Easter weekend of racing

This weekend was a busy weekend for Enniskillen and District Motorcycle Club racing competitors as they set off for a double race weekend.

Round two of the Ulster Superbike Championship (USBK) was on Saturday at Bishopscourt racetrack, with many of them taking the short ferry sailing over Strangford Lough to their second race meeting of the weekend, and third round of the USBK which took place at Kirkistown Race circuit on Easter Monday.

USBK Round Two

Racing at Bishopscourt got under way with the combined Supertwin/Production twin race, which saw Newtownbutler-based teammates Malcolm Benson and Duane Lewis dicing during the two races on their production twin machines, with Lewis having a slight advantage in race one, finishing in fourth place with Benson in fifth.

The second race of the day – that was reduced to five laps – ended with both riders in the same positions. In the same class, Enniskillen man Craig Scollan finished race one in ninth position, but due to technical difficulties in race two he was forced to retire.

Adrian Heraty was another club member competing in the Supertwin class, coming home with 12th and 14th place finishes.

In the Pre-injection 1000cc class, it was Ian McGarrigle, who has not competed in years, making his comeback, and he took home a first and second place finish in his two races.

Another club member, Dylan McCrory, competing in the Moto-One class aboard his 300cc machine, took two fourth place finishes.

Keith Richardson finished in seventh place in the first Supersport class, but following a racing incident which caused a significant delay, the second race for this class was cancelled.

The final race was the superbikes; in the cup class, it was Derek O’Donnell who while only recently moving to this class, was finding his feet nicely and finished in second place,

Lisnaskea man Alan Armstrong came home in eighth. In the feature superbike race, it was Alistair Seeley who dominated the class, taking the top prize.

USBK Round three

Easter Monday saw a sizeable number of spectators enjoying the mild weather. Enniskillen Club members were again back for more action. It was again the production/ Supertwin class out first; this time it was Fintona’s Michael McKernan who was out for his first race of the season and finished his two races in fourth and fifth place.

Adrian Heraty, who will be racing at the Cookstown road races this weekend, was keen to get track time with his new Supertwin machine, and he came home in 15th and 19th place.

Club member Ian McGarrigle, who was pleased with his Saturday result, was back again for Monday racing, the pre-Injection 1000cc had a small number of participants, and McGarrigle continued to add to his trophy collection with two second place finishes.

Club member Dylan McCrory qualified in fourth place on the grid in the Moto-One class but failed to make it to the start line in either of his two races.

In the Supersport cup class, Keith Richardson was on the pace during qualifying, and was upgraded to the ‘pro’ class (fastest Pro and cup riders combined). Richardson finished overall in 11th position; this race was won by Alistair Seeley, with Michael Dunlop in second – when classified against the other Cup Riders, Richardson took a second-place finish.

In race two, Richardson was the 10th cup rider across the line. In the Supersport Cup B race another Club member, Shea McCrory, crossed the line in both races in fourth place.

Derek O’Donnell was the last of the club members to race. Derek, who missed qualifying for the A races by mere seconds, finished the day with a first and third place in the Supersport Cup B. It was again Alistair Seeley who took the win in both Superbike feature races.

The next round of the Ulster superbike will be on Saturday, June 4, at Kirkistown Race Circuit.

British Superbike Championship – Silverstone

Enniskillen junior club member Jamie Lyons and his family-based race team made their way to Silverstone race circuit at the weekend for the first round of the BSB Junior Superstock Class.

The race, which was Lyons’ first step into the bigger bike class following on from his successful years in the smaller moto3 class, was set to be a fast-paced challenge.

The event ran on the ‘frantic’ National circuit which remains as one of the leading circuits in the UK. Lyons, on the back foot as he had missed a previous track day at the circuit due to clashes with his school exams, had less time to familiarise himself with this circuit.

The first few sessions proved to be troublesome as various set-up issues arose with the bike; however, by qualifying, the teenager was feeling more comfortable and secured a position on the ninth row, leaving him mid pack.

With just one 20-lap race, Lyons got off to a good start and his pace was steady as he made his way up to 18th position; however, on approach to turn one, another rider’s machine made contact and with a desperate struggle he managed to hold onto the bike and re-joined in 26th position.

Although shaken, Lyons quicky refocused and after gaining back positions he finished in a respectable 18th place. The next round of this series will be at Oulton Park on April 30.

The Lyons team, like most competitors, were quick to update and thank sponsors on their social media page.

The costs of competing for a small team like this or for any competitor in any racing series is huge, and quite often can only be achieved with the help of sponsors and supporters.

Any Northern Ireland rider is always at a disadvantage with the cost of fuel and travel added on top of the costs to enter and run a race bike.

No matter how big or small, all sponsorship is appreciated, if not hard to come by.

If you would like to find out how you can get involved in any way, reach out to your local club, who can provide any required information.

Info about racing in the Fermanagh Omagh district can be found at www.enniskillenroadraces.co.uk.