By Bolstered by 14 times TT winner Peter Hickman’s pending circuit debut, England’s pure road racing nirvana, Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough, speeds back this week into principal focus for roads scene competitors, teams, superfans.
Traditionally boasting pleasant weather (fingers crossed!), the Cock O’The North carries a chilled-out atmosphere, typically gains a wide ranging, varied entry-list, and this year it is much the same.
Decent grids per class are beckoning, with more than thirty-five previous race winners at North Yorkshire’s ‘Mini TT’ entered.
Spotlighting the HMH Civils Supersport (A) & (B) contests, thirty-nine racers have attained competition bursts.
130 Mph Club TT member, the most top three finishing rider this decade at Scarborough, Rob Hodson (SMT Racing – V2 Panigale Ducati) returns.
Already illustrated high-profile newcomer Hickman (Swan Racing by PHR Performance – 765RS Triumph), as shown recently at the Southern 100, learns circuits super quickly.
If a similar pattern unfolds this week, then don’t be surprised to see the international road racing giant join the event showpiece race winners list, that features Mick Grant, John Surtees, Dean Harrison, Guy Martin, Ryan Farquhar, Bob McIntyre, Charlie Williams, Dean Ashton, limitless road racing greats.
The premier middleweight category starting-list, features tens more, roads scene talents, new wave, increasing, experienced, ever-green, including:
Barry Sheene Classic Feature race winner, King of The Mount Championship leader Tom Weeden (Club 77 – Triumph), Ryan Dixon (Trickbits Racing – Triumph), Johnny Stewart (J Stewart Garage Service – Kawasaki).
Dan Frear (NLC – Suzuki), 2023 Bob Smith Spring Cup winner Joey Thompson, pure road racing returnee Mike Norbury (Oliver’s Mount Racing – Kawasaki).
John Marsh (MKM Building Supplies Burnley – Honda), Bailey Harker (Cowton Racing – Kawasaki), Joey Lambden (Robin King & Sue Bell – Kawasaki).
Fred McMullan (Orwell Motorcycles Ipswich – Honda), Andrew Coulter (Butlers Automotive Ltd – Yamaha), Adam ‘Stretch’ Rayner (Pixel Playlounge – Kawasaki), Scott Aitkin (Kevin Liddle/Greylin Engineering – Kawasaki).
David McArthur (Fostec Engineering – Yamaha), Jack Worth (Warrior Racing – Triumph), Paul Marley (Marley Landrovers – Kawasaki), Arthur Gissing (NL Components – Kawasaki).
Nicholas Round, Stephen ‘Degsy’ Degnan, Daniel Pearson (Pearson Racing – Triumph), Mark Jackson (RM Controls – Triumph), Brian Greenfield, Paul Moir (T Shields Transport – Yamaha) and Oliver’s Mount Racing Director Andy Hayes.
Intriguing Supersport encounters x6 on the horizon, roll on Saturday!
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
