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Delayed by ten minutes due to a non-racing medical emergency, the Bremont Senior Classic Manx Grand Prix that got underway from 5:40 PM, didn’t fail to provide captivating action.
Lap 1:
With John McGuinness MBE a non-starter, first to get the tap on the shoulder was 2013 Lightweight TT winner James Hillier.
Fastest through to Glen Helen was North West 200 winner, class runner-up in 2019, Stefano Bonetti.
Bonetti opened up a nigh-on three seconds advantage over Davies Motorsport’s Lee Johnston and Dominic Herbertson.
At Ballaugh Bridge, Bonetti’s lead increased marginally, well only by 0.006 of a second!
Next timing point, Ramsey Hairpin saw Bonetti move almost 3.8 seconds ahead of new second place holder Herbertson.
Johnston was back into second at the Bungalow and had reduced Bonetti’s race lead to 2.57 seconds.
As lap one finalised, Bonetti still held P1 but by only 1.161 seconds over Supersport TT winner Johnston.
Herbertson third was 2.73 down on Johnston whilst the battle for fourth was topped by CSC Racing’s James Hillier.
Lap 2:
Johnston cut Bonetti’s lead further at Glen Helen and Ballaugh Bridge on lap two, with under half a second between the Senior Classic pace setters.
At Ramsey Hairpin, Johnston grabbed P1, holding a one second advantage.
By the Bungalow, Johnston led Peter Beugger Racing’s Bonetti by 4.416 seconds.
First to blast down Glencrutchery Road as lap two concluded, Johnston recorded a lap speed of 110.342 mph.
The distance between him and Bonetti, who lapped at 109.596 mph, stood at 7.222 seconds.
Herbertson maintained third with Hillier, Lightweight race victor Michael Browne, Hebden Bridge’s Jamie Coward completing the top six.
Lap 3:
Early stages of the third, last lap saw Johnston’s lead trimmed down by Bonetti to below four seconds.
3.6 seconds was Johnston’s advantage at Ramsey Hairpin, could he hold onto clinch a first Manx GP success?
The answer was yes with Johnston lapping 111 mph plus, clinching race victory by 8.244 seconds.
Second place finisher Bonetti, takes his Mountain Course racing podium finishes tally into double figures.
Aided via a 110-mph lap, Cork’s Browne placed third whilst fourth went to TT Privateers Champion Coward and the Ted Woof/Craven Manx Norton.
Finalising the first six finishers were respected Classics racer Alan Oversby and current Duke Road Race Rankings Champion Michael Sweeney.
Michael Russell, Hefyn Owen, Will Loder, James Hillier rounded out the first ten finishers whilst Harold Rowell Cup winner, for been the first 350 mounted racer to finish was 12th place finisher Nathan Harrison.
Senior Manx Grand Prix Result:
1st – Michael Browne
2nd – Stefano Bonetti
3rd – Michael Browne
4th – Jamie Coward
5th – Alan Oversby
6th – Michael Sweeney
7th – Michael Russell
8th – Hefyn Owen
9th – Will Loder
10th – James Hillier
11th – John Leigh Pemberton
12th – Nathan Harrison
13th – Dave Madsen Mygdal
14th – Andy Hornby
15th – Richard Parker
16th – Colin Stockdale
17th – Maria Costello MBE
18th – Kelly Carruthers
19th – Leon Murphy
20th – Jeff Smith
21st – Lee Jennings
22nd – Adrian Skaife
23rd – Richard Wilson
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
Fastest through to Glen Helen was North West 200 winner, class runner-up in 2019, Stefano Bonetti.
Bonetti opened up a nigh-on three seconds advantage over Davies Motorsport’s Lee Johnston and Dominic Herbertson.
At Ballaugh Bridge, Bonetti’s lead increased marginally, well only by 0.006 of a second!
Next timing point, Ramsey Hairpin saw Bonetti move almost 3.8 seconds ahead of new second place holder Herbertson.
Johnston was back into second at the Bungalow and had reduced Bonetti’s race lead to 2.57 seconds.
As lap one finalised, Bonetti still held P1 but by only 1.161 seconds over Supersport TT winner Johnston.
Herbertson third was 2.73 down on Johnston whilst the battle for fourth was topped by CSC Racing’s James Hillier.
Lap 2:
Johnston cut Bonetti’s lead further at Glen Helen and Ballaugh Bridge on lap two, with under half a second between the Senior Classic pace setters.
At Ramsey Hairpin, Johnston grabbed P1, holding a one second advantage.
By the Bungalow, Johnston led Peter Beugger Racing’s Bonetti by 4.416 seconds.
First to blast down Glencrutchery Road as lap two concluded, Johnston recorded a lap speed of 110.342 mph.
The distance between him and Bonetti, who lapped at 109.596 mph, stood at 7.222 seconds.
Herbertson maintained third with Hillier, Lightweight race victor Michael Browne, Hebden Bridge’s Jamie Coward completing the top six.
Lap 3:
Early stages of the third, last lap saw Johnston’s lead trimmed down by Bonetti to below four seconds.
3.6 seconds was Johnston’s advantage at Ramsey Hairpin, could he hold onto clinch a first Manx GP success?
The answer was yes with Johnston lapping 111 mph plus, clinching race victory by 8.244 seconds.
Second place finisher Bonetti, takes his Mountain Course racing podium finishes tally into double figures.
Aided via a 110-mph lap, Cork’s Browne placed third whilst fourth went to TT Privateers Champion Coward and the Ted Woof/Craven Manx Norton.
Finalising the first six finishers were respected Classics racer Alan Oversby and current Duke Road Race Rankings Champion Michael Sweeney.
Michael Russell, Hefyn Owen, Will Loder, James Hillier rounded out the first ten finishers whilst Harold Rowell Cup winner, for been the first 350 mounted racer to finish was 12th place finisher Nathan Harrison.
Senior Manx Grand Prix Result:
1st – Michael Browne
2nd – Stefano Bonetti
3rd – Michael Browne
4th – Jamie Coward
5th – Alan Oversby
6th – Michael Sweeney
7th – Michael Russell
8th – Hefyn Owen
9th – Will Loder
10th – James Hillier
11th – John Leigh Pemberton
12th – Nathan Harrison
13th – Dave Madsen Mygdal
14th – Andy Hornby
15th – Richard Parker
16th – Colin Stockdale
17th – Maria Costello MBE
18th – Kelly Carruthers
19th – Leon Murphy
20th – Jeff Smith
21st – Lee Jennings
22nd – Adrian Skaife
23rd – Richard Wilson
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou 
