By Last won in 2020 by 30 times TT podium finisher Dean Harrison, the Barry Sheene Feature race is one of Oliver’s Mount racing’s ‘Majors’.
Making the best start in today’s encounter, commencing just before 4:00 PM was Team York Suzuki’s Mike Norbury.
As lap one ended, Norbury held a narrow 0.376 lead over Supersport (A) races hat-trick hero Gary McCoy.
Post lap two’s proceedings, Norbury added a tiny edge to his race-lead, the gap between the ex-protégé of Rob Barber and McCoy was 0.446 of a second.
Local favourite Paul Marley, Whippet Racing’s Stuart Hall both slid off unscathed at Mountside whilst third place holder Don Gilbert, set the race’s PB lap, lapping just below 2 minutes 02 seconds.
At mid race distance, Gilbert (another PB lap time 2:00.734 seconds) was right with Norbury and McCoy.
McCoy grabbed the race initiative on lap four, opening a 0.515 lead with two laps to run.
Through the Esses, Drurys, Jefferies Jumps and it was all change at the front on lap five, Norbury re-took P1, Gilbert moved to P2, McCoy dropped to third.
Then drama, drama, Norbury tipped off at Mere Hairpin on lap six, Gilbert now was into the lead!
From here, GSXR-750 Suzuki mounted Gilbert surged clear, clinching race spoils in forthright style, registering on the last lap, the race’s quickest lap time (1.58.250 seconds).
McCoy second, was 4.715 seconds behind at the end of lap six whilst race leader onto the last lap Norbury’s demise, enabled Tom Weeden to jump up to third.
David ‘Action’ Jackson on his road racing return finished a good fourth, Roddy Taylor took fifth.
Andrew Jackson sixth, finished leading two strokes pilot with just four more riders completing the race distance, Kelly Carruthers, Scarborough debutant Joe Woodward, Charlie Hopkins and John Cliffe astride great-sounding Norton Petty Manx tackle.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
