La Marseillasie is
Played for the First Time
Roads closed on time at 11:30 am for the start of the postponed MGP
Newcomers Race, with the race due to start at 12:15 pm. Proceedings
were delayed by thirty minutes due to a car having to be removed
from the course at Kirk Michael.
The ITV programme 'The Best Little Prison in Britain?' has caused
quite a stir on the Island. The scenic shots are seen as a great
advertisement for the Isle of Man however the portrayal of the
prison has mixed opinions with some hardened criminals coming across
as lovable rogues. Coincidently a prison officer has been charged
with conspiring to take a mobile phone to an inmate on remand.
The 'Fare Free Campaign' would like bus fares to be scrapped so that
there would be fare-free public transport. Less cars on the road
being better for the environment with the bonus of reduced
congestion in the towns.
The Newcomers Race is a combination of three classes with the riders
being set off in order of their fastest qualifying time. Frenchman
Pierre-Yves Bian (Yamaha R6 / Martimotos.com) led the 27 strong
field away, 17 in Class A, 6 in Class B and 4 in Class C. He was the
clear favourite for the race having topped the practice leaderboard
with a lap 115.550 mph set on Saturday. Class A is for 600 four
stroke and 675 triple machines, Class B is for 650 Supertwins and
Class C for 125 / 250 two stroke or 400 four stroke machines.
Pierre-Yves father had tried to enter the TT in 2003 but his entry
was declined. The TTSC's French representative, Jean Michel Prudon,
had been involved with supporting the application and subsequently
has been involved in many successful French newcomer applications at
both the TT and MGP.
It was a flag to flag victory with Pierre-Yves becoming the first
Frenchman to win either a TT or MGP race, the La Marseillaise being
played at the garlanding ceremony. Plymouth's Sam Mousley (Yamaha R6
/ University of Wales) was runner up and he set the fastest lap of
the race on his last lap of four at 116.187mph. Alun Brooks (Honda /
Brooks Boyz Racing) completed the rostrum. Fifteen of the seventeen
starters finished. Russian, Danila Krasniuk from Saint-Petersburg
crashed, unhurt, at Sulby on the third lap.
The hot favourite for Class B Andrea Majola (Paton S1-R) retired at
the Gooseneck on the first lap leaving the way for Mark Kirby
(Kawasaki ER-6 / Emmerson Timber Frame) to win the four lap race by
just over 6 minutes, averaging 103.278 mph. Robert Cairns (Kawasaki
ER-6 / L R Racing) was second and David Stiff (Suzuki SV650) third.
Russell Dodds (Suzuki SV650 / Scotts Garage) was the only other
finisher. Majola had lapped at over 110 mph in qualifying.
The three lap Class C was another flag to flag victory with Andrew
Jackson (NSF 250 Honda / Falcon Electrical Southport) taking the
honours from Adrian Skaife (NSF250R Honda) with Pete Gibson (VFR400
NC30 Honda) third and William Piquet (RS125 Honda) fourth.
Photographs:
Pierre-Yves Bian, already looking forward to next year's TT
Sam Mousley (runner
up) leading fourth placed Michael Mace at Quarterbridge
Class two winner Mark
Kirkby taking a wide line following his pit stop.
Newcomer class C
winner Andrew Jackson (NSF 250 Honda)
Russian Danila
Krasniuk prior to sliding off at Sulby
The afternoons activity was completed with a two lap practice for
MGP Junior / Senior machines followed by a two lap practice for
Lightweight and Ultra-Lightweight bikes. All that was left was for
the owner of the car that was removed was to go and eat humble pie
and collect their car.
Mike Hammonds
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