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Four Hour Delay and
the MGP Newcomers Race Postponed
Low lying mist was the culprit for the delay in the proceedings on
Monday. It was another morning for twiddling thumbs, it took quite a
while for the sun to break through and burn it off. Schedules were
being written and the rewritten before being dispatched to the bin,
eventually the announcement was made that the roads would close at
1:30 pm and the Locate IM Junior Classic, reduced to 3 laps, would
commence at 2 o'clock.
Paul Jordan, on the Ripley Racing 350 AJS led the field of 51 riders
from the start line. The road was dry and conditions were described
as good. Manxman Dave Moffitt was the unluckiest competitor when he
retired on the start line, an issue with the chain put him out of
the race.
Lee Johnston, Davies Motorsport 350 Honda, was the early leader
however he retired with mechanical problems on the second lap at the
Gooseneck. Jamie Coward, Ted Woof / 350 Craven Honda inherited the
lead which he maintained until the finish. He could hardly speak
when interviewed in the winners enclosure, his emotions were so raw.
He did manage to say that it was a childhood ambition to win on the
Mountain Course. Michael Rutter (Ripley Land Racing 350 Honda) just
pipped last years winner, Dominic Herbertson (Davies Motorsport 350
Honda) and took second place by just 0.35 of a second.
The Classic TT Lap of Honour was the filling between the two Classic
races. John McGuinness, Carl Fogarty and Giacomo Agostini led the
field away. BSB star Glen Irwin, riding a ZXR Kawasaki road bike was
also in the field, he hinted at the finish that he intended to enter
next years TT. Jamie Hamilton made an emotional return to the
Mountain Course , completing a lap on Robbie Silvester's VRS Honda.
Many of the parade had been to the Vintage Motorcycle Festival at
Jurby on Sunday. Charlie Williams had a very successful day there,
selling out of his book during the day. He did say the he would have
more copies with him at the Goodwood Revival meeting in September.
The RST Classic TT Superbike eventually started at a quarter past
five, held over the designated four laps. Horst Saiger (Greenall
Racing 750 Kawasaki) led the 49 strong field away. Michael Dunlop
(1100 cc Team Classic Suzuki) established an early lead which he
maintained until his pit stop at the end of the second lap. He
elected to change the rear wheel and dropped 10 seconds to
Australian David Johnson (750 Robert Burns Ltd / Alistair Cowan
Racing Kawasaki) in the pits. Such was the determination of Dunlop
he had regained the lead by Ramsey on the third lap from Johnson
with Derek Shiels (750 Greenall Racing Kawasaki) in third. A fourth
Classic big bike victory looked in the bag as Michael maintained his
lead over the fourth lap.
Nothing is ever guaranteed when racing over the Mountain Course and
the luck was with David Johnson and not Michael Dunlop, the latter
dramatically retiring with an electrical fault
less than two miles to go at Hillberry. Johnson followed his TT
podium success with victory from Shiels who snatched second place
from James Hillier (888 Oxford Racing / Louigi Moto) by 1.5 seconds.
Ryan Kneen had a luck escape when an empty crisp packet blew off the
hedge and onto the road just in front of him as he tipped into the
corner at the end of the Cronk-y-Voddey straight (Molyneux's). Ryan
said that spectators should be more careful with their litter, this
could have caused a serious accident.
The MGP Newcomers race was postponed until Tuesday as were the MGP
practice sessions for the Junior, Senior, Lightweight and Ultra
lightweight classes.
Photographs:
Lee Johnston trying
his Davies Motorsport 350 Honda for size
The legendary Giacomo Agostini at Quarterbridge
BSB star Glen Irwin, TT bound in 2020?
Jaime Hamilton exiting Quarterbridge in the parade lap
The Classic TT
Superbike leaderboard
Mike Hammonds
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