By With Davey Todd, Michael Dunlop absent-from Armoy courtesy of BSB commitments, specified reasons, the race for McFarlane Tarmac Open contest honours (cut to six laps), looked wide open.
Post a prolonged delay, following a flurry of rain showers, competitors in discussion with the Clerk of The Course, then more rain, it was finally ignition go time.
Michael Browne, racing newly Boyce Precision Engineering by Russell Racing liveried Honda tackle, bought from 2023 Ultra Lightweight Manx Grand Prix winner Paul Cassidy, proved the crème de la crème, mastering dodgy conditions.
Browne who passed eventual race runner-up, newly crowned Ulster Road Race Superbike Champion Michael Sweeney for P1 ownership on lap two, controlled onwards proceedings, going onto clinch victory no.3 of this year’s Armoy Road Races by the huge margin of 8.821 seconds.
Race pole-sitter Paul Jordan, choosing in view of track conditions to race his Supersport bike, gained third.
Imatranajo ‘King Pin’ Erno Kostamo, was in the battle for the rostrum with Jordan, Sweeney, and Browne until sliding off out of contention on lap three.
Jamie Coward (KTS Racing Powered by Steadplan – BMW), Neil Kernohan, ‘Ramsey Rocket’ Conor Cummins were the eventual fourth to sixth place clinchers.
The final placings across the top ten leader board went to former TT Privateers Championship runner-up Sam West (P7), James Chawke (P8), Kevin Keyes (9) and Michael Gahan (P10).
Photo credit: Tommy Vennard
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
