The next round of the KMSC Scottish Bike Championship racing will not be like any other ever seen in the 15-year history of the Club. The 120 plus entry of racers will be joined by some of the icons of bike sport with the return of the REWIND FESTIVAL on Sunday 28th May, making it a truly special and memorable event for all.
Returning after a 3 year break because of the pandemic, the REWIND FESTIVAL at Knockhill on Sunday 28th May celebrates racing and road bikes from the 70s, 80s and 90s. This year, however, we are joined by a galaxy of stars with 4 times Vice-World Champion Randy Mamola will be heading the line up which includes American legend John “Hopper” Hopkins, 3 times British Superbike Champion and ex-GP rider Niall Mackenzie and rising Moto2 star Rory Skinner from Perth.
Mamola was runner-up in the Grand Prix Championship in 1989, ’81, ’84 and ’87, winning 13 GP500s, two of which were on board a factory Suzuki XR34 500 two stroke which will be on display, and which will be ridden by Randy track at Knockhill next Sunday. The same motorcycle took Mick Grant to an IOM TT victory in the same period both of the race bikes having been loaned to Knockhill by Team Classic Suzuki. Team Classic Suzuki’s very own factory mechanic Paul Boulton will be looking after both motorcycles.
John Hopkins has competed in the MotoGP World Championship, World Superbike Championship, and on his last visit to Knockhill, he was competing in the British Superbikes Championship. Hopkins has now turned his focus to running a Moto2 team in the world championship and his team, American Racing, signed 21-year-old Rory Skinner from Perth. John will be riding an ex Steve Parrish Suzuki RG500 which will also be on display when not on the track. Rory made his debut at a Knockhill KMSC event as an 11-year-old when the management team at the Fife Circuit managed to get dispensation for him to race from 11, rather than the normal 12 years old. Since then, Rory rise to stardom has been meteoric and now competes in the second highest level of bike sport in the world, Moto2, just one level below MotoGP.
The lineup of megastars is completed with Niall Mackenzie, the 3 times British Superbike champion. Originally from Denny near Stirling, Niall is an icon in his own right and his ties with the Circuit go back to the start of his career when he made his debut on a Yamaha RD350 LC. After decades of success around the world, Niall became President of the Knockhill Motor Sports Club after its creation. Niall is a frequent visitor as he runs his Niall Mackenzie Superbike Track Days at Knockhill and is a strong supporter of developing future young riders.
All four stars will be on track too, they will ride period race bikes during parades and demos, and there will be an impressive display of road and race bikes from the 70s, 80s and 90s for the race fans to admire. These bikes include Grand Prix bikes, TT winning bikes and others that have won numerous championships across Britain, Europe and the World.
The Rewind festival will feature a living show of classic race bikes, some of which will be demonstrated during the parade sessions on Sunday.
The full Scottish Championship meeting, and the Rewind Festival, starts at 9am on Sunday 28th May, with tickets and event information on www.knockhill.com/events with tickets available online or at the gate on the day.