In an unfortunate case of déjà vu, the weather popping up at Scarborough today for the latest Barry Sheene Festival instalment, was well inclement!
Greasy, damp, mixed, wet all-round, were the general conditions today for those circulating around England’s only closed roads circuit.
Just five races took place today, but it was a case of quality over quantity.
Despite a ten second jump-start penalty, Supersport B race pole-sitter David McArthur still went onto claim class honours by almost 34 seconds! Martin Robbins, Jamie Ingham, brother of ‘Tommy Club’ member Dan Ingham, rounded out the top three finishers.
Mad Bros Racing’s Gary McCoy commanded opening Supersport A, Super Twins competition, taking race wins by the respective margins of 4.512, 7.690 seconds.
Sam Johnson, Paul Marley (fastest lap holder – Supersport A Race 1), Tom Weeden, Johnny Stewart respectively were second, third from the middleweight, Twins class contests.
The Road Racing News (quick plug there!) Lightweights/Classics race was anything but predictable.
Twists, turns, you name it, Stuart Hall led then dropped lots of time, Andrew Murphy then looked set for a tumultuous first Oliver’s Mount success, only for late race problems, which concluded with a tip-off at Mere Hairpin.
In the end, outright race victory went to Scarborough stalwart, top of the 125/Moto 3 fraternity, Tony Flinton.
Early race leader, Whippet Racing’s Hall placed second leading 250 exponent whilst 400 4-stroke victory went to up coming local talent William Grant.
Overall runner-up on aggregate timing, Fox Classic Racing’s Alex Sinclair (Classic 500’s 1st) stylishly led the Classics field.
Andrew Guy, Richard Ford joined Sinclair in tasting victory today, acquiring Classic 350, Classic 1000 category wins.
Saturday’s sole Classic Superbike/Supermono race went to Team York Suzuki’s Mike Norbury, following an extremely polished display from the rider, who recently topped the 122-mph lap-mark at TT 2024.
Above showcased Supersport, Super Twins winner McCoy attained second with Tom Weeden, besting Don Gilbert on the sixth, final lap for third. Sam Johnson, overall, sixth, took Supermono class success.
Three wheeling aces had no luck today, with their race stint, three-times stopped and ultimately not re-run.
Hopefully tomorrow will prove much more productive, prosperous for drivers, passengers with two six-lap races on the horizon.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou