By
The weather for the four-lap Manx GP Supporters Club Junior Manx Grand Prix, which got underway at 3:15 PM, could only be described as idealistic.
First on the road, No.1 plate holder Francesco Curinga was also first on the time screens at Glen Helen on lap one.
Just 0.574 of a second covered Curinga, Jamie Williams, Victor Lopez Santos whilst overall only four seconds separated the top six.
At Ballaugh Bridge, KTS Racing Powered by Steadplan’s Williams was into first, heading Curinga by 0.293 with Lopez Santos only 0.203 further back.
By Ramsey, Williams led by almost three seconds, this was reduced to 1.378 at the Bungalow as Spanish star Lopez Santos hit a rich vein of form.
Once lap one finalised, Williams remained first but was only 1.54 seconds in front of Lopez Santos, who’s challenge would conclude before Glen Helen on lap two.
With Lopez Santos out of the running, top chaser to Manxman Williams was now former race leader, Team ILR with Mark Coverdale’s Curinga.
Curinga’s second place came soon came under scrutiny from Chris Moore, who by the Bungalow slotted into P2.
Out front recent IRRC Chimay, IRRC Horice exponent Williams, thanks to a near class lap record of 115.173 mph, had stretched the race lead to 14 seconds plus as pit stops beckoned.
Post pit-stops, Hill Climb Champion Curinga regained second from Moore but was 13.3 seconds down on Williams.
14.4 behind Williams at Ramsey, on the run over the Mountain, Curinga nibbled a touch into the race lead.
As lap three concluded, the Italian was a shade over ten seconds down on Williams, Dafabet Racing Kawasaki mounted Moore held third, 7.716 further back.
Record Lap Speed, Drama, Misfortune Across Lap Four:
Only 7.296 ahead at Glen Helen, long term race leader Williams was now coming under sustained, consistent pressure from Curinga.
It looked like we were set for a grandstand finish but then Williams was reported as slow at Brandywell.
Confirmed afterwards, he had retired at the 32nd Milestone, cruel luck for the ever-enthusiastic Williams.
Williams misfortune enabled Curinga to bank in style Junior race spoils.
Curinga, the first Italian Manx GP winner of the 21st Century, final lap proved a record breaking one, as he set a blistering new Junior race lap record of 116.475 mph.
A delighted Chris Moore finished second, 19.788 behind Curinga whilst the remaining spot on the podium was occupied by Marc Colvin.
Andrea Majola racing the SC Project Paton took fourth whilst positions fifth to tenth went respectively to HeatTech Racing’s Ben Rea, ‘Tommy Club member’ Dan Ingham, fastest newcomer Albert Walker.
Obsession Engineering’s Martin Morris, VRS Racing’s Andrew Fisher and Father of Classic TT victor, podcast host Dominic Herbertson, Mark Herbertson.
Junior Manx Grand Prix Result:
1st – Francesco Curinga
2nd – Chris Moore
3rd – Marc Colvin
4th – Andrea Majola
5th – Ben Rea
6th – Dan Ingham
7th – Albert Walker
8th – Martin Morris
9th – Andrew Fisher
10th – Mark Herbertson
11th – Eoin O’Siochru
12th – Liam Chawke
13th – Paul Marley
14th – Wayne Bourgeais
15th – Steve Moody
16th – David Brook
17th – Michael Gahan
18th – Andy Whale
19th – Rodger Wibberley
20th – Mark Jackson
21st – Darran Creer
22nd – Richard Kay
23rd – Stuart Clotworthy
24th – Brian Appleton
25th – Quentin Limousin
26th – Adrian Skaife
27th – Krystian Paluch
28th – Ross Orchard
29th – Peter Creer
30th – Richard Duncan
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
Curinga’s second place came soon came under scrutiny from Chris Moore, who by the Bungalow slotted into P2.
Out front recent IRRC Chimay, IRRC Horice exponent Williams, thanks to a near class lap record of 115.173 mph, had stretched the race lead to 14 seconds plus as pit stops beckoned.
Post pit-stops, Hill Climb Champion Curinga regained second from Moore but was 13.3 seconds down on Williams.
14.4 behind Williams at Ramsey, on the run over the Mountain, Curinga nibbled a touch into the race lead.
As lap three concluded, the Italian was a shade over ten seconds down on Williams, Dafabet Racing Kawasaki mounted Moore held third, 7.716 further back.
Record Lap Speed, Drama, Misfortune Across Lap Four:
Only 7.296 ahead at Glen Helen, long term race leader Williams was now coming under sustained, consistent pressure from Curinga.
It looked like we were set for a grandstand finish but then Williams was reported as slow at Brandywell.
Confirmed afterwards, he had retired at the 32nd Milestone, cruel luck for the ever-enthusiastic Williams.
Williams misfortune enabled Curinga to bank in style Junior race spoils.
Curinga, the first Italian Manx GP winner of the 21st Century, final lap proved a record breaking one, as he set a blistering new Junior race lap record of 116.475 mph.
A delighted Chris Moore finished second, 19.788 behind Curinga whilst the remaining spot on the podium was occupied by Marc Colvin.
Andrea Majola racing the SC Project Paton took fourth whilst positions fifth to tenth went respectively to HeatTech Racing’s Ben Rea, ‘Tommy Club member’ Dan Ingham, fastest newcomer Albert Walker.
Obsession Engineering’s Martin Morris, VRS Racing’s Andrew Fisher and Father of Classic TT victor, podcast host Dominic Herbertson, Mark Herbertson.
Junior Manx Grand Prix Result:
1st – Francesco Curinga
2nd – Chris Moore
3rd – Marc Colvin
4th – Andrea Majola
5th – Ben Rea
6th – Dan Ingham
7th – Albert Walker
8th – Martin Morris
9th – Andrew Fisher
10th – Mark Herbertson
11th – Eoin O’Siochru
12th – Liam Chawke
13th – Paul Marley
14th – Wayne Bourgeais
15th – Steve Moody
16th – David Brook
17th – Michael Gahan
18th – Andy Whale
19th – Rodger Wibberley
20th – Mark Jackson
21st – Darran Creer
22nd – Richard Kay
23rd – Stuart Clotworthy
24th – Brian Appleton
25th – Quentin Limousin
26th – Adrian Skaife
27th – Krystian Paluch
28th – Ross Orchard
29th – Peter Creer
30th – Richard Duncan
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou 
