By In cool dry conditions, the Supersport Invitational non championship race, provided already a contender for the best race of the 2017 KDM Hire Cookstown 100.
With the original running of the race red flagged early, following an incident involving Michal Dokoupil, the re start would see a shortened distance of five laps.
At the end of lap 1 it was Derek McGee and William Dunlop, who battled their way to the front. From here the YZF R6 Yamaha mounted duo became involved in a battle royale for Supersport honours.
Photo by Baylon McCaughey
There was nothing in it throughout, between two of pure road racing’s leading exponents of 600 machinery.
On lap three, Dunlop aboard the IC Racing/Caffrey International Yamaha hit the front and from here was able to maintain a suitable advantage over McGee, to ultimately secure race victory, with the gap at the line been just 0.231 of a second.
MSS/Hotties backed Adam McLean edged out McAdoo Kawasaki’s James Cowton, for the final spot on the podium, following a terrific battle between the ZX-6R Kawasaki mounted riders.
Open/Grand Final pole sitter Derek Sheils was not far behind in fifth, as Site Sealants B&W Racing’s Paul Jordan completed the top six finishers.
Two times Junior Manx GP winner Michael Sweeney was next up in seventh, whilst Brian McCormack (Wogan Performance Racing) 8th, Darryl Tweed (M&D Racing) 9th and Thomas Maxwell 10th all produced impressive performances.
Ulster GP Super Twins champion Dan Cooper (Ruby Site Services Honda) lead the newcomers challenge in 11th, Brad Vicars recorded a very respectable 14th, whilst the evergreen Paul Cranston finished 18th.
If the opening Supersport race is anything to go by, where in for another thrilling 600 race tomorrow at Cookstown, William Dunlop vs Derek McGee, vs rising stars vs many, many more!
KDM Hire Cookstown 100 – Supersport Invitational Non Championship Race Results:
1 William Dunlop
2 Derek McGee
3 Adam McLean
4 James Cowton
5 Derek Sheils
6 Paul Jordan
7 Michael Sweeney
8 Brian McCormack
9 Darryl Tweed
10 Thomas Maxwell
11 Dan Cooper
12 Michael Weldon
13 Gareth Evans
14 Brad Vicars
15 Barry Evans
16 Neil Kernohan
17 Scott Miller
18 Paul Cranston
Words by Stevie Rial
