By Having taken his tally of race wins in 2017 up to 23 during the 67th Scarborough Gold Cup, Dean Harrison is all but confirmed to have retained the coveted Duke Road Race Rankings Championship.
Same as last year, the Bradford racer has consistently held an advantage of plus 200 points at the helm of the championship which was first run in 2002.
In it’s 15 year history, only two riders have won back to back titles, they are Ian Lougher 2005-2006 and Ryan Farquhar 2003-2004, 2008-2009, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.
On the cusp of becoming just the third rider to retain the Duke Road Race Rankings crown, it’s the latest tumultuous accolade set to be secured by Silicone Engineering Racing’s Harrison in what’s been a blistering 2017 roads campaign.
Continuing his supremacy at Oliver’s Mount, with multiple wins backed up by a new outright lap record at the Cock O’The North meeting, this year has also seen him scoop Solo Championship success for the first time at the Southern 100.
Plus most notably becoming the world’s fastest road racer at the MCE Insurance Ulster Grand Prix, courtesy of lapping the fast flowing roads of Dundrod at a truly mesmerising 134.614 mph.
Set to return next month to the Macau Grand Prix for the first time since his event debut in 2013, his progress around the famous tight, uncompromising street roads which host the final round of this years Duke Road Race Rankings Championship will be monitored closely by many.
Words by Stevie Rial
