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A mix of overnight rain, low clouds, early morning rain immediately threw a spanner in the works for today’s Manx GP racing itinerary.
Once conditions were considered suitable for racing, the Mylchreest Group Senior race, reduced to three laps got underway five hours behind schedule at 4:30 PM.
‘Tommy Club’ member Dan Ingham, aboard Russell Brook’s YZF R6 Yamaha was the first to get the tap on the shoulder from race-starter, Mark Pendlebury.
Lap One:
As anticipated, there was nothing in it as riders reached Glen Helen on lap one with Spin Arena Racing’s Joe Yeardsley leading fellow MGP newcomer Marcus Simpson, by only 0.742 of a second.
Jamie Williams held third 1.592 behind Simpson with Dan Ingham, Chris Cook, David Rigby completing the top six.
Under three seconds covered the first four at Ballaugh Bridge as Yeardsley, Simpson remained first, second, now separated by only 0.3 of a second.
Onto Ramsey Hairpin and it was all change out front, 2022 Irish Road Race Senior Support Championship runner-up Simpson had swooped into first.
Next timing point at the Bungalow would see ‘Spartacus’ as he’s known to many, Simpson, stretch the leading initiative to 4.497, pretty much 4 and a half second advantage.
With the mandatory pit-stop entering the horizon at lap one’s end, Jon Cuff Electrical supported Simpson had a decent seven seconds plus lead over Laxey’s Yeardsley.
IRRC exponent Williams kept third with No.1 plate holder Ingham in fourth, six seconds further back.
Dot Racing’s Rigby, already open about his intention to step up to the TT Races next year, attained fifth ahead of Team ACR’s Cook.
Lap Two:
8.703 seconds was Simpson’s lead once all the pace setters descended upon Glen Helen.
The qualifying week leader’s lead was marginally trimmed at Ballaugh to sub eight seconds.
Top five finishing contender Rigby, challenge ended at Douglas Road Corner. Additional notable early retirements included Damian Horan, Maurizio Bottalico and Tom Robinson at Braddan.
Pre-TT Classic yesteryear Superbike winner Yeardsley, pursuit of race leader Simpson, continued in earnest on the run towards Ramsey Hairpin, slicing his fellow Manxman’s advantage to just past 4.3 seconds.
This was turning into a battle royale between the impeccable MGP debutants.
By lap two’s conclusion, 2.551 separated Simpson and Yeardsley. An intriguing, exciting, compelling final lap was in prospect!
Behind them, NCE Racing’s Williams held P3 but was coming under increasing pressure from Ingham.
Lap Three:
Icons, supreme natural talents, local favourites, grass roots racing heroes have all tasted Senior Manx Grand Prix success. Who would join them?
First timing point Glen Helen across the third, final lap saw Yeardsley dramatically re-take first from Simpson, moving 2.131 ahead.
3.82 seconds was Yeardsley’s lead at Ballaugh Bridge with the Laxey rider on Supersport MGP record-breaking pace.
6.505 clear at Ramsey, R6 Yamaha powered Yeardsley confidently homed in on a famous race triumph.
8.844 ahead once he sped through the Bungalow, the young IOM rider was showing no nerves, as a first Mountain Course victory loomed.
First on the road, race runner-up, new ‘Tommy Club’ member Simpson was first to finish, recording a new official personal best lap speed of 120.738 mph.
Not long after though, race winner, emulating his father Buddy, Yeardsley victorious by 9.545 seconds, went in excess of eleven seconds faster, lapping at 122.051 mph, a new Supersport Manx GP lap-record.
Wrapping up the rostrum finishers, thanks to a last lap topping 120 mph, Melton Mowbray’s Ingham banked third ahead of third place finisher last year, Williams.
Top Kawasaki pilot Cook took fifth with Junior race winner Victor Lopez Santos, Marc Colvin, Jack Fowler, Andrew Fisher, Wilson Craig Racing’s Eddy Ferre sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth respectively.
Senior Manx Grand Prix Race Result:
1st – Joe Yeardsley
2nd – Marcus Simpson
3rd – Dan Ingham
4th – Jamie Williams
5th – Chris Cook
6th – Victor Lopez Santos
7th – Marc Colvin
8th – Jack Fowler
9th – Andrew Fisher
10th – Eddy Ferre
11th – Sam Johnson
12th – Lancelot Unissart
13th – Michael Gahan
14th – Anthony O’Carroll
15th – James Reveley
16th – Liam Chawke
17th – Shaun Evans
18th – Tom Snow
19th – Julien Cregniot
20th – Gaz Evans
21st – Mark Jackson
22nd – Yann Galli
23rd – Ryan Whitehall
24th – Paul Marley
25th – Kevin Rigot
26th – Jim Barnett
27th – Stephen Tobin
28th – Justin Collins
29th – Adam Bauer
30th – Dennis Booth
31st – Michael Gillan
32nd – Erik Kjuus
33rd – Louis O’Regan
34th – Ross Orchard
35th – Cyril Lecocq
36th – Rad Hughes
37th – Stuart McCann
38th – Victor Ortega Perez
39th – Colin Croft
40th – Andy Lovett
41st – Darragh Trappe
42nd – Mike Mace
43rd – Emmett Burke
44th – Graham McAleese
45th – Andreas Jochum
46th – Daniel Forbes
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
With the mandatory pit-stop entering the horizon at lap one’s end, Jon Cuff Electrical supported Simpson had a decent seven seconds plus lead over Laxey’s Yeardsley.
IRRC exponent Williams kept third with No.1 plate holder Ingham in fourth, six seconds further back.
Dot Racing’s Rigby, already open about his intention to step up to the TT Races next year, attained fifth ahead of Team ACR’s Cook.
Lap Two:
8.703 seconds was Simpson’s lead once all the pace setters descended upon Glen Helen.
The qualifying week leader’s lead was marginally trimmed at Ballaugh to sub eight seconds.
Top five finishing contender Rigby, challenge ended at Douglas Road Corner. Additional notable early retirements included Damian Horan, Maurizio Bottalico and Tom Robinson at Braddan.
Pre-TT Classic yesteryear Superbike winner Yeardsley, pursuit of race leader Simpson, continued in earnest on the run towards Ramsey Hairpin, slicing his fellow Manxman’s advantage to just past 4.3 seconds.
This was turning into a battle royale between the impeccable MGP debutants.
By lap two’s conclusion, 2.551 separated Simpson and Yeardsley. An intriguing, exciting, compelling final lap was in prospect!
Behind them, NCE Racing’s Williams held P3 but was coming under increasing pressure from Ingham.
Lap Three:
Icons, supreme natural talents, local favourites, grass roots racing heroes have all tasted Senior Manx Grand Prix success. Who would join them?
First timing point Glen Helen across the third, final lap saw Yeardsley dramatically re-take first from Simpson, moving 2.131 ahead.
3.82 seconds was Yeardsley’s lead at Ballaugh Bridge with the Laxey rider on Supersport MGP record-breaking pace.
6.505 clear at Ramsey, R6 Yamaha powered Yeardsley confidently homed in on a famous race triumph.
8.844 ahead once he sped through the Bungalow, the young IOM rider was showing no nerves, as a first Mountain Course victory loomed.
First on the road, race runner-up, new ‘Tommy Club’ member Simpson was first to finish, recording a new official personal best lap speed of 120.738 mph.
Not long after though, race winner, emulating his father Buddy, Yeardsley victorious by 9.545 seconds, went in excess of eleven seconds faster, lapping at 122.051 mph, a new Supersport Manx GP lap-record.
Wrapping up the rostrum finishers, thanks to a last lap topping 120 mph, Melton Mowbray’s Ingham banked third ahead of third place finisher last year, Williams.
Top Kawasaki pilot Cook took fifth with Junior race winner Victor Lopez Santos, Marc Colvin, Jack Fowler, Andrew Fisher, Wilson Craig Racing’s Eddy Ferre sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth respectively.
Senior Manx Grand Prix Race Result:
1st – Joe Yeardsley
2nd – Marcus Simpson
3rd – Dan Ingham
4th – Jamie Williams
5th – Chris Cook
6th – Victor Lopez Santos
7th – Marc Colvin
8th – Jack Fowler
9th – Andrew Fisher
10th – Eddy Ferre
11th – Sam Johnson
12th – Lancelot Unissart
13th – Michael Gahan
14th – Anthony O’Carroll
15th – James Reveley
16th – Liam Chawke
17th – Shaun Evans
18th – Tom Snow
19th – Julien Cregniot
20th – Gaz Evans
21st – Mark Jackson
22nd – Yann Galli
23rd – Ryan Whitehall
24th – Paul Marley
25th – Kevin Rigot
26th – Jim Barnett
27th – Stephen Tobin
28th – Justin Collins
29th – Adam Bauer
30th – Dennis Booth
31st – Michael Gillan
32nd – Erik Kjuus
33rd – Louis O’Regan
34th – Ross Orchard
35th – Cyril Lecocq
36th – Rad Hughes
37th – Stuart McCann
38th – Victor Ortega Perez
39th – Colin Croft
40th – Andy Lovett
41st – Darragh Trappe
42nd – Mike Mace
43rd – Emmett Burke
44th – Graham McAleese
45th – Andreas Jochum
46th – Daniel Forbes
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou 
