By Specks of blue sky, sun were starting to push through the clouds at Cookstown, as attentions turned towards the Mid-Ulster District Council Supersport race.
Fresh from sprinting to 125/Moto 3 race glory, Mullingar’s Derek McGee started on pole-position, followed by Michael Sweeney and late to the grid, Michael Dunlop.
Sweeney piloting the EM Building Yamaha, got the hole shot on the run towards Gorton.
By the end of lap one it was TT wins record-holder Dunlop into first, heading Sweeney by just 0.160 of a second, with McGee third, just 0.656 further back.
As lap two concluded, Dunlop astride his own teams, jet-black MD Racing V2 Panigale Ducati, still led. McGee jumped up to second, setting at the time, the race’s fastest lap, 1 minute 27.688 seconds.
The twice Irish Road Race Superbike Champion went quicker on lap three, as he nibbled away at Dunlop’s race-lead, now just 0.139 of a second.
Sweeney remained in third but was now over 3.5 seconds behind Dunlop and McGee.
Competition out front intensified as Dunlop, McGee encountered by lap six’s finalisation slower riders, there was absolutely nothing in it.
This would all change though on lap seven, with Dunlop unlocking a 2.241 seconds’ advantage.
From here ‘Maverick’, who set the race’s quickest lap-time on lap eight (1.25.090) coolly controlled proceedings, going onto win by a shade over four seconds, taking his Irish road race wins total to 120.
Sweeney chalked up third behind McGee, Novo Gen by FAO Racing’s Darryl Tweed scooped fourth with Daracore Racing’s Kevin Keyes, James Chawke wrapping up the leader board top six.
Positions seventh-tenth went to Brian McCormack, Richard McLoughlin, Martin Morris and the in-form Paul Cranston.
Remaining race finishers were Andrea Majola (11th), Liam Chawke (12th), Barry Furber (13th), Graham McAleese (14th), Anthony McColgan (15th), Stephen ‘Degsy’ Degnan (16th), Noel Carroll (17th) and Dennis Booth (18th).
Photo credit: Tommy Vennard
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
