Racers to star during this morning, afternoon’s Dunlop Masters Mondello Park competition included a handful of Irish road racing’s brightest forces.
Runner-up within yesterday’s Supersport contest, 19 times TT winner Michael Dunlop got the better of Saturday’s race winner Kevin Keyes in a gripping six lap battle for middleweight class spoils.
An exhilarating conclusion to the race saw Carl Cox Motorsport backed Dunlop, edge out the aforementioned Keyes by only 0.209 of a second.
It was roles reversal in the following Supersport encounter as Keyes finished only 0.013 ahead of long term pace setter Dunlop.
None the less it’s been a very productive meeting for Ballymoney’s Dunlop, who goes into next month’s Cookstown 100 in top shape.
Superbikes wise, this afternoon’s opening big bike battle would see Roadhouse Macau supported Derek Sheils scoop race spoils, finishing just 0.230 clear of Thomas O’Grady.
Sheils latest purpose built circuit racing triumph elevates him into the lead of this year’s Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship, holding a five point Championship lead over yesterday’s Superbike winner Richie Ryan.
Championship leader going into Mondello Park, twice Junior Manx Grand Prix winner, Super Twins Race 2 conqueror Michael Sweeney has thus far taken fifth, sixth place finishes from this weekend’s Superbike races, leaving him 10 plus points behind new series leader Sheils.
Aside from Sweeney, Sheils, Dunlop, added esteemed road racers showing good form at Mondello have included Supersport, Super Twin rostrum finishers BE Racing In Conjunction with Richardson Kelly Racing’s Michael Browne and twice race victor at Armoy, Eoin O’Siochru.
Photo credit: Tommy Vennard
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou