By Road Racing News Barry Sheene Classic preview series about the first UK roads event of the 2020’s, focuses today upon the always entertaining Supersport class:
Dominant last year within the Supersport 600 race stints at Scarborough, Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston will once again be in prime contention for more middleweight class success.
Johnston added last September the acclaimed Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup to his racing resume and there’s no doubt that he’s already established amongst the leading Oliver’s Mount exponents of his generation.
Others capable of running near the sharp end on Supersport machinery include Gold Cup runner-up Mike Norbury.
DC Racing’s Norbury has gone from strength to strength in recent times at Scarborough and he proved last year that he’s more than capable of providing stiff opposition to the likes of nine times International road race victor Johnston.
Added rapid, highly talented next gen roads forces keen to further embolden their racing CV’s next week include podcast star, 2018 Junior Classic TT winner Dominic Herbertson (Cowton Racing), Peoples Bike Team supported Joe Akroyd, Richard Charlton, Newcomers Manx GP lap record holder Brad Vicars.
Photo by Mark Corlett
Driffield’s Dan Harrison now backed by Danny Tomlinson Racing, Julian Tillotson, KY-JAX Racing’s Ben Shuttlewood, No Limits Racing Snetterton 300 endurance race podium finisher Sam Johnson.
2016 Senior Manx GP winner Tom Weeden, who will be in action on his own teams new for this season, YZF R6 Yamaha, Bradford’s Adrian Harrison, Rob Hodson (Dafabet Devitt Racing), Steven Haddow and Kingston Upon Hull’s Callum Ward.
Further depth to the entry is provided by seasoned circuit exponents which include Stephen Degnan, Craig Robertson (Cusworth Motorsport/CMR Performance Yamaha), Kevin Barsby.
Local favourite Paul Marley, Christian Slater, Tom Robinson making his return to competitive action, Rad Hughes and Kev Calvert/KRG Suspension backed Keith Pringle.
There’s also Richard Telford, MV Agusta mounted David Murphy, popular Welsh road racer Justin Collins, Whitehaven’s James Rothery, Manchester based Andrew Cullum on the entry list as are a host of newcomers.
High profile newcomers include for many the star of last August’s Manx Grand Prix, James Hind.
Hind’s eagerly awaited first Scarborough racing venture sees him Supersport wise, pilot the Team ILR/Mark Coverdale supported Kawasaki.
Additional Scarborough newbies to keep an eye on include Ben Plant a race winner at the Cookstown 100, Hoots Racing/Gorilla Racing’s Craig Howton, Donald MacFadyen and Obsession Engineering’s Martin Morris.
With an overall entry exceeding 60 racers, race fans, in particular Supersport aficionados will be ultra looking forward to what’s certain to be next week captivating 600 action.
Words by Stevie Rial
