Magherafelt’s Paul Jordan will ride for Gearlink Kawasaki in the Supersport 600 races at the Vauxhall International North West 200 as part of a team tribute to Scottish competitor Mark Buckley, who was killed at the event in 2012.

Mr Buckley, who lost his life in the Superstock race following a horror crash at Millbank, was entered in the Supersport races on the Gearlink ZX-6R last year.

Alastair Seeley is part of the British championship team this year and is among the top contenders for victory at the North West, where Jordan will carry the No.33 plate in the 600cc races - the preferred racing number of Loch Lomond man Buckley.


Jordan is entered in the Supersport class under the Gearlink Limited Buckley Racing banner and will have full support from the Kawasaki team, with British Supersport rider Ben Wilson’s crew chief in his corner.

Former team manager Harry Corbett, who has been instrumental in organising the deal, told the News Letter: “I spoke to Michael de Bidaph [Gearlink Kawasaki team owner] a few months ago to see if he would be interested in running a second bike in Mark’s memory.

“Mark’s dad Jimmy and his wife both agreed and everyone was keen on the idea, so Gearlink will run Paul Jordan on a second bike and he will have the team’s full support, with an engine identical to Alastair Seeley’s.

“Paul will test the bike at Nutts Corner on Monday and it will be a nice tribute to see it out there with the No.33 plate at the North West 200 in Tuesday’s practice.”




Kyle White
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