Ederney's Eric Wilson, better known for his motorcycle racing, put his riding ability to the side last week in the Isle of Man for the Steam Packet Company Southern 100 road races.

The event held over the 4.25 mile Billown circuit in Castletown is a popular favourite on the racing calendar.

Wilson who has competed on this circuit many times in the past, decided this year to take two newcomers under his wing, in the shape of Canadian Logan Barker and American Dave Thomas.

For Barker, it was his first time across the Atlantic, after getting hooked on real road racing at an event in Mexico.

Meanwhile, Thomas, who was on the island to complete his training for the Manx Grand Prix, took the opportunity to take part.

Both riders went well on this very tricky circuit, and both managed to qualify for both Lightweight/Supertwin main events.

During racing, Barker on the McCrum's Motorcycles Aprilia finished 24th and 22nd in races one and two respectively, while Thomas on the Obsession Engineering/ Brewer Racing Aprilia, who unfortunately did not finish race one due to a misted visor, rode a good race in his final outing to finish 19th.

Logan Barker in action at the Southern 100 road races.Logan Barker in action at the Southern 100 road races. (Image: Philip McCammon)

For now, it's a month's break for both Wilson and Thomas before returning to the island for the Manx which starts August 18.

At the sharp end of racing, Rob Hodson scored a double victory in the Supertwin class. In the first, he finished ahead of Jamie Coward and Davey Todd, and in the second over Todd and Sweeney. It looked like Mike Browne was going to take a double win in the Supersport class, but unfortunately crashed out on the very last corner, leaving Michael Dunlop to take the win over Paul Jordan and Hodson completed the podium.

Dunlop also took two wins in the senior class while Todd took the third. Moving to three wheels, it was Ben Birchall and Kevin Rousseau who took both sidecar wins.

Next up for the Enniskillen & District Motorcycle Club members is the Neil and Donny Robinson Memorial Races at Bishopscourt on July 20 and 21, and the road racers will head to Armoy on July 26 and 27.