By Super Twins Race 3:
Gold Cup Feature race day opened with an entertaining Pub & Kitchen Super Twins race.
First into Mere Hairpin, Joey Thompson (TH Racing – Aprilia) steadfastly kept P1 for the remainder of the race duration despite coming under pressure in closing laps from Rob Hodson (SMT Racing – Paton).
At the chequered flag, Hodson who took fastest lap-time spoils (1.49.781) closed to within 0.290 of Thompson, whose Oliver’s Mount wins tally grows to thirty-three.
Third place clincher Peter Hickman (Swan Racing/PHR Performance), 1.311 down on Hodson, showcased again the Sportbike 660 Daytona Triumph’s potential, lapping below 1 minute 50 seconds.
Ryan Dixon, second post the end of opening lap action, was fourth, newcomer Rhys Stephenson (Rocket Racing) accrued fifth whilst Stephen Gorton, Oliver Morgan Edwards, Cowton Racing’s Bailey Harker, Moto Twelve Racing’s Shaun Anderson, Liam Wood all had productive runs to respective result captures of sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth.
Sidecars Race 3:
Whilst Kieran Clarke/Rob Coppock (Eddys Moto Tadcaster – Christie Engineering Services Yamaha) blasted to J Hughes Plant Hire Formula 2 Sidecars Race 3 glory (33.828 race winning margin), the Ramsdens Steve & Matty, path to placing second was night and day, not as clear cut.
Down in fourth at Mere Hairpin, Sheene’s Rise, the Esses, Drury’s, at Mountside on lap one the father/son pairing made a striking manoeuvre to grab third, briefly hold second.
One lap later at Mountside, they were through to second, passing Mark Hegarty/Jack Knapton, whose race challenge came to a halt on lap four.
As race proceedings wrapped up, the top five finishing order was Clarke/Coppock, the Ramsdens, Bruce Moore/Alex Ludlow, Pre-Injection lap-record holders Greg Lambert/Andrew Haynes, Lee Eastell/Max Eastell.
Classic Superbike Race 3:
Tom Weeden’s sterling year at Oliver’s Mount continued in earnest, completing a hat-trick of Classic Superbike race successes.
Giving chase to 2023 Bob Smith Spring Cup winner Joey Thompson through the first three laps, towards lap four’s completion, Weeden setting the contest’s No.1 lap-time (1.49.453) hit the front and eventually won by just over one second.
TT Privateers Champion Barry Furber occupied third behind Weeden and Thompson, Johnny Stewart, Mick Goodings unlocked fourth, fifth place finishes whilst Chris Meyer (MYR Racing – Honda), thirteenth overall, was first Two-Strokes speedster home.
Lightweights Race 3:
Dan Frear (RMKD Kawasaki) looked nailed on for 400cc, overall, Road Racing News Lightweights Race 3 victory, only for an inspired Stephen Gorton (Leigh MOTs Kawasaki) to have other ideas and snatch P1 on the sixth and final lap.
Gorton’s decisive race winning move, arose on the back straight before Memorial, sweeping past 400cc lap-record holder Frear.
Local favourite William Grant won a crowd pleasing scrap with Oliver’s Mount Racing Director, Super Moto class conqueror Andy Hayes for third overall.
Chris Meyer collected 125/Moto 3 category laurels with Steven Allan leading CB 500 exponent again.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
