McWilliams turns back the clock

Riding for the Warr’s Racing London team, the ex-GP star set the fastest time in qualifying and in the race won from Mike Edwards by six-hundredths of a second.

A happy race winner said: “The team wanted to win it badly and I am glad I was able to give them the victory. It is a bit of hobby racing in a way, but there are some very quick riders in the race.

“You have to ride the Harleys with a bit to spare. They are big heavy bikes with plenty of power and not the best tyres, so you have to treat them with some respect. It was good fun and hopefully the rest of the series goes as well as this one.”

Laverty takes first superbike win for Relentless Suzuki by TAS

Michael Laverty took his and the Relentless Suzuki by TAS team’s first British Superbike win at Oulton Park on Monday. In a perfect race for Laverty he opened a six-second advantage over Michael Rutter by the flag and moves into fourth in the championship. His brother, John, took his first podium in race one with third place on the Buildbase Kawasaki.

Laverty said: “The only way I can describe that race was awesome, especially as I was able to win in such as convincing way and if I am honest it was quite easy. I have always found it hard at Oulton Park in the past, but I have to say I am happy with that.

“You want to be able to win your first BSB race in style and that is what we did; the conditions played in to our hands a bit but the whole team deserved it after the last few rounds. It has been a good weekend for us Lavertys, so we will be celebrating tonight.”

For Carrick’s Alastair Seeley, Michael Lavertu’s Suzuki team mate, it was a fourth in race one and sixth in race two. “I was up to third in race one and then got held up by backmarkers. It meant I couldn’t make a gap between myself and the two Lavertys.

”It didn’t help when I missed a gear on the last lap, which let both John and Michael through. I managed to get back past Michael, but John was gone. I wasn’t happy because I had a podium finish for the taking and lost it.

“Race two was in the wet and right from the start it didn’t go to plan. It spun up at the start and I went from fifth to 15th into turn one. I was 13th at the end of the opening lap but I managed to fight my way to sixth by the flag. I suppose they were decent results, but a podium would have been nice. Anyway, I am fit and healthy going to the NW200,” reflected Alastair.

In the 600 superstock race local rider Nikki Coates had a massive crash and the race was stopped and abandoned, to be re-run at a later date.

The East Antrim man explained: “I was going down the straight from turn one on the opening lap and another rider came across me and hit my front brake, firing me off the bike. I thought I had broken my leg, but after attending the medical centre it is only bad bruising. I have a bit of a limp but the good news is, I didn’t miss a round as they are going to run it, allegedly, at the British round of the world superbike at Silverstone. So it was not all bad.”

There was more bad luck for local rider Andy Reid in the 125 race. The Jordanstown rider suffered two engine seizures in warm-up and the race. William Dunlop finished 11th. In the supersport race, Ballyclare rider Jamie Hamilton had to retire while Marty Nutt took 12th.

Lorenzo wins in Spain

Jorge Lorenzo climbed to the top step of the podium at the Spanish Grand Prix onSunday and moves to the top of the championship standings after a superb win at his home race in front of over 120,000 ecstatic race fans.

The Fiat Yamaha rider, who celebrates his 23rd birthdy this week, branded Sunday’s Gran Premio de Espaa at Jerez “a beautiful race” after edging out his compatriot Dani Pedrosa, who was second, with reigning champion Valentino Rossi rounding out the podium in third.

His traditional lightning start to the race saw pole setter Pedrosa lead into the first turn, with Rossi making up two places from his grid position to move into second place. Nicky Hayden on the Marlboro Ducati also got a good start from the second row of the grid to slot into third place as the field headed towards turn two.

Lorenzo celebrated by jumping fully clothed into the lake in the centre of the Jerez circuit.

Completing the top five were Ducati Marlboro riders Nicky Hayden, who repeated his fourth spot from Qatar, and Casey Stoner, with Andrea Dovizioso taking sixth place.

Barr second in British Championship

Martin Barr had a great weekend at the Maxxis British MX championship at Duns, Scotland.

In front of a large crowd Martin, who qualified third, made a great start in race one, lying second to Zach Osborne. The pair broke away from the chasing pack, but the local rider suffered some arm pump as the race progressed and he dropped back from the race leader.

Still, he had done enough to take a safe second ahead of championship leader Jake Nicholls.

“I was feeling real good until the arm pump, but I’m happy with second in the race,” said Martin.

Race two saw the East Antrim rider make a poor start, lying ninth at the end of the opening lap. He finished third by the flag. The PAR Honda man said: “It was a terrible start, but I kept fighting and got back up to second. I then made a stupid mistake and crashed but got back up to third and finished there.”

Race three saw him finish third, which gave him second overall. He said: “I was delighted with the results, which now put me joint second in the championship with Jake Nicholls and 24 points behind Zach Osborne. I’m feeling really good at the moment , so I want to keep the ball rolling.”

The next round of the series is at Lyng, Norfolk, on June 13.

Graeme plans comeback in June

Carrick’s Graeme Irwin, who recently had surgery to repair his damaged left shoulder, is healing well and has resumed his off-track training regime. The 18-year-old is hoping to be back on the bike soon and is targeting a return to action at the Lyng British Championship round in June, although he is aiming to be at full fitness before he re-starts his race season.

Carrick rider loses his life in race

Saturday’s racing at Kirkistown was brought to a premature end when local rider Sam Martin died as a result of a crash in the second 600/1000 clubmans race.

The 37-year-old Carrickfergus man had recently started his own solo racing career after being a mechanic to road racer James Redpath for the past five years. Sam, who had finished ninth in his opening race, was involved in an incident with another rider at the hairpin on lap one of the second race and died at the scene. Racing was abandoned immediately. Our sympathies are extended to his mother Betty and sister Andrea.

Irwin takes two at Kirkistown

Carrick’s Glenn Irwin extended his lead in the Irish supersport championship when he won both races

The reigning champion was on fire at the Co Down circuit as he won race one by a couple of seconds from Jonny Buckley with Michael Dunlop, who took his first Irish superbike win earlier in the day on the Street Sweep/ Robinson Concrete Honda, breaking the lap record, third.

Race two was a thrilling affair with Buckley and Irwin at it hammer and tongs throughout the race. Going into the hairpin on the final lap Buckley was just in front and holding a tight line, but Irwin decided that the only way past was to use the kerb, and that is what he did.

“I really wanted the double and there was no more room, so I had to do it. It wasn’t a dodgy move, but at the same time it was hard enough. I now have an 18-point gap with three wins on the trot. I’m happy,” he said.

Ryan Farquhar continued his domination of the super twins class, winning both races from Mark Glasgow.

Reigning champion Lee Hill, from Doagh, is still struggling with the new Suzuki and had to settle for seventh in race one. In race two he had a scrap for fifth with Larne rider Richard McCartney.

“Still no speed,” said Hill. “The bike is going back to England for checks. I am riding the wheels off the thing and I am still a good second off the leading three.”

Nigel Percy won the 125 race, while Mark Hanna and Denver Robb shared the 250 honours.