By Over 50 riders are entered in the supersport races, during the Spring Cup National Road Races.
A lot of attention will be on Dean Harrison embarking on his first roads appearance of the year, with his new team Silicone Engineering Racing.
It’s fair to say when Dean joined the team who enjoyed senior Manx Grand Prix success with Malachi Mitchell Thomas, that it surprised many.
The 2014 lightweight TT winner is confident though, that multiple momentous moments are in prospect in 2016.
Arguably the stand out rider around Oliver’s Mount in the 2010’s to date, his star has shone in all classes at Scarborough, it’s no different on the 600’s.
Currently on 33 victories at the mount, there’s every chance this already great haul of victories could improve further, thanks to Silicone Engineering Racing’s ZX6R Kawasaki.
Supersport lap record holder Lee Johnston, was one of the undoubted stars of the 2015 pure road racing season.
In particular on East Coast Racing’s 675 Daytona Triumph, he established himself as quite possibly at present, the leading supersport 600 exponent between the hedges.
One of the firm favourites for victories over the weekend, General Lee set to pilot an all new 675 Daytona Triumph for East Coast Racing, will prove extremely hard to beat.
Ivan Lintin is at present, the leading super twins exponent on the roads, but his prowess on the 600’s, is also impressive.
A winner to date of 32 races at Scarborough, without a doubt his main highlight to date at the iconic road race, was his 2014 Steve Henshaw international gold cup victory.
He has the international road race winning quality, plus pace, talent and machinery, to record series of supersport wins at the spring cup, as he pilots Devitt RC Express Racing’s ZX6R Kawasaki.
Dan Hegarty, made a quite brilliant Oliver’s Mount debut, at last years spring cup. Since then he went onto have a highly productive gold cup meet, notching up hugely impressive second place finish, in the second senior race.
For supersport real roads competition in 2016, he’s set to compete on MM Racing YZF R6 Yamaha. Although many might think Dan’s just a contender for top six finishes, don’t at all be surprised if he at least leads home one of the 600 encounters.
2014 Duke Road Race Rankings champion James Cowton, has without a doubt one of the most trick 600’s on the grid.
The Cowton Racing by Radcliffe’s CBR 600 Honda, has a great pedigree. The last few years has seen James regularly in contention for supersport success around the mount, where in my opinion at times, his competitors have had superior machinery.
Photo by Mixed Bag Photography
Now mounting what is a much higher spec machine, compared to his previous CBR 600 Honda, victories are well within his grasp.
2015 TT privateers champion Dan Cooper, is one to watch on the Ruby Racing 675 Daytona Triumph.
The twice Welsh open winner at the Aberdare Park Road Races, is amongst the most improved pure road racer’s in recent years.
It would’nt at all be a surprise to many, to see Dan battling for top three finishes.
Same notion applies to Jamie Coward, who switches from YZF R6 Yamaha machinery this year, to a ZX6R Kawasaki backed by RJP Racing.
Rising stars Mark Goodings, Brad Vicars, Trickbits FBM Performance’s Jay Bellers Smith, Tom Robinson, Rob Hodson, Matthew Rees and Adrian Harrison, all have the pace to seal world class results.
Added stand out entrants include Mick Goodings, the returning Gary Graves, JHS Racing’s Michael Russell, Dave Hewson, Davy Morgan, France’s Nicolas Pautet, Callum Ward, James Hinchliffe, David McConnachy, Darren Cooper and James Tadman.
Tom Weeden on his own teams 675 Daytona Triumph, is more than capable of springing a surprise or two. The sixth place finisher in the 2015 senior Manx Grand Prix, finished third overall in last years spring cup.
Newcomers to watch include Wayne Humble, Jason Corcoran, Richard Charlton, Mike Mace, Jamie Williams, Chris Dixon and Mike Norbury.
Supersport races, always provide close fought, entertaining action at Oliver’s Mount.
Expect no different this weekend, it’s extremely hard to call, as to who will lead home, the hugely competitive field.
Words by Stevie Rial
