By A top quality entry has been secured for the super twin races, at the season opening Oliver’s Mount meet, the Spring Cup National Road Races.
Leading the entry is reigning lightweight TT winner Ivan Lintin. Regarded by many as the leading super twins competitor on the roads, Ivan has in the last three years enjoyed a whole host of momentous moments in the popular class.
Alongside his magnificent lightweight TT success, he clinched back to back super twin victories at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2013 and 2014, series of victories at the Southern 100.
At Oliver’s Mount since the 2013 Cock Of The North Road Races, he has been the dominant force on the 650’s.
Piloting an all new ER6 Kawasaki for Devitt RC Express Racing, the 32 times winner around the mount, will be tough to beat.
One of the anticipated leading challengers to Ivan, is 2014 Duke Road Race Rankings champion James Cowton.
He has a new challenge in the super twins class for this year, as he switches from competing on Stewart Smith Racing’s Kawasaki to Cowton Racing By Radcliffe’s ER6 Kawasaki.
An established Oliver’s Mount specialist, James goes into his 2016 roads campaign, confident he has the machinery, to take him to the next level.
Following a comeback season in 2015, having recovered from injuries sustained in an incident at the Tandragee 100, Jamie Coward is determined to kick on in 2016.
Set to compete on his own teams ER6 Kawasaki backed by RJP Racing, he has the undoubted pace to record string of victories at the weekend.
It would not surprise anyone if Dan Cooper, is victorious in at least one of the super twin encounters.
His Oliver’s Mount debut at last years Scarborough Gold Cup, saw him make an eye catching debut, around the iconic road race circuit.
Piloting the same CMS/SB Tuning ER6 Kawasaki that he participated on at the gold cup, he’s a dark horse for super twin honours.
Joining the 2015 TT privateers champion on CMS/SB Tuning Kawasaki machinery, is reigning super twins Manx Grand Prix winner Rob Hodson.
Although it’s only his second appearance at the mount, don’t at all be surprised to see him, pushing for top five finishes or better.
Rising star Brad Vicars and the AJB Racing ER6 Kawasaki, are more than capable of sealing top three finishes.
Don’t discount either Nick Anderson, Printing Roller Services Racing’s Adrian Harrison and Tom Weeden on one of Keith Pringle’s new ER6 Kawasaki’s, from been near the sharp end of the field.
Leading riders not ER6 Kawasaki mounted include JHS Racing’s Michael Russell.
The 2009 senior Manx Grand Prix winner, holding the number 11 plate for the 2016 lightweight TT, is hugely looking forward to returning to Scarborough.
Although the SV 650 Suzuki might not be considered the super twins machine of choice, the twice Manx GP winner, cannot be discounted from chalking up world class results.
Additional riders SV 650 Suzuki mounted include Tom Robinson, Leon Murphy, James Tadman and newcomer Dan Harrison.
Further stand out entrants are Peter Boast on VRS Racing’s ER6 Kawasaki, Jamie Hodson, Jack Hunter, David McConnachy, Jay Bellers Smith on a KTM, Paul Gartland, Ian Stanford, Julian Tillotson, Adam Child and lightweight Manx Grand Prix winner Mark Purslow.
Since the super twins where incorporated into the TT Races in 2012, it has gone onto become one of the most popular real roads classes.
Around Oliver’s Mount we have seen great battles a plenty, plus it’s a class which has seen many riders breakthrough, then go onto establish themselves, amongst the world’s leading pure road racers.
Who will be victorious on the twins this weekend? we will all find out soon.
Words by Stevie Rial
