FORMER Irish road racer Leslie McMaster was left surprised and speechless after receiving replicas of trophies he won in the Isle of Man more than 20 years ago.

Leslie, a hugely popular road racer in the 1980s and early 90s, received a rapturous round of applause when he was called on stage at the recent Adelaide Racer Awards night in Belfast.

Due to financial constraints he only made the trip to the Isle of Man to tackle the Mountain Course once during his career - the Manx Grand Prix in 1989.

He earned two silver replicas - one for fourth place in the Newcomers' Lightweight Race and one for fifth in the Junior Manx Grand Prix.

Sadly he lost the treasured accolades in a house fire some years later.

However he was presented with two new reproductions of the special awards by event organiser Paul Lindsay who asked the Manx Motor Cycle Club to specially commission his old replicas.

Paul said: "Leslie only got to ride at the Isle of Man once, in 1989, at the Manx Grand Prix.

"He didn't have the money to keep going back and then eventually retired.

"He won two replicas but lost them some years later in a house fire and David Wood tried to get them back for him, but was never successful.

"I took it upon myself to try and get them back for him and approached the Manx Motor Cycle Club, who agreed to provide the two Silver Replicas which have been presented to Leslie at the awards night at the Ramada Hotel.

"Leslie is overwhelmed and the new replicas will take pride of place in his home and I am very grateful to the club for their generosity in agreeing to provide the unique silverware."