Junior Gearbox the
Duel in Kirkistown’s Crown
Though
the Championship may be called The IMC Snowflake Showdown, winter felt a world away
as the sun shone on a dry and bright Kirkistown Motor Racing Circuit for Round
1 of the Inaugural IMC Winter Championship. Hopes were high for a fantastic day
of competition and we were not left disappointed. The addition of new members
and a renewed hunger for success made for a spectacle of nail biting races in
every class from the first change of lights to the final drop of the chequered
flag.
With
the weather very much on side and the extra hour kip due to the official end of
BST (British Summer Time) 2018, the BMW Autoparts Junior Gearbox competitors
were fast of the mark and provided some of the most thrilling racing of the
event. The youth demonstrated yet again their developing race craft and soaring
confidence in 3 highly competitive races with battles being fought throughout
the field of future stars. In the BMW Autoparts Junior Gearbox 140cc Class it
was Magherafelts Jack Ferris and Cookstowns Matt ‘Missile’ McCord who were the
front runners in each of the 3 Races. As the chequered flag dropped in Race 1
it was Ferris who was first home will The Missile just 0.8 secs behind. The
Duel continued in Race 2 and Race 3 with Ferris again crossing the line first
but with an even slighter margin of just 0.4 secs. McCord never losing hope of
success demonstrated great determination and even greater sportsmanship in
being the first to congratulate his fellow competitors. Ruben Sherman-Boyd, on
board his MiniGP 50cc Conti finished 3rd. The excitement brought to
spectators by the on track duel was not restricted to the 140cc Class – as the
BMW Autoparts Junior Gearbox 125cc Class produced some of its own. Ballymoneys
Isaac Mark and Newcomer Robert Ronan fought tooth and nail in Race 3 with
passes any seasoned racer would be proud of being performed by both boys,
drawing breath from those fortunate enough to witness and coming down to the
wire with Ronan just pipping Mark to 3rd by 0.3 secs. Ronan
secured 3rd in Race 1 and a well deserved 2nd in Race 2
securing his 1st Podium of the season and 3rd Overall.
Another Newcomer, Kai McClintock, showed his promise securing 2nd
Overall. Rhys Coates claimed 3 race wins securing his spot at the top of the
Championship Table. One competitor who stood out on the day was Bailey ‘Bomber’
Dobson, the recipient of the GC M&E Star of the Inaugural Championship
Award. Bomber set lap times that would see him with the front runners and we
are certain it won’t be long before he bags himself a place on the podium. Jay
Coates, on board his Ernie Coates Motorcycles 110cc Machine, brought up the
rear and what he lacks in cc he surely makes up for in grit – another youngster
that keeps chipping away!
It
seems most apt that Misano Moto has become the Title Sponsor of the MiniGP
Class, as it appears that it is fast becoming Ireland’s version of ‘The Kayo
Cup’. Exciting to see the grids grow with the 150cc machines and they surely
look like a fun ride. It was class Newcomer Rossi Dobson who made it look
effortless as he secured top marks in all 3 races. IMC Youth Ambassador Jonny
Campbell, on board the Misano Moto machine, and riding the wheels of it,
secured an impressive 2nd in Race 1 having started from the back of
the grid. Campbell made his way through the pack and chased down Dobson but
just didn’t have enough in the tank to take the win. Campbell would have to
settle for 3rd behind Ajay Carey, in Race 2 and 3. Rhys Coates made
an impressive entrance to the class bagging himself 4th Overall
following consecutive 4th place finishes in the 3 races. Ritchie
Butler finished 5th and earned himself the ‘Best Turned Out Outfit’
kindly Sponsored by Detail NI. David Sherman was missing from the grid in Race
3 following a slip in the VETS Class and finished 6th Overall.
The
Temple Tree Services Junior Pro Class saw Buster Sherman-Boyd take the overall
win from older brother Ruben following a mechanical failure in race 3.
The
AJM Car Sales Senior Open Class proved to be as exciting as had been
anticipated. With a steadily growing grid of seasoned competitors including
Kenny Robinson, British Talent Cup Competitor Jonny Campbell and IMC Inaugural
Open Championship victor Jordan McCord the pace was fast and furious from start
to finish. Jonny Campbell put in 3 impressive stints and set the fastest lap of
the day on board the Bertie Boyd – Village Carpets Racing KTM 85cc securing the
win in both Race 1 and Race 3, followed closely by Robinson and McCord. Race 2
would see Robinson and Campbell exchange positions with Robinson taking the
flag, Campbell in 2nd and McCord again taking the remaining podium
position. Campbell took the overall but Kenny impressed with a major step up in
performance earning himself The GC M&E ‘Star of the Round’ award which
entitles him to a free entry to Round 2. Another young man stepping up into the
Open Class and making his presence known was Magherafelts Gary Scott (14yrs)
finishing 6th Overall on board his CRF150.
The
Ernie Coates Motorcycles Sponsored Stock 140cc Class welcomed an entry from BSB
Rider Aaron Wright who came out on top following a win on both Race 1 and 2 and
a 3rd in Race 3. Kenny Robinson again demonstrated his wealth of
experience. Despite a racing incident in Race 1 Kenny took the 2nd
spot in Race 2, setting the fastest lap of the day in the Stock Class and
improved yet again in Race 3 to take the race win and 2nd Overall.
Mikolaj Vaz showed promise with 2 2nd place finishes but a DNF in
Race 2 resulted in a slide down the points table and an overtake by Class
Newcomer Christopher Stirling who took the runner up spot.
The
Discount Beds Stock 140cc Group 2 Class grid was made up of both familiar and
new faces, including Skerries competitors Ross Sheridan, Eoin McMahon and
Thomas Hogan. It seemed that during practice Ross’s day would be cut short
following mechanical failure of his recently purchased machine. Ross was kindly
offered the loan of a machine and his long journey was not in vain as he totted
up enough points to secure himself a respectable 4th Overall. Tom
Nicholl took the class by storm taking 3 relatively easy wins. Michael Thompson
found himself amongst the front runners, one of them being Pole Setter Samuel
McFarland. Spectators witnessed one of the closest finishes of the day during
Race 2 as Thompson and McFarland battled race long for second spot, Thompson
crossing the line first by the narrowest of margins. Race 2’s result would be
echoed in the Overall Results with Thompson ahead of McFarland on points.
The
show of support to both the Championship and competitors from Photographers was
humbling and at one stage it looked as if we had enough on site to introduce a
Brand New Class to the Winter Series – one for future consideration perhaps?
The
IMC are privileged to have had The Ulster Superbike Championship attend Round 1
and look forward to having them continue their support throughout the
Championship.
Round
2 of The IMC Snowflake Showdown takes place this weekend, Saturday 3rd
November, at Bishopscourt Racing Circuit. Practice begins at 10.00am with
racing from approx 12.00pm.
Krystle
Black PR
Photo
Credit:
Baylon
McCaughey
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