Sheils shines at CC's Unlimited Kells road races - Results and Images

Hugely successful return of Kells Road Races delights riders and spectators.

The return of the Kells Road Races sponsored by CC’s Unlimited was a hit all round yesterday providing some excellent races over the jumps and twists of the Meath track.

Derek Sheils was the man on fire taking 2 Superbike wins but, Paul Jordan wasn’t far behind with a Supersport win and 2^nd in the Grand Final.

The Dubliner took the win in the Open race from Michael Sweeney and 3^rd place Thomas Maxwell. In the Grand Final, Maxwell was also 3^rd upping his game on the ZX10r.

Derek Sheils was also leading the Supersport race before retiring and Paul Jordan stormed off to win from Michael Sweeney who had his new MJR Racing R6 on show. Darryl Tweed was very impressive in the race and finished 3^rd.

In the Moto3 race, Gary Dunlop was victorious despite the best efforts of Melissa Kennedy and a strong challenge from Samuel Grief. Kevin Fitzpatrick won the 125 class from Wayne Kennedy and Sean Leonard in 3^rd.

The Senior Support race in memory of Alan Bonner was won by Andy McAllister. Tommy Henry rode well to finish 2^nd and Dermot Cleary was 3^rd.

In Junior Support, Eoin O’Siochru was on top form and was first home. Kevin Baker didn’t make it easy and pushed hard to 2^nd as Vinny Brennan was a close 3^rd.

A large field of Classic bikes formed the grid yesterday in all classes. Richard Ford won the 1000cc race beating Ian Thompson who was 2^nd and Trevor Stewart 3^rd. Ed Manly was successful in the 500cc race from Barry Davidson and Freddie Stewart 3^rd. Manly also won the 350 race, 1^st home ahead of Ian Thompson and 3^rd place Ken Parkes. Brian Mateer lifted the 250 trophy from Richard Ford and Philip Shaw.

Darryl Anderson won the 250-400cc Championship race after and close battle with Gareth Keys and Stephen Morrison in a restarted race following a non-racing related incident.

The Supertwin grid was also well represented and Skerries rider Andy Farrell was first home. Fighting off the advances of Kevin Baker and Vinny Brennan  who would complete the podium.

Words and images (c) Andy Quinn

POSITIVE END TO 2019 ISLE OF MAN TT AS DEREK SHEILS CLAIMS 13thPLACE IN BLUE RIBAND SENIOR RACE FOR BURROWS ENGINEERING/RK RACING TEAM

 

The Burrows Engineering/RK Racing team ended a challenging Isle of Man TT with a positive result in the blue riband Senior race, with Derek Sheils bringing the Suzuki GSX-R1000 home in 13^th place.

Derek lapped at 127.56mph as he battled on throughout the gruelling six-lap finale even though he was struggling with sickness. He had a DNF in the Superstock race, but the Dublin rider followed up his 11^th place in the opening Supersport race with 12^th position in race two on his Yamaha R6.

Tom Weeden began to get to grips with the Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the Senior after missing out on much-needed track time due to poor weather throughout TT fortnight. The Kent man finished 26^th and lapped at 122.89mph, while Weeden finished 24^th in the second Supersport race on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Yamaha R6, lapping at 119.10mph.

With the first two major international road races over, the team’s next outing will be at the Skerries 100 Irish National meeting in County Dublin next month (July 6-7).

Team Principal – John Burrows:

“It was a positive end to the 2019 Isle of Man TT for the team, with Derek finishing in 13^th place in the Senior. However, we also had mixed feelings because there is no doubt Derek had the pace to go much faster and finish higher up the leaderboard, but he was feeling sick after eating something that disagreed with him. He was vomiting and Derek just wasn’t himself, but he battle through the race and to finish 13^th under the circumstances was a decent result for the team, and once again he was the first Suzuki rider home. Derek also finished 11^th and 12^th on his own Yamaha in the Supersport races but sadly he had a DNF on our bike in the Superstock race, when it seems to have broken a valve on the final lap at Ballacraine.

“Like everyone, we were up against it with the weather at the TT and a lack of track time, but we overcame a few issues with the GSX-R1000 Superbike and were feeling confident on Friday morning. Dunlop changed the profile of their front tyre this year and we were struggling to find our way with it a bit. You only get once chance at the TT, so it was unfortunate that Derek wasn’t just feeling 100 per-cent.

“Tom didn’t get many laps done to be fair and to lap at almost 123mph in the Senior is probably what I thought would be possible for him. Prior to the TT, I had expected that he could lap at 125mph and I do think he would have done that with more time under his belt. Tom was using Michelin rubber and he was very pleased with the feedback from the tyres.

“The next meeting for the team will be the Skerries 100 next month. We have decided to give Kells and Enniskillen a miss, which will ease the burden on us a bit as a team.”

Derek Sheils:

“It was a tough TT for both the organisers and competitors alike. We had very limited track time during practice to get the new bikes working, but it was the same for everyone. My annual bad luck at the TT continued with a dose of food poisoning on the Wednesday of race week, which meant in the races on Thursday and Friday I was really unwell and getting sick as I raced. My lap times fluctuated throughout as a result because my concentration was slipping at times.

“The Superstock bike blew an engine but all in all, I was happy to come across the line in 13^th in the Senior considering I really struggled and was vomiting on laps three and four. I was pleasantly surprised with my pace on the 600 and to finish 11^th and 12^th was great as it’s not usually my strongest class.”

Tom Weeden:

“I was happy enough under circumstances with how the TT went this year. We had new bikes and badly need more track time to get dialled in. Prior the Superstock race, I had only done two laps on the 1000cc Suzuki, so I went into the race blind. I really enjoyed the six laps in the Senior and the team had the bike there or thereabouts for the race. It felt good and for the first time it really began to feel like my bike.

“I lapped just shy of 123mph and I’d hoped for more than that to be honest, but the weather just really left us on the back foot and at one stage we were sat around for four days doing nothing. It was my first time running slick tyres on a Superbike in the Senior and the Michelin tyres were really impressive. We’ve a bit of a break now before our next race so it’s back down to earth with a bump after the TT.”

Pictures courtesy of:

Pacemaker Press (Derek Sheils).

Baylon McCaughey (Tom Weeden).

Cracking Cookstown defies weather and delights supporters

The KDM Hire Cookstown 100 went to plan yesterday despite the inclement weather conditions predicted. With the roads closed by 10am, the Club ran the meeting with military precision much to the delight of the sponsors and spectators present.

Derek McGee deservedly won “Man of the Meeting” with 3 wins in Moto3, Supertwins a Superbike victory.

McGee started the day on a high with a win on the Francesco Faraldo Moto3 machine and would contest another 4 races later in the day. His next outing was in the Supertwins race where he was pushed hard for the win by Adam McClean over the 7 laps but, eventually made a move that stuck. His 3^rd win of the day would come in the restarted KDM Hire Superbike feature race that closed the day’s races.

Derek Sheils also banked a Superbike win on the day as he claimed the Royal Hotel Open race from Adam McClean, with McGee completing the podium in 3^rd. McClean went 1 better in the Supersport A race, when it was red flagged after 4 laps. Derek McGee was 2^nd and Paul Jordan an excellent 3^rd place.

Other wins on the day went to Eoin O’Soichru in Junior Support while Tommy Henry won the Senior Support race. Barry Davidson picked up the win in 350cc Classics and Brian Mateer claimed the 250cc prize. In the 500cc class Barry Davidson completed the double and Richard Ford took the top step in the 1000’s. Chris Meyer won the 250GP race, Gareth Keys the Forgotten Era and Paul Williams rode brilliantly earring the Lightweight Supersport accolades.

Overall a very successful meeting and with the closeness of the results, 2019 had the makings of a memorable season in Irish Road Racing.

Huge credit must go out to the Club, Officials, Marshals, Medics, Photographers and spectators that turned out to view the unique spectacle that is Irish Road Racing.

Well done Cookstown, now we look forward to Tandragee

Words – Andy Quinn

Images kind permission of Baylon McCaughey

Ray Casey #55 targets Isle of Man TT 2019

Roads and short circuit paddock regular Ray Casey has set himself the ultimate Road Racing challenge with an entry to the 2019 TT races.

Having already competed at National and International level at Motocross, Short Circuit and Road Racing, the Cork born rider will take on the Isle of Man mountain track later this year on his RC55 racing Kawasaki 600cc Supersport bike.

With an increasing level of fitness, respect and confidence Casey has never been more ready for the TT races, a meeting that is the pinnacle of Road Racing and a Mecca for riders and spectators alike.

Ray recently dipped his toe into the International Road Racing waters by entering the famous Ulster Grand Prix on his privately owned and ran bike. Using the Nationals as a platform to promote himself to the International scene, Casey now believes the time is right to tackle the 37 miles Manx track.

Funding the race is going to be just as daunting a challenge and a few events are planned.

First up is the TT Launch night in Ristorante Rossini, 33/34 Prince street, Cork at 7pm on the 28^th of March. Tickets are €50 which includes entry to the launch, a 3-course dinner, chats with current racers, an auction, a Q&A session, Spot Prizes, photo opportunities and live music to follow. Tickets are available now at Marina Motors Glanmire and John Dunne Motors at Turner’s Cross.

Keep up to date with Ray’s progress on Facebook “Ray Casey RC55 Racing” and Twitter @raycasey55

More to follow...

Words - Andy Quinn

Images courtesy of IOMTTRACES.com

Jonathan Rea wins 4-in-a-row at Cornmarket awards. Trophies for Farmer, Kennedy, McGlinchey and Team 109

It was a star studded line up in the Crown Plaza Belfast last night for the prestigious Cornmarket Irish Motorcyclist of the Year awards.

It was no surprise that the winner was to be 4 times World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea and sweet irony that it was also his 4^th time collecting the trophy beating Joey Dunlop’s record of 3 Cornmarket awards.

It was fitting that 2^nd place didn’t go to one individual given the performance so, with the same points, BSB Superstock 1000 winner Keith Farmer and BSB Supersport champion Jack Kennedy both collected the accolade. Keith Farmer will compete in the Bennett’s British Superbike Championship this year for Tyco BMW while Jack Kennedy will be defending his title on the Team Appleyard Macadam Yamaha R6.

The Belfast Telegraph Irish Road Racer of the year went to back to back triple championship winner Derek McGee. As well was taking a 2^nd place in the 2018 Lightweight Isle of Man TT, McGee retained his Superbike, Supersport and Supertwin titles from 2017.

After an exemplary first season in British Junior Supersport, Eunan McGlinchey secured the inaugural championship and that earned him the Kawasaki Young Rider of the Year trophy. Despite strong competition all season, the Team 109 riders’ composure, skill and determination shone through. Eunan ups the ante in 2019 and will compete in the Pirelli National Superstock 600cc championship under the well established Team 109 banner along with full backing of Kawasaki UK. One to watch for the future.

If Eunans’ success was worth an award then, it had to be complimented by recognition of Team 109 who deservedly collected the JWA Team of the Year award. Since its inception the teams’ managers Paul Tobin and David Hurley worked tirelessly to find talented Irish riders and have them mentored by already established riders, like Team 109 ambassador Glenn Irwin, in their pursuit of titles. Examples of such success are Eunan, Scott Swann (British Talent Cup) and Kevin Keyes (Pirelli National Superstock).

Sadly a posthumous award was made to the family of William Dunlop who was inducted to the RPS Group Hall of Fame. William’s partner, Janine, and mother, Louise received the award on the night.

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Words Andy Quinn

Images courtesy of James McCann, Tom O’Hanlon and Andy Quinn

Full award results below

Cornmarket Irish Motorcyclist of the Year: Jonathan Rea

IFS International Road Racer of the Year: Peter Hickman

Belfast Telegraph National Road Racer of the Year: Derek McGee

Kawasaki Young Rider of the Year: Eunan McGlinchey

JWA Team of the Year: Team 109 Kawasaki

Cornmarket Outstanding Achievement Award: Keith Farmer

Phillip McCallen Motorcycles Short Circuit Rider of the Year (Irish Circuits): Gerard Kinghan

RPS Group Hall of Fame: William Dunlop

Greenlight Television Special Recognition Award: McAdoo Racing

Black Horse Short Circuit Rider of the Year (GB Circuits): Jack Kennedy

A. McLean Bookmakers Race of the Year: North West 200, Supertwins Race 2

Belleek Off-Road Rider of the Year: Martin Barr

NI Air Ambulance Services to Motorcycling: Valerie Crichton