After celebrating 20 years hosting Britain’s premier tin-top racing series, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, at the weekend. Knockhill looks to make yet more history this Sunday as reverse direction racing makes a return after almost two decades.
Regular reverse racing events used to take place at Knockhill right up until the early nineties. But apart from a single event in 1994, reverse direction racing has been missing from the Knockhill events calendar until this weekend.
The Event, almost 12 months in the making, will welcome Knockhill Motor Sports Club and Scottish Championship bike racing competitors to Scotland’s ‘newest’ race track. A 100K investment over the winter and a multitude of changes on and off track will finally bare fruit on Sunday 2nd September.
Events Director and Chairman of the Knockhill Motor Sports Club, Stuart Gray said:
“We are delighted to be hosting our first reverse direction meeting, after so many years this weekend. We have had numerous track days this year on the Reverse Circuit and it has proved to be a real hit across the board.
“It is a weird experience initially as the surroundings are so familiar, yet the track offers a completely different challenge for competitors.
“After a sizable investment, some major projects on and off track, we are finally ready to welcome reverse direction racing back to Knockhill on a permanent basis. I for one cannot wait for the weekend to come.”
Three times British Superbike Champion and MotoGP rider Niall Mackenzie commented:
“After a great reception from my reverse direction Superbike School, I know everyone will enjoy the first KMSC event on what is essentially a brand new Scottish Circuit. I raced (and won) back in 1982 riding the ‘wrong way round’ and loved the new challenges this exciting format delivers. We’ve had a great season of motorsport in Scotland this year so I’m looking forward to everyone enjoying yet another special weekend at Knockhill.”
Mackenzie, the Knockhill Club President, dovetails his commercial commitments down south with regular visits to Scotland to check on the Club, and indeed, the progression of Scottish bike racing as a whole. Mackenzie also hosts the popular Niall Mackenzie Superbike School at Knockhill, a full day bike track experience with expert advice from Niall and some of the UKs top racing stars including, John McGuinness (19 times TT winner) and Stuart Easton (Scottish British Superbike star).
The motorsport action will come thick and fast this Sunday with feature races for Scottish Superbikes, Scottish Superstock 600 and Scottish MiniTwin Championships. Elsewhere there will be plethora of racing talent on show in the Knockhill Clubman (starring Knockhill CEO Derek Butcher), Pre Injection 600, Formula 400, Formula 125 and Classic classes.
This event also marks the finale to the Knockhill Motor Sports Club Bike Racing Championship season. Champions will be crowned and some fantastic prizes will be won by the elite competitors in each class. Quite simply, it promises to be a monumental occasion for bike racing in Scotland.
Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance via the Knockhill website with pre-booking discounts available. Alternatively tickets can be purchased on the day at the Circuit with entry costs as follows:
Adults £12, Concessions £6, Family £30 and Kids under 12 go absolutely free.
All the action from this weekend will be shown exclusively on Motors TV a few weeks following the event.