Kirk McCarthy explained

Kirk McCarthy should not be confused with Kirk McCarty.

Kirk McCarthy
Nationality: Australian
Birth Date:18 November 1966
Sbk Active Years:1992, 1994–1996, 1999
Sbk Manufacturers:Suzuki, Honda
Sbk Race Starts:35
Sbk Race Wins:0
Sbk Podiums:0
Sbk Poles:0
Sbk Fastest Laps:0
Sbk Total Points:52
Sbk Last Season:1999
Sbk Last Position:N/C
Gp Active Years:1997
Gp Teams:Yamaha
Gp Race Starts:15
Gp Championships:0
Gp Race Wins:0
Gp Podiums:0
Gp Total Points:20
Gp Poles:0
Gp Fastest Laps:0
Ss Active Years:1998
Ss Manufacturers:Honda
Ss Race Starts:5
Ss Race Wins:0
Ss Podiums:0
Ss Poles:0
Ss Fastest Laps:0
Ss Total Points:3
Ss Last Season:1998
Ss Last Position:44th (3 pts)

Kirk Richard McCarthy (18 November 1966 – 15 August 2004), in Melbourne Victoria, Australia, 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.[1]

Superbikes

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 earned him a factory Superbike World Championship ride with Suzuki for 1996, finishing 13th overall without a podium.[2] In 1998 he did five Supersport World Championship race's (one step below World Superbike, with less powerful machines) on a Castrol Honda finishing only one race in the points.

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),[3] 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.

Grand Prix

He contested the 1997 500cc World Championship on a Red Bull Yamaha,[4] (with a best result of 12th and best grid position of 18th)

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 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.

Career results

Grand Prix

YearClassTeamMachine123456789101112131415PointsRank
1997500ccWorld Championship MotorsportsROC-YamahaMAL
Ret
JPN
16
ESP
15
ITA
14
AUT
17
FRA
Ret
NED
Ret
IMO
15
2021st
Red Bull Yamaha WCMYamaha YZR500GER
15
BRA
12
GBR
12
CZE
Ret
CAT
13
INA
15
AUS
13

World Superbike Championship

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearMake12345678910111213PosPts
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
1992SuzukiGBRGERITA1MALJPNNEDITA2AUS
AUS
NZL75th1
1994HondaGBR1GERINDINDJPNNEDITAGBR2AUS
AUS
29th21
1995HondaGERITASPAEURNEDINDINDAUS
AUS
33rd8
1996SuzukiRSM
RSM
GBR
GBR
GER
GER
ITA
ITA
CZH
CZH
USA
USA
EUR
EUR
IND
IND
JPN
JPN
NED
NED
SPA
SPA
AUS
AUS
20th22
1999SuzukiSPAITA
ITA
GER1
GER1
RSMUSAGER2JAPJAPNC0

Supersport World Championship

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Motorcycling Australia . 18 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080731005058/http://www.ma.org.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=News5&Template=%2FCM%2FHTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2580 . 31 July 2008 . dead .
  2. Web site: worldsbk.com . 10 July 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080511182149/http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/result.php . 11 May 2008 . dead .
  3. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49977 ADV Rider
  4. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/19/1092889268401.html?from=storylhs The Age 19 August 2004