Competition at the 2019 Southern 100 gets underway this evening, with timed practice sessions for all classes, plus event newcomers such as Optimark Road Racing’s Xavier Denis gaining their first competitive laps of the fast, flowing, unrelenting Billown course.
In total 14 races are scheduled to take place including the prestigious nine lap Solo Championship, won for the last two years by Dunlop Senior TT winner Dean Harrison.
Favourite to make it three successive Solo Championship victories, Harrison is guaranteed stern opposition this week from the likes of Tyco BMW’s Michael Dunlop, PreZ Racing’s Jamie Coward.
Others capable of enjoying prodigious S100 tenures include PRL Racing’s Sam West, SMT supported Rob Hodson and Wilcock Consulting backed Michael Evans, making a welcome return to roads action.
The full practice/race schedule for this year’s Southern 100, which celebrates it’s 64th anniversary of hosting high level, top draw road race action, is as follows:
8th July:
6:17-6:24 PM Newcomers practice
6:25-6:37 PM Solo Newcomers practice
6:50-7:02 PM Sidecar Newcomers practice
7:16-7:29 PM Superstock/Superbike timed practice
7:43-7:56 PM Supersport timed practice – white plated bikes
8:10-8:23 PM Supersport timed practice – yellow plated bikes
8:37-8:50 PM Super Twins timed practice
9:04-9:18 PM Sidecars timed practice
9th July:
6:20-6:32 PM Superstock/Superbike timed practice
6:47-6:59 PM Supersport timed practice – white plated bikes
7:14-7:26 PM Supersport timed practice – yellow plated bikes
7:41-7:53 PM Super Twins timed practice
8:08-8:20 PM Sidecars timed practice
10th July:
6:20 PM Senior Race 1 7 Laps
7:00 PM Supersport B Race 1 7 Laps
7:40 PM Supersport A Race 1 7 Laps
8:20 PM Super Twins Race 1 6 Laps
8:55 PM Sidecars Race 1 6 Laps
Photo by Nick Wheeler
11th July:
09:50 AM Supersport A Race 2 7 Laps
10:30 AM Supersport B Race 2 7 Laps
11:10 AM Solo Founders Race 6 Laps
11:40 AM Senior Race 2 7 Laps
12:20 PM Sidecar Consolation Race TBC 4 Laps
1:50 PM Supersport Challenge race 7 Laps
2:20 PM Parade lap
2:40 PM Super Twins race 2 6 Laps
3:10 PM Parade lap
3:30 PM Solo Championship race 9 Laps
4:10 PM Sidecar Championship race 8 Laps
Words by Stevie Rial