By Ian Watson spring cup road races 2013 report
The Ian Watson spring cup road races for 2013 had attracted a top class entry list for the first pure road race of the season. Leading the entry was 8 times Scarborough gold cup winner, Guy Martin. Guy competing on the Tyco Suzuki by TAS machines would be looking for his first spring cup win since 2005 when also competing on Suzuki machinery.
Dean Harrison was looking for consistent results when competing at the spring cup for the first time on the new RC Express racing Kawasaki by MSS Performance superbike for 2013. Dean at the spring cup would also be competing on Yamaha machinery in the supersport races riding a Ian Bell motorcycles prepared R6 Yamaha.
The atmosphere in the paddock at the spring cup was one of excitement with the first races of the season on the roads set to start. Oliver’s Mount debutant Ryan Kneen who’s making his TT debut this year was enjoying learning the tight and twisty circuit, Ryan qualified eight for the two supersport races at the spring cup.
After qualifying for the superbike races Guy Martin lead the way and took pole position for the opening heat of the spring cup. Mick Goodings took pole position for the second heat whilst Michael Pearson, Kiaran Hankin and Ian Lougher all showed good form in qualifying.
The opening race of the day was the first 125/400 race which saw Chris Palmer take victory in the 125 class whilst Alistair Haworth took victory in the 400 race. Next race up was the first sidecar race of the day which saw Ian Bell and Carl Bell take victory by 0.9 of a second over 17 times TT winner Dave Molyneux and Patrick Farrance.
Conrad Harrison took third in what was an entertaining first sidecar race at the spring cup. Next race up it was the turn of the first of the two heats for the feature spring cup race. Jamie Hamilton on the KMR Kawasaki powered by Vauxhall superstock bike took victory but only by 0.8 of a second over Ian Lougher who was in good form on the WA Corless Joinery/Jackson racing Honda Fireblade superbike.
The second heat for the spring cup feature race saw a comfortable for Guy Martin with Michael Pearson taking second place. Kiaran Hankin finished in a fine third place just ahead of Dean Harrison on the RC Express racing Kawasaki by MSS performance superbike.
Davy Morgan took victory in the 250 race whilst in the opening super-twin race Jamie Hamilton took victory on the KMR Kawasaki powered by Vauxhall ER6 with Dean Harrison taking second place on the Stewart Smith racing Kawasaki ER6. Dan Frear took third place whilst Oliver’s Mount debutants Connor Behan and Tom Weeden showed good form.
Guy Martin took his second win of the day by winning the opening supersport race at the spring cup. Guy on the Tyco Suzuki by TAS supersport bike rode superbly throughout whilst Dean Harrison worked his way through to second place on the Ian Bell motorcycles R6 Yamaha. Third place went to Ivan Lintin on the Taylor Lindsey racing ZX-6 Kawasaki.
Chris Palmer completed a double race win in the second 125 race of the day whilst Bob Farrington took victory in the second 400 race at the spring cup. The first leg of the feature spring cup races saw Guy Martin take win number 3. Guy took victory by over 11 seconds in front of Michael Pearson who was consistently fast throughout on the Team Hotties Thermal packs racing team.
3rd place went to Jamie Hamilton on the KMR Kawasaki powered by Vauxhall superstock bike. Jamie Hamilton also took victory in the second super-twin race of the day with Dean Harrison taking another second place with Dan Frear finishing in another good third place.
Ian Bell and Carl Bell made it a double victory in the sidecar races at the Ian Watson spring cup road races with victory in the second sidecar race. Whilst Conrad Harrison and Dave Molyneux secured second and third place finishes. Guy Martin made it 4 wins out of 4 races at the spring cup by winning the second supersport race of the day.
Finishing second to Guy was Dean Harrison whilst Ivan Lintin took his second podium of the day. Overall it was a great spring cup meeting which saw the 2013 road racing season begin in fine style and saw Guy Martin once again dominate around Oliver’s Mount. Whilst we also saw the talent and speed of rising stars on roads circuits which included Ryan Kneen, Connor Behan, Callum Laidlaw and Sam Wilson.
