Kirk McCarthy

Kirk Richard McCarthy (born 18 November, 1966; died 15 August, 2004) was an Australian motorcycle road racer who competed in several major championships both at home and internationally. He was killed in an Australian Superbike Championship race at Queensland Raceway in 2004 [http://www.ma.org.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=News5&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2580] .

McCarthy began racing in the Australian Superbike Championship in 1992, for the Ansett Suzuki team. In 1994 he joined the crack Winfield Honda team, and went on to win the 1995 title.

This earnt him a factory World Superbike Championship ride with Suzuki for 1996, finishing 13th overall without a podium [http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/result.php#] . He contested the 1997 500cc World Championship on a Red Bull Yamaha [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/19/1092889268401.html?from=storylhs] , (with a best result of 12th and best grid position of 18th) and the 1998 World Supersport series (one step below World Superbike, with less powerful machines) on a Castrol Honda.

A year in the German Superbike Championship for Suzuki, and two years back with Castrol Honda but in the British Supersport Championship, followed. In 2002 he won the AMA Pro Thunder series on a Ducati (having initially entered the season-opener as a one-off rider) [http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49977] , before he returned to Australia, running his family's farm alongside his racing commitments. He was 7th overall in the Australian Superbike Championship in 2003.

Legacy

In conjunction with a number of industry partners, his family has established an award program to assist young riders in contesting future Australian Superbike Championship (ASC) seasons.

Each year, one rider will be selected to receive the Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award, which will be in in the form of financial and product support to contest the following year's ASC. The award is open to riders in all ASC classes.

A perpetual trophy will be awarded to the recipient, who will also receive a replica of the trophy at the annual ASC presentation dinner.

Persondata
NAME= McCarthy, Kirk
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian Motorcycle Road Racer
DATE OF BIRTH=1966
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=2004
PLACE OF DEATH=