January

'Bardsea Bike Night' organiser Neil Mc Dougall relocated the popular monthly gatherings from the Bardsea Malt Kiln to Pennington Memorial Hall following complaints from just one Bardsea resident despite raising funds for the Air Ambulance services.

February

The Westmorland Motor Club announced the revival of the Barbon Speed Hillclimb for motorcycles.

While the course had been in use since 1950, the last motorcycle event was held in there in 2011 when local TT stars Dan Stewart and John McGuinness were amongst the competitors.

March

Barrow businessman and team owner Graham Wilcock re-signed 2017 Senior Manx GP winner Mikey Evans for this years TT.

Long term sponsor and friend of local TT Star Dan Stewart, Graham provided three machines for their assault on the races.

They also competed at the pre-TT classic event at Castletown in May, the Southern 100 races at Castletown in July and the Classic TT in August

April

Barrow road racer Danny Shaw returned to form by taking four wins at the first round of the 'No Limits' series on the Donington Park circuit.

He'd been plagued with injuries during the previous three seasons, which included breaking his arms no less than three times. It was good to see Danny and the Freelance Mechanics-supplied Ducati back on form.

May

Former champion and now a veteran trials rider Nigel Birkett, from Broughton, showed he'd lost none of the skills that made him a champion.

He finished in his 47th consecutive Scottish Six Day trial, in which riders have to cover a gruelling 100 miles per day through Scottish moorland, forests, and streams to receive a first class award.

June

Ireleth schoolboy Jamie Keith continued to show the form that gained him the World Mini Bike Motocross Championship, as he dominated the fifth and sixth rounds of the Cumbria Motocross Clubs Championships held on the Route 44 track at Haverigg.

He netted six wins from his six races on his Urban Extreme/MBR Racing prepared 65cc KTM. He also picked up six 'holeshot' awards for being the first rider to the first corner in each race.

July

The 2013 Manx Grand Prix winner, Silecroft's Alistair Howarth, who is readily accepted as one of the leading 400cc machine riders in the country, sustained serious leg injuries when his throttle stuck open whilst competing in the Skerries Road Races near Dublin.

The injuries effectively curtailed his racing for the rest of the year. Only last year, Irish road racing star William Dunlop lost his life while competing on the same circuit.

August

Dalton`s Greg Fisher had built up an unassailable lead in the Bridgestone Masters British Motocross Championships on his Kawasaki at the latest round at Whitby.

He followed that up with even more successes and went on to win the championship by a huge margin. Soon afterwards he announced he'd be contesting the prestigious Acerbis National Motocross Championships next year alongside former TT star Dan Stewart and Barrow's Dee Jay Walker.

September

Despite frequent rain showers, competitors at the Leighton Hall Speed Hillclimb for motorcycles put on a great display of racing for spectators.

Classic Bike champion Geoff Hadwin, from Askam, again proved fastest in the 250cc events, whilst Sid Ormrod from nearby Silverdale easily won a poorly-supported three wheeler class.

October

Furness classic bike enthusiasts Mark Newsome from Dalton and Pete Walker from Stainton travelled to northern Spain to ride in the Columbres Classic Motorcycle Rally.

Mark, armed with a beautifully restored 500cc Velocette, and Peter, with his 650cc Triumph, completed the five-day rally covering 150 miles per day around the Picos Des Europe and the Caspian sea.

November

Barrow rider Dee Jay Walker clinched the Cumbria Motocross Club's 'A' Championship at Haverigg on his 250cc Yamaha, despite competing with larger capacity machines.

It was a fitting end to the season for Walker, who has been fraught with injuries for the last two years and had recently become a dad.

December

After the final standings were published, Ulverston drag bike racer Dave 'Rocket' Peters finishes a disappointing third in the ACU Funny Bike Drag Racing Championship after a season of irritating mechanical issues and postponed events due to the weather.

Despite hours of preparation, his 600 BHP turbo charged nitrous oxide burning Suzuki caught fire, developed an intermittent misfire, dropped a valve and split the exhaust.

Dave and his crew have already rectified the faults and are planning another assault on the title next season.