An Ilkeston motorbike racer is preparing for one of the biggest events of his career as he continues his pursuit of a lifelong dream.
Twenty-nine-year-old Owen Monaghan will compete in this year’s Manx Grand Prix on the Isle of Man, taking on the same famous 37-mile Mountain Course used by the legendary Isle of Man TT.
For Owen, the TT has been the ultimate goal for as long as he can remember.
“I’ve wanted to race the TT since I was a kid. Everything I do is pointed at that,” he explains.
By day, Owen works for Royal Enfield. Outside of work, he spends countless hours building, maintaining and preparing race bikes while travelling across the country to compete at circuits throughout the UK.
His hard work and dedication have already brought success. In 2022, Owen won the East Midland Racing Association CB500 Championship and has since gone on to achieve strong results in road racing competition, including impressive performances at the Manx Grand Prix.
Unlike many professional racers, much of Owen’s journey has been self-funded. Supported by a small number of sponsors and a growing community of supporters, he has built his racing career through determination, hard work and a willingness to spend evenings and weekends in the workshop preparing his bikes.
This August, he will once again tackle the iconic Mountain Course as he continues working towards his long-term ambition of competing in the Isle of Man TT.
The course is regarded as one of the most challenging in motorsport, attracting competitors and fans from around the world.
As Owen prepares for the latest chapter in his racing journey, he will have the support of family, friends, sponsors and motorsport fans from Ilkeston behind him.
Everyone at Ilkeston News wishes Owen the very best of luck for this year’s Manx Grand Prix.
You can follow Owen’s progress here: https://owenmonaghanracing.co.uk/