LOCAL motorcycle racer Simon Beck has shaken off the memory of his disastrous '96 season when an injury sidelined home for most of the year, and is enjoying the most successful time of his nine-year career.

Born and bred in Preston, he specialises in pure road racing, competing on public road circuits, such as the famed Isle of Man TT races and many Irish events - his most recent success being at the Ulster Grand Prix where he won one of the superbike races on his Kawasaki ZX-7RR.

"I really wanted to win at Ulster - it's my fifth year of trying!" he explained.

"In the first race one was fourth until halted by a minor problem, but in race two, held in pouring rain, I won with an eight second lead and recorded the fastest lap."

Simon came so close to achieving his ambition of a TT win in June, only to run out of fuel while holding second in the Formula 1 event.

However, such disappointment has since been offset by a host of top three places on his Kawasaki, including wins at both Scarborough and the Southern 100.

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