched in Portballintrae.

Coward was among the special guests along with Tobermore rider Adam McLean, Darryl Tweed from Ballymoney and Ballymena’s Neil Kernohan.

McLean missed the Isle of Man TT after parting company from the Cookstown-based McAdoo Racing team, but the 26-year-old will return on his own privately-funded Yamaha R6 at Armoy and is also set to compete in the Supertwin class.

Guy Martin is entered in the Classic Superbike race along with Coward and Phil Crowe, who shone on his debut at Armoy last year.

Yorkshireman Coward – this year’s top privateer at the Isle of Man TT – will ride a Yamaha R6 in the Supersport, Open and ‘Race of Legends’ events, and has also entered the new Classic Superbike race on a Kawasaki ZXR750, which is the same machine he will ride at the Manx Grand Prix in August.

The KTS by Steadplan Racing rider had a best result of fifth in the second Supersport race at the TT and remains Yamaha’s fastest ever rider around the Mountain Course, lapping at 130.398mph in the opening Superbike race.

“It’s going to be busy from now until the Manx Grand Prix,” said Coward.

“I’ve wanted to do Armoy for a while and Bill Kennedy (Clerk of Course) has done a great job promoting the event and bringing the right riders.

“I haven’t done a small Irish road race since I had a massive crash at the Tandragee in 2013, but this should be fun and I’m looking forward to it.

“I didn’t bother bringing the big bike because I’m a newcomer and we’ll just stick with the Supersport bike and see how we get on.

“I’m also taking out the Kawasaki ZX750 for a run before the Manx