By
After a riveting Super Twins race, 2025 Manx Grand Prix trackside fans, teams, riders attentions turned towards the four-lap long Supersport encounter.
Course conditions remained settled, above optimal for those taking part.
Lap One:
First timing point Glen Helen, saw below 1.5 seconds separate the top five, Johnny Stewart, Toby Shann, Chris Cook, Caomhan Canny, Jamie Williams.
Onto Ballaugh Bridge and there was a new rider in first, Hawick’s Cook, 0.858 to the good over Super Twins race runner-up Shann.
Stewart went back to third, Ryan Whitehall jumped up to fourth with Williams, Canny fifth, sixth.
At Ramsey, the leader board top six continued to fluctuate as Williams, Canny moved up to third, fourth with Stewart, Whitehall dropping to fifth, sixth.
Through the Bungalow, the top five order remained Cook, Shann, Williams, Canny, Stewart.
As a breathless opening lap wrapped up Cook (119.222), was leading by 0.176 of a second over new second place occupier Williams (119.204).
Shann (119.123) in third was 0.599 further back with Canny (118.845), Whitehall (118.661), Don Gilbert (118.563) all gaining major new personal best lap speeds, fourth to sixth.
Lap Two:
The ultra close battles throughout the field continued across lap two.
In-particular the duel for first heated up between Cook, Williams, Shann and Cookstown Senior Support race victor Canny.
Mid way through lap two, under 4.5 seconds covered the leading batch of riders.
Cook runner-up in last year’s Senior race, continued to keep P1 but the pressure was increasing and increasing from No.1 plate holder Williams, newly third by Ramsey,750 Suzuki apparated Canny.
As crucial pit stops loomed, Williams joining the ‘Tommy Club’ (120.005) had grasped P1 from Cook, 1.865 in arrears to the Manxman.
Canny (119.732) third was 4.154 additionally back on Cook, Isle of Wight flyer Whitehall (119.626) held fourth with Shann (119.084) dropping to fifth.
Lap Three:
Aided via a potent pit-stop, Williams’ lead bolstered slightly up to 2.386 seconds at Glen Helen over new second place capturer Canny.
Gleneely’s Canny was more than keeping Williams honest, cutting the JLG/NCE Racing rider’s advantage to below 2.2 seconds at Ballaugh Bridge. 0.947 at Ramsey.
Lap one, long term lap two leader Cook gap to Canny was 6.409 seconds whilst Whitehall in fourth was gaining ground on the amiable Scotsman.
By the Bungalow, Whitehall had bagged third by 0.005 of a second!
Similar dramatic vibes echoed in the race for first with Canny closing to within 0.43 of Williams.
With one more thirty-seven-and three-quarter mile lap burst to go, Williams led Canny encountering traffic by 1.41 seconds.
1.582 separated third, fourth placed Whitehall and Cook whilst Michael Gahan held fifth with Shann (JW Trackdays/Cowton Racing Triumph) pushed down to sixth.
Lap Four:
Through Glen Helen, Ballaugh Bridge, Williams had edged out the race lead to 2.566, would he finally be joining the MGP winners circle?
3.309 ahead at Ramsey, Williams aboard orange, white liveried Honda tackle was homing in on inaugural Supersport Manx GP victory.
Williams went onto clinch a long awaited first Manx Grand Prix win, winning by 6.653 seconds.
Runner-up Canny (119.966) held off new ‘Tommy Club’ accolade claimer Whitehall (120.583) for third.
Fourth, fifth place finishers Cook (120.005), Gahan (120.664 – fastest lap of the race) also gained ‘Tommy Club’ membership which is now almost full.
Shann (118.131), Stewart (119.702), Gilbert (118.928) were sixth to eighth as Dan Forbes (117.18), Ryan Garside (118.662) rounded out the top ten finishers.
Eddy Wormald (117.111) in thirteenth, placed top newcomer.
Post Race Reaction:
Jamie Williams
“I knew it was going to be a bit of a dog fight from the get go and I knew the people I would be battling with I knew probably weren’t going to be right behind me, there has been a couple of guys that have been put in some strong laps this week further back in the field.
But pit-stop I think made the race because we had a real fast pit-stop, the guys were as smooth as silk and I think that enabled me to get that bit of a cushion going onto lap three and then just bit the screen and just tried to do what I could I do but I knew it was even tighter on the last lap.
Because I was getting boards for like +1 at Ballacraine and then +1 at Sulby, +3 on the Mountain on the last lap, even at that you can’t rest and I did not want to take it for granted, it was just getting it over that line.”
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
Shann (118.131), Stewart (119.702), Gilbert (118.928) were sixth to eighth as Dan Forbes (117.18), Ryan Garside (118.662) rounded out the top ten finishers.
Eddy Wormald (117.111) in thirteenth, placed top newcomer.
Post Race Reaction:
Jamie Williams
“I knew it was going to be a bit of a dog fight from the get go and I knew the people I would be battling with I knew probably weren’t going to be right behind me, there has been a couple of guys that have been put in some strong laps this week further back in the field.
But pit-stop I think made the race because we had a real fast pit-stop, the guys were as smooth as silk and I think that enabled me to get that bit of a cushion going onto lap three and then just bit the screen and just tried to do what I could I do but I knew it was even tighter on the last lap.
Because I was getting boards for like +1 at Ballacraine and then +1 at Sulby, +3 on the Mountain on the last lap, even at that you can’t rest and I did not want to take it for granted, it was just getting it over that line.”
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
