By Accomplishing a long-held ambition, Mad Bros Racing’s Gary McCoy finally cracked an Oliver’s Mount ‘Major’, attaining today the 2024 Cock O’The North feature race crown.
Grabbing the race-leading initiative at Mere Hairpin on lap one, McCoy, victorious in prior Supersport, Classic Superbike races, would not be overtaken from here.
‘Tonto’s’ road to victory wasn’t plain sailing though thanks to the tenacious attentions of 2022 Classic Superbike Manx GP winner, Rob Hodson.
Nip and tuck throughout, the 13, 44 plate holders for the bulk of race-action, had Jim Hind in close company.
Hind, who had yesterday tipped off at Farm Bends in the second Supersport encounter, was right in the mix for honours before dropping back across laps seven, eight.
Out front, the McCoy vs Hodson duel, went firmly down to the eighth and final lap.
SMT Racing’s Hodson, on the previous lap, setting the races’ PB lap (1.47.755 – 81.18 mph) was keenly eyeing McCoy’s P1 slot.
Despite the pressure, the top NW200 newcomer of 2022 kept ultra-cool, going onto claim a hard-earned win by 0.325 of a second, his at the time fifteenth Scarborough triumph.
NLC Components backed Hind joined McCoy, Hodson on the podium whilst fourth went to VRS Racing’s Andy Smart.
Fifth behind stellar roads scene returnee Smart was Tom Weeden who was under 0.8 in front of Barry Sheene Trophy Champion Don Gilbert.
Aran Sadler, setting a new PB Scarborough lap time of 1:50.780 seconds attained seventh as Mark Goodings, sole Honda pilot TH Racing’s Jay Bellers Smith, Paul Marley unlocked eighth-tenth leader board positions.
Race finishers 11th-20th were Cowton Racing’s Gareth Arnold, David McArthur, Jack Worth, Brandon Brinded, David Brook.
Adrian Harrison, top newcomer Nick Gledhill, Aarron Cooke, three times TT Races participant Craig Szczypek and Russell Brook.
The only riders to not finish were Tommy Downes and emerging Oliver’s Mount force Johnny Stewart, who before crashing out at Memorial on lap three, was holding onto fourth place.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
