Roslea biker Andrew Brady joined some of the 'greats' in the world of motorcycling when he won the Newcomers Race in last Sunday's Isle of Man Grand Prix.

On Saturday week, practices started and continued for all of the following week. Andrew was fastest on two nights, thereby earning sixth place in the starting grid. The riders were then sent off, two at a time at ten second intervals, with Andrew in the third pairing.

From a standing start, he reached a speed of 116.8 mph, just two seconds outside the lap record but enough to bring him level and then pass out his main rival, Stephen McKnight, who was in the first pairing to be sent off.

"I caught up with him at Glenhellen, about six miles out and then went ten seconds ahead of him. He was the only one I was worried about."

Andrew was riding a 750 Susuki and was competing against a truly international field made up English, Scottish, Italian and French riders.

"Everything is going the best," he said this week on his return home. "That was one race I wanted to win. After I did that fast lap time, the rain started to come down, so the pace slowed down but I still had a one-minute lead at the finish for it meant I could coast home."

This Friday, he's off to Skerries for practice on Saturday and racing on Sunday. This is the last round of the Irish Championship in which he is lying fourth, three points behind William Dunlop.

"Ryan Farquahar is only three points behind me, so it's going to be tight."

On his return from the Isle of Man, Andrew raced in Dundalk, without a spare tyre and having left his tools on the Isle of Man, so he had no choice but to pull out of the Superbike race.