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Despite needless negativity from a certain few, turgid tiresome comments online, racing at Oliver’s Mount continues to thrive and prosper, as shown today via the great crowds in attendance at the 73rd Scarborough Gold Cup meeting.
An action-packed opening day of practice sessions, qualifying sessions, races got going at just before 9:10 AM.
After qualifying bursts per class in gradually improving conditions, racing commenced in quite the unorthodox fashion, with the Super Twins contest, twice red-flagged.
The Road Racing News Lightweights race curtain raiser was then moved forward, and a compelling encounter ensued with pole-sitter Nick Anderson, Stephen Gorton doing battle.
Gorton (Leigh MOTs Kawasaki) went onto finish first on the road but not first on the results sheet, having received a ten-second jump start penalty.
Local ace Anderson (RMKD Racing Kawasaki) captured victory laurels, finishing on aggregate timing, 5.101 clear of Gorton.
Third overall, Dan Sayle (Falcon Electrical Honda) bagged 125/Moto 3 spoils whilst CB 500 honours went to Scotsman Liam McPherson.
Not long post the first completed race, the weather lords decided to mix it up, pesky rain had arrived!
Pub & Kitchen Super Twins competitors were not having any luck, their third race start went by the wayside, this time due to the changing conditions.
Eventually, fourth time lucky, the Super Twins contenders as we neared the evening, finally got a full race in, which saw SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson reign supreme, winning by a shade under 4.8 seconds with pole-sitter Franco Bourne P2, TH Racing’s Joey Thompson P3.
Saturday’s sole Support race victor was paddock favourite, Justin ‘Weeman’ Collins, Carl Fenwick/Jake Roberts get the better of Steve Ramsden joined by new passenger, Ben Stell for opening Sidecars success.
Greg Lambert/Andy Javens headed the Pre-Injection Sidecars category whilst Classic Superbike, Two-Stroke triumphs went to the already featured Joey ‘Yorkshire’ Thompson (Team Talk of The Town Suzuki Powered by Genertech and Motul UK) and Jim Hind.
Hind, the 2022 Steve Henshaw Gold Cup runner-up before crashing out of the ultimately, not restarted second Supersport (A) race would also attain a second-place finish in the opening HMH Civils Supersport (A) race when astride AKAI Yamaha liveried tackle, only beaten by the flying Michael Browne (Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing – Yamaha / fastest lap of the race – 1.50.340 seconds).
Afore-mentioned Twins Race 1 winner Rob Hodson made it a ‘130 Mph TT Club’ members top three.
Notably absent from (A) race explorations due to technical issues in qualifying, Franco Bourne (Cowton Racing – Kawasaki) stormed to (B) race success.
Bourne planning to make his TT Races debut next year, winning margin stood at 40.186 seconds!
Steve Hardy took second, Stephen ‘Degsy’ Degnan gained a hard-fought third place finish with Ben Long, Adrian Harrison, Adam ‘Stretch’ Rayner finalising the leader-board top six.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
