THE first Sam McBride Memorial Motocross Race, hosted by the Temple Motorcycle and Athletic Club at their Miller Oils Laurelbank track, will take place next Wednesday.
Sam was instrumental in securing ownership of the Laurelbank Race Track and loved nothing more than working on the site with his fellow club members.
A former chairman, clerk of the course and press officer of the Temple club, Sam never missed an event and enjoyed being involved in the running of the Temple 100 Road Race and motocross events.
He passed away in 2017, but his memory remains very much alive within the club, as well as the local motorcycling circles.
The Sam McBride TMCC Charitable Trust was responsible for securing a life-size granite replica of Brian Reid on board his 1992 TZ 250cc Yamaha motorcycle on the Temple Roundabout.
With a tribute to the Temple 100 Road Races in the adjacent car park, the monument was erected in September 2024 and has now become a familiar landmark and a permanent reminder of the Temple Motorcycle Club’s legacy.
Members hope the Sam McBride Memorial Motocross will become a prestigious event in its own right and hope to see a great turnout, with action taking place on May 20.
Race organisers are currently in preparation for the event and looking forward to every minute of it. The track has been posted and prepped with safety in mind, and the club is taking every step possible to ensure that racing at Laurelbank is something both riders and spectators look forward to.
The event will be an opportunity for riders to compete in both classic and open classes, and for supporters and spectators to enjoy an evening of adrenaline-fuelled motocross action, as some of the country’s finest riders compete to be the first name etched on the Sam McBride Memorial Trophy.
With entries already pouring in, it promises to be an evening for motocross fans of all ages to enjoy. The first race is at 6pm and under 16s go free.
