Tainan’s Roger Chen (羅傑陳) has quietly been making history on the far side of the world. He is the first and only Taiwanese to race a motorcycle in Ireland, competing regularly since 2015. Chen, who is the owner of Warhorse motorcycles, is now well-established in the Irish race paddocks where he is a popular addition.
In Ireland they race on public roads. The tracks are lined with trees and walls making it a highly dangerous sport. It’s not uncommon for a racer to lose their life while competing, yet, somehow the risk is part of the attraction. For the racers involved, the opportunity to flirt with danger in such a manner creates a high-octane addiction that keeps them coming back for more. Chen is no different.
However, for him there’s more to it than risk and danger.
Photo courtesy of Alastair McCook
As Chen prepared for his first race of the season, he told the Taipei Times:
“It’s not just the racing, it’s the culture here. The landscape, the people, the history; it’s very unique. Honestly, it’s a big honor to be back here and join this big family.”
Family is a word that Chen uses often when he speaks of the Irish racing community. The locals have embraced him and appreciate his efforts. Supporters and well-wishers follow his progress on Facebook where messages offering encouragement are not in short supply.
Photo: Ben McCook
Chen’s passion for road racing began over 40 years ago. As a 17-year-old, he picked up a motorcycle magazine that featured the races.
“This had a huge impact,” he said. “I realized that I had to do it in my lifetime, I saw it as the true challenge to the human limit.”
Thirty-four years later he finally realized that dream when he made his debut at the 2015 Cookstown “100” races.
Photo: Ben McCook
At that time direct flights from Taiwan to London were the norm. Post COVID, the trip now takes 30 hours and includes multiple stops. Despite the arduous journey, Chen returned once again this year to that same event.
“Honestly, I could not sleep last night” he said.
WARHORSE MOTORCYCLES
This year the Cookstown “100” celebrated its 100th anniversary. Keen to join in with the festivities, Chen gifted a motorbike manufactured by his own company to the race organizers as a token of his appreciation. It is the only Warhorse in existence outside of Taiwan and the gesture was well received.
Warhorse motorcycles is a relatively new Taiwanese motorcycle manufacturing company. Despite the company being in its infancy, he hopes the machines will be distributed throughout Europe in the near future. Perhaps one day he will race one on the roads of Ireland, however, that fantasy will have to wait as he slowly moves his business forward with “baby steps.”
Chen currently races a Yamaha which he hires in Ireland to compete in the Senior Classic category.
Shortly after talking to the Taipei Times, he took to the Cookstown circuit for qualifying. Things didn’t go so well as the bike developed an issue with the clutch and Chen qualified last for the following days race.
Thankfully the issue was resolved overnight and a determined Chen took to the start line with a point to prove. He steadily picked his way through the pack during the seven-lap race, eventually finishing in sixth position as the crowd waved and cheered in appreciation.
Of the race he said, “I’m grateful to the many fans, riders and teams. I have a super awesome team behind me. I am the last one from the start line but finished 6th… what a great race.”
The following weekend Chen should have raced again, this time at the Tandragee “100” road races. However, poor weather conditions caused the meeting to be abandoned.
“I don’t mind really,” he said philosophically. “All I care about is that the riders go home safe.”
Despite his business commitments and the travel issues that have arisen since COVID, expect to see Chen back in Northern Ireland to compete at the Armoy road races in July; his favorite event. At the age of 58 the Tainan City businessman-turned-racer shows little sign of slowing down any time soon.
Jason Han says that the e-arrival card spat between South Korea and Taiwan shows that Seoul is signaling adherence to its “one-China” policy, while Taiwan’s response reflects a reciprocal approach. “Attempts to alter the diplomatic status quo often lead to tit-for-tat responses,” the analyst on international affairs tells the Taipei Times, adding that Taiwan may become more cautious in its dealings with South Korea going forward. Taipei has called on Seoul to correct its electronic entry system, which currently lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan),” warning that reciprocal measures may follow if the wording is not changed before March 31. As of yesterday,
The Portuguese never established a presence on Taiwan, but they must have traded with the indigenous people because later traders reported that the locals referred to parts of deer using Portuguese words. What goods might the Portuguese have offered their indigenous trade partners? Among them must have been slaves, for the Portuguese dealt slaves across Asia. Though we often speak of “Portuguese” ships, imagining them as picturesque vessels manned by pointy-bearded Iberians, in Asia Portuguese shipping between local destinations was crewed by Asian seamen, with a handful of white or Eurasian officers. “Even the great carracks of 1,000-2,000 tons which plied
Nuclear power is getting a second look in Southeast Asia as countries prepare to meet surging energy demand as they vie for artificial intelligence-focused data centers. Several Southeast Asian nations are reviving mothballed nuclear plans and setting ambitious targets and nearly half of the region could, if they pursue those goals, have nuclear energy in the 2030s. Even countries without current plans have signaled their interest. Southeast Asia has never produced a single watt of nuclear energy, despite long-held atomic ambitions. But that may soon change as pressure mounts to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change, while meeting growing power needs. The
It’s only half the size of its more famous counterpart in Taipei, but the Botanical Garden of the National Museum of Nature Science (NMNS, 國立自然科學博物館植物園) is surely one of urban Taiwan’s most inviting green spaces. Covering 4.5 hectares immediately northeast of the government-run museum in Taichung’s North District (北區), the garden features more than 700 plant species, many of which are labeled in Chinese but not in English. Since its establishment in 1999, the site’s managers have done their best to replicate a number of native ecosystems, dividing the site into eight areas. The name of the Coral Atoll Zone might
RSS