By Joining the likes of Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, John Surtees, Carl Fogarty, David Jefferies, John McGuinness and good friend Dean Harrison in becoming a Gold Cup Champion, Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston turned on the style to win this afternoon’s eight lap feature Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup race.
As in yesterday’s Supersport A race, the challenge to eight times International Road Race winner was provided by Spada supported Mike Norbury, who provided tenacious opposition to pre-race favourite Johnston.
Ultimately at the conclusion of the eight lap encounter held in challenging wet, damp conditions, Johnston’s Gold Cup winning margin stood at nigh on three seconds, emerging victorious by 2.998 seconds over impressive rising talent Norbury.
Completing the Gold Cup podium finishers for 2019 behind Johnston, Norbury was lead Kawasaki runner, Lincolnshire’s David ‘Action’ Jackson.
Photo by GTHpicsnaps
VRS Racing’s Brad Vicars battled his way to fourth, Joe Thompson piloting the Trickbits Triumph placed fifth as 18 place finisher in June’s Dunlop Senior TT Joe Akroyd, rounded out the first six finishers.
Positions 7th-10th were acquired respectively by Senior Manx GP runner-up Stephen Parsons, road racing returnee Russ Mountford, who is planning to compete at TT 2020, KY-JAX Racing’s Ben Shuttlewood and established Oliver’s Mount specialist Brian Greenfield.
Others to record strong finishes included Don Gilbert (11th), Sam Johnson (12th), Rad Hughes (13th), Stephen Degnan (15th) and the versatile Pete Boast (16th).
Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup race result, is as follows:
1 Lee Johnston
2 Mike Norbury
3 David Jackson
4 Brad Vicars
5 Joe Thompson
6 Joe Akroyd
7 Stephen Parsons
8 Russ Mountford
9 Ben Shuttlewood
10 Brian Greenfield
11 Don Gilbert
12 Sam Johnson
13 Rad Hughes
14 Dominic Herbertson
15 Stephen Degnan
16 Pete Boast
17 Mark Goodings
18 Paul Marley
19 Rodger Wibberley
Words by Stevie Rial
