By Triple Irish Road Race Superbike Champion Derek Sheils wasn’t far off matching Michael Dunlop’s existing Cookstown 100 lap record, on route to clinching the Open race title.
The first big bike encounter, originally planned to take place over eight laps, was twice red flagged following non serious incidents involving Adam McLean and Stephen McKnight.
Once the Junior Classics race finished, the Open class was back out on the fabled Orritor Circuit with a new race distance for competitors of just five laps.
As in previous race starts, the aforementioned Sheils and the Roadhouse Macau BMW quickly moved to the front. In contrast to pre-race expectations from many racing insiders, Sheils didn’t have it all his own way during the three five lap sprint, with strong pressure provided by Martin Jones Racing’s Michael Sweeney.
Photo by Rod Neill
Ultimately though Sheils proved too strong for twice Junior Manx GP winner Sweeney, with an impressive final lap time of 1 minute 23.387 seconds, enabling him to move two seconds plus clear come the race’s conclusion.
Thomas Maxwell was over seconds behind Sweeney in third place whilst Adam McLean none the worse for his previous incident placed fourth ahead of Logan Racing’s Neil Kernohan.
Michael Browne led the BE Racing In Conjunction with Richardson Kelly Racing challenge in sixth as team mate Paul Jordan, Richard Charlton, Dean Campbell, 2009 TT XGP winner Rob Barber concluded the first ten finishers.
Steelweld Fabrications Open Race result in full, is as follows:
1 Derek Sheils
2 Michael Sweeney
3 Thomas Maxwell
4 Adam McLean
5 Neil Kernohan
6 Michael Browne
7 Paul Jordan
8 Richard Charlton
9 Dean Campbell
10 Rob Barber
11 Davy Morgan
12 Paul Gartland
13 Paul Cranston
14 Dan Harrison
15 Dermot Cleary
16 Stephen Tobin
17 Andy McAllister
18 Stephen Degnan
19 Noel Carroll
20 Alan Johnston
Words by Stevie Rial
