Seeley scores his first British Superbike win

The Relentless by TAS Suzuki number 34 had qualified his GSX-R1000 Superbike strongly on row two in seventh position around the GP circuit. Then in a two-part opening race, red flagged because of rain, the diminutive Carrick man held off seasoned professionals, Michael Rutter and Ryuichi Kiyonari, to take the team’s second British Superbike victory of the season in treacherous conditions.

His victory also lifted him back into a provisional Showdown top six position, eking out a 10 point margin over closest rival John Laverty.

A delighted Alastair said: “I had some front-end issues in the dry part of the race, and in the re-start in the wet I had loads of slides on white lines and the kerbs, but managed with it okay. My visor steamed up so I opened it, but with the wind streaming into my eyes I had to shut it again. We held on for the win and it’s all credit to my Relentless by TAS Suzuki team and our superb GSX-R1000 Superbike that we made the top step.”

He added: “This is what I’ve always wanted in racing and now that I’ve sampled it I’d like more of the same. A big thanks to all the team sponsors, and also those who have helped me over the years and brought me to this stage of my career, including my family.”

The local rider had hoped to capitalise on his success but it wasn’t to be on Sunday with two crashes. In his first outing he was lying sixth when he highsided off his Suzuki. In his second race the rear came round and he lowsided out of the race. “I went from hero to zero,” said Alastair. “It would have been nice to have opened up a bigger points gap over John Laverty but it is better to go to Cadwell with a ten point advantage rather than trailing him as we did going into the Brands Hatch races.

“I’m a bit battered and bruised after the crashes, but I’m okay. Cadwell is the important one in that it decides whether we make the last six shoot out over the final three rounds. I’m confident about Cadwell. I won the superstock title there last year so it has been kind to me in the past.” Both races on Sunday were won by Tom Sykes on the World Superbike Kawasaki.

Locals looking for success in supertwins races at Dundrod

Local riders Lee Hill and Richard McCartney are looking for podium finishes in this weeks Dundrod 150 and Ulster Grand Prix races.

Lee Hill, the reigning supertwins champion, has had a lean season by his standards and hopes that his fortunes change at Dundrod.

By his own admission, Dundrod is one of his favourite circuits and at last year’s meeting he finished second in the supertwins race at the Grand Prix on the Saturday behind this years favourite Ryan Farquhar. Lee said: “I would love to make the rostrum again this year but it is going to be tough. Ryan Farquhar and John Burrows are the in form men at the moment in the class. My bike is going well so I hope to be challenging for a rostrum place on the M and H Trade Frames Suzuki.

“I had a run out at the Mid Antrim on the bike but I had to start from the back of the grid as there was no practice times due to the weather and they used championship positions to decide on the grid positions. I made it through to tenth which was nothing to write home about but it was a run on the roads before the Ulster which was useful.”

Larne rider Richard McCartney has a new Kawasaki for the ‘supertwins’ races. His company McCartney Motors are backing the Dundrod Challenge race on the Thursday and as much as the local man will be keeping an eye on the challenge race he will be focused on his two ‘supertwins’ races. “We ran the new McCartney Motors ER6 Kawasaki at Mondello at the weekend and I was happy with my two thirds and a fourth. With a standard engine in the Suzuki last year I took a fourth on Thursday and a fifth on Saturday. This year it would be nice to make the rostrum. That’s the plan anyway,” said Richard.

Ian Hutchinson a five-time TT winner in June must be favourite to add a few more road race wins at the Topaz Dundrod 150 on Thursday and McKinstry Skip Hire UGP on Saturday but Guy Martin, if he has fully recovered from his TT accident, will be a major challenger. Scotsman Keith Amor will be a major force in the supersport and super stock races. From a local angle Ryan Farquhar and the Dunlop brothers must be the fancied runners.

Irwin wins three at Mondello

Carrick’s Glenn Irwin, is still on course to achieve his primary target for the season of retaining the Irish Supersport championship after another three wins at the weekend. The local ace finished third in the Leinster 200 Trophy race after leading in the early stages on his 600 Honda against the superbikes of Marshall Neill, the eventual winner and runner-up Brian McCormack.

“It was a great day for me. I broke Cal Crutchlow’s British supersport lap record as well as wining all three races so it was a day to remember,” enthused Glenn.

Irwin has been in blistering form all season racking up numerous race wins and lap records and last weekend was no exception. Now that he has joined forces with Mondello Park Race Circuit based in County Kildare, Ireland, it was no surprise that he took his latest wins at the home of his new sponsors.

Speaking of the new sponsorship Glenn had this to say. "I am delighted to be able to welcome another Sponsor, Mondello Park, on board. The help that Mondello are giving me is second to none and should really help me defend my Irish title, as well as aiming for the Kildare Supersport Championship. I cannot thank Fergus Brennan enough. Times are hard and Mondello are willing to help me progress my career to the next level. I’m pleased to have been able repay Fergus with some results already and most importantly to put on a show for the large crowd at Mondello. This help certainly give me an edge, at the weekend, over fellow competitors."

Glenn was visiting Silverstone for the recent British round of the World Superbike Championship, where his good friend Cal Crutchlow took a double Win, soaking up the atmosphere and networking with various teams. Irwin has made no secret that he is aspiring to compete at a higher level than the Irish championships.

McWilliams continues his winning ways

In the Harley Davidson XR 1200 Trophy races Glengormley’s Jeremy McWilliams carried on in his winning ways with two victories at Brands Hatch.

There was no such luck for East Antrim’s Nikki Coates. He was running second but was given a ride through penalty for jumping the start, which dropped him to 38th. He did get back to 18th but was not the happiest rider at Brands.

Farquhar wins four at Armoy

A great day’s racing saw Ryan Farquhar continue his recent fine form with four wins at the Armoy road races on Saturday, which puts him in the frame for more success at this weekend’s Ulster Grand Prix.

The Dungannon rider won the Open race from Keith Amor and Michael Dunlop and repeated the feat in the feature event, with the same riders second and third.

Kawasaki man Farquhar also won the Supertwins and Moto 450 races.

William Dunlop, who was named as ‘man of the meeting’ took victories in the 250cc and 125cc classes while Keith Amor just edged out Farquhar on the last lap of the Supersport 600cc race where William Dunlop finished third.

In the main 'Race of Legends' event, Amor led for five of the six laps, before Farquhar overhauled the Falkirk rider on the final circuit.

In the senior classic race East Antrim rider Gary Jamison took fifth behind winner Robert McCrum.

Barr on British Masters rostrum

Martin Barr was in action last Sunday in the British Masters MX championship at Hawkstone Park. The PAR Honda rider was fastest in qualifying in the MX2 class and in his two races he had two seconds which gave him third overall. In the MX1 class, which he has not ridden in for over two months, he was second fastest and in the races he took a second and a tenth for an overall result of sixth.

“I hadn’t been out on the big bike for nine weeks so I was happy enough with my MX1 results. The track was in great shape and I enjoyed the MX2 races. I was happy with third overall,” said Martin.

Thompson wins four

Glengormley rider Colin Thompson was in action at the weekend in Scotland and returned home with four wins and a sixth place on the GRP Motorsport Suzuki.

“It was all down to the help I received from Jeremy McWilliams,” he said. “Philip Thompson and GRP Motorsport have done a great job with the bike but it just wouldn’t work for me. I asked for Jeremy’s help and he said no problem. After looking over the bike gave me some pointers. Within fifteen minutes and a few adjustments I was equalling my best times at Kirkistown. At Bishopscourt it was the same. On worn tyres I was getting inside my best times at the Co. Down circuit.

“I went to Scotland full of confidence and set pole for my races at East Fortune. I picked a slick tyre in damp conditions for one of the races but I was ten minutes late with my weather predictions and the dry line only came through after seven laps. I had to settle for sixth in that one. I made it hard for myself in another race as I hadn’t put the bike into first gear properly and was left sitting on the line when the lights changed. I had to work hard to fight back for the win. It is good to get back to winning ways on a bike which is so good now.

“I would like to thank all my sponsors for their support this year. Philip Thompson Transport, GRP Motorsport, Arai, Putoline, Talon, Coolsky, and Mark Wheavil,” added Colin.