By Scrawly drizzle, rain showers gave way to above adequate weather for Saturday’s races, which did not disappoint the great crowds turning out at this year’s Oliver’s Mount Cock O’The North Road Races.
Supersport (A) Races:
Keenly contested, was the pertinent way to sum up the HMH Civils Supersport (A) race won by Joey Thompson.
Gaining the hole-shot into Mere Hairpin, TH Racing rider Thompson, would not be- headed across the whole race, despite stern pursuits from pole-sitter Tom Weeden and SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson back at Scarborough, with his rasping V2 Panigale Ducati.
As the eight-lap contest ended, the margin separating the top three finishers, was sub 1.6 seconds.
Johnny Stewart attained fourth with fourteen times TT winner Peter Hickman, finishing his maiden Oliver’s Mount race in fifth place, one position in front of Stock SSP class victor John Marsh.
Supersport (B) Race 1:
Arthur Gissing, good friend of ‘130 Mph Club’ TT member Jim Hind, seemed set to join the Scarborough race winners circle, only for a five-second jump-start penalty, to be- added to his overall Supersport (B) Race 1 time.
Gissing’s misfortune at the contest’s conclusion meant Oliver’s Mount race win No.3 for OC Graphics Racing’s Oliver Dean.
Christian ‘Bomber’ Slater was-credited with second as 53-plate holder Gissing dropped to P3 within the final race results sheet.
Sam Osborne finished top OM newcomer in fourth, Douglas, Isle of Man based Wayne Avis, Grant Aitchison, finalised the top six finishers.
Classic Superbike/Two Strokes Race 1:
Continuing the form that took him last month to Barry Sheene Festival, Feature Race victory, the afore-mentioned Tom Weeden dominated on route to Classic Superbike Race 1 triumph.
The 2016 Senior Manx Grand Prix winner finished 6.844 to the good over top chaser, local ace Paul Marley.
Another Scarborough specialist Mick Goodings took third followed by Curtis Milburn, after a resilient ride from the Redcar racer.
Versatile racing all-rounder, Falcon Electrical backed Dan Sayle, earlier this month, Supersport winner x2 at the Southern 100, beat Richard Hewitt superb sounding (I and various others opinion!) Cally Roberts Racing Suzuki to Two Strokes class spoils.
Sidecars Race 1:
As at the last Scarborough meeting, Sidecars tour-de-forces served up another treat.
Saturday’s sole three-wheeling race burst would see the Ramsden’s Steve & Matty pip Southern 100 Sidecar Champions Kieran Clarke/Rob Coppock, after a classic cross generations battle.
0.265 was all that covered the ninety-nine, nine plated crews. Carl Fenwick/Jake Roberts had held first through opening races stages before technical issues, forced their retirement on lap three.
Sixth overall, the only category competitors, James Hanks/Jonathan Kirk secured Pre-Injection laurels whilst positions third to fifth went to Mark Hegarty/Alex Ludlow, Bruce Moore/Tom Dawkins, and David Marshall/Ben Gale.
Super Twins Race 1:
Joey Thompson had a similar experience to Arthur Gissing’s from the Supersport (B) race, with the 2023 Bob Smith Spring Cup winner, hobbled by a jump-start penalty (five seconds) in the Pub & Kitchen Super Twins encounter.
Despite passing Rob Hodson for first on the road leadership, the penalty received proved enough for class lap-record holder Hobson to finish P1.
Stephen Gorton placed fourth with Trickbits Racing’s Ryan Dixon, Peter Hickman, Oliver Morgan Edwards completing the results sheet top six.
Lightweights Race 1:
Moving onto the Road Racing News Lightweights race, the prior featured Stephen Gorton, reigned supreme finishing first overall, first in terms of 400cc contest exponents.
Gorton got the better of eventual third place finisher Dan Frear, passing the 400cc lap-record holder before the Esses on lap two.
Frear was-beaten to second overall by 2019 Steve Henshaw Gold Cup runner-up Mike Norbury, after a stirring ride astride Supermoto apparatus.
CB 500 spoils went to Steven Allan, besting newcomer Joe Holdsworth whilst Tony Flinton by virtue of been the only class competitor, unlocked 125/Moto 3 success.
Supersport (A) Race 2:
Saturday’s final competitive bout, the second HMH Civils Supersport (A) race, would see Rob Hodson put the illustrious Ducati back on top at North Yorkshire’s ‘Mini TT.’
Joey Thompson set the race’s best lap time (1.47.250) but Hodson had the edge throughout, maintaining consistent pace, not relinquishing the race-lead, first acquired at Mere Hairpin.
Narrowly in-excess of two seconds, covered Hodson, second place finisher Tom Weeden and leading Honda pilot Thompson.
Johnny Stewart, Peter Hickman getting more-and-more at grips with Oliver’s Mount intrinsic layers, were fourth, fifth with Dan Frear, top Stock SSP exponent again John Marsh, Joey Lambden, David McArthur, Cowton Racing’s Bailey Harker, sixth to tenth.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
