By With competition delayed for three and a half hours plus, due to persistent mist at Scarborough, it took till closing in on 3:30 PM, till qualifying sessions took centre stage.
Supersport 600’s were first up and after a steady away start, Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston powered to the top of the times sheet.
Johnston who elected to not participate in the prior free practice session, step by step increased his pace throughout qualifying, before dropping a 1 minute 52.300 seconds lap time, to make him fastest by over 1.4 seconds.
Nearest pursuer to Ashcourt Racing’s Johnston was 2018 Junior Classic TT winner Dominic Herbertson, who also went onto finish second quickest within the Classic B, Super Twins qualifying stints.
Getting the better of Herbertson on two stroke Classic B machinery was Rhys Hardisty whilst the Super Twins pace was set by 2019 Lightweight TT runner-up, KTS Racing’s Jamie Coward.
Coward’s best lap of 1 minute 56.088 seconds placed him 1.2 seconds clear of podcast star, paddock favourite Herbertson, who in turn enjoyed a two second plus margin over the most successful racer in Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough history Ian Lougher.
Photo by Gary Howlett
The versatile great racing all rounder that is Peter Boast grabbed 500/750 combined pole position alongside heading the class A classic field whilst GP 350 class honours went to Harley Rushton.
Newcomers to make their mark included Lightweight Manx GP lap record holder James Hind. Qualifying for the Supersport A races, Team ILR with Mark Coverdale’s Hind went onto finish third quickest within the B class Classic fraternity, plus finished a very creditable fifth quickest in Twins qualifying.
We’ve got to mention as well that’s this afternoon’s action also featured a certain Guy Martin, making an obviously well received return to Scarborough.
Overall considering the weather, the obstacles that have faced organisers, a pretty good first day of competition at the Barry Sheene Classic, the UK’s first roads event of the 2020’s!
Words by Stevie Rial
