By Two years ago today, Danny Webb took further steps to becoming the UK’s first IRRC series Champion following impeccable performances at Terlicko.
Victorious by just over 1.5 seconds within the opening Superbike race, the second SBK encounter saw Tunbridge Wells Webb take the spoils by 1.8 seconds plus, holding off further tenacious challenges from G&G Motorsport’s Didier Grams and Markka Racing’s Erno Kostamo.
Photo courtesy of Robby Repsol
Czech roads legend Marek Cerveny took a brace of fourth place finishes whilst current TT Privateers Champion Jamie Coward maiden tenure on the ultra quick, flowing Terlicko course saw him record seventh, fifth place finishes.
For many though the main highlight of the weekend’s competition was the second IRRC Supersport race.
After Matthieu Lagrive’s dominant display in the opening middleweight class encounter, many expected the Frenchman to prove again too strong for the opposition as the second Supersport race stint beckoned.
Fellow countryman Pierre Yves Bian, Jonathan Goetschy had other ideas though and the second Supersport race proved in my opinion one of the best IRRC races of all time.
There was nothing in it throughout between the French trio of Yves Bian, Goetschy and Lagrive, going into the ninth and final lap with under 0.7 of a second covering the top three.
The ninth and final lap would see the gripping battle royal between them continue, the question was who would make that decisive manoeuvre needed to secure victory in a race of this ilk.
Perhaps surprising some it was future TT Races exponent Goetschy who by under 0.06 of a second sealed race honours, edging out long term race leader Yves Bian, as current twice existing class Champion Lagrive finished third setting a new quickest lap of the race, lapping at 2 minutes 19.737 seconds.
Words by Stevie Rial
