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| Andreas Racing Association TT Meeting Preview
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The only racing you will be able to see in the Isle
of Man this TT week takes place at Jurby Airfield on
June the 2nd. The event is to be staged by the
Andreas Racing Association, however, it is a one off
meeting, and does not count towards any of the local
Championships, and there is prize money on offer in
all classes.
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The thirteen race programme sponsored by The Steam
Packet Company is due to start at 11:30am for
practising with racing due to get underway at
12:30am. Additional race sponsorship has kindly been
provided by Conister Trust, Betinternet.Com, >
Parkinson Group, Celtic Leathers, Cu-Plas Callow, Gary
Rutter Joinery, Trevor Riley Groundworks and Bushys.
Several track improvements have been made
and there will be grandstand facilities in place for
the first time I can ever remember at Jurby. There
are other facilities such as toilets and
refreshments and it will cost you £2 to get in.
The meeting has attracted interest from several
riders who do not normally contest the Jurby
Airfield meetings, including roads specialist Paul
Duckett, Manx Grand Prix star Ian Pattinson and
British Forgotten Era Championship contender Brian
Kneale, but all eyes will be on the two visiting
Irishmen, Seamus Greene and Ryan Farquhar.
Ryan Farquhar |
Although a newcomer to the circuit Senior Manx Grand
Prix winner Farquahr must start as one of the
favourites for the main 1300cc races, particularly
without circuit specialist, Richard Quayle to
contend with.
Travelling partner Greene, riding his Investasure
1000cc Suzuki has enjoyed a good season on the Irish
Short Circuits also, and should be able to push
Farquhar all the way.
Top local Manx Grand Prix rider, Nigel Beattie is
brilliant at Jurby on his 250cc Honda. He has
recently started to ride a 750cc Kawasaki for Des
Collins, and is expected to use the machine in the
Open races, and should be in with as good a chance
as anyone for glory.
Fellow Laxey man Juan Kinnish will be a threat on
his 600cc Honda, as will similarly mounted Paul
Dedman, who is continuing his road back to fitness
after his 1998 North West 200 spill.
Others who should feature will be Paul Hunt his
Cringle R1 Yamaha, ex-British 125cc Champion Chris
Palmer, Gary Carswell, Paul Duckett, Chris Dowling,
Ian Pattinson, Tom Clucas, Rob Sells and Brian
Kneale, who is hoping to be out on his super fast
RG500 Suzuki.
Nick Crowe and Darren Hope are expected to dominate
the three Sidecar events on their 600 Yamaha. The
only pairing likely to get close to the flying Crowe
and Hope are the reining Manx Champions, Brian and
Neil Kelly, however, they have failed to get close
to them so far this season.
There are two 1300cc Clubman's events, and the smart
money would have to be on Tom Clucas after some
fantastic performances this year already aboard his
ex Philip McCallen CBR Honda. His most likely
challenger is Rob Sells from nearby Ballaugh who is
capable of staying with and beating Clucas, as he
has proved already this year.
Tom Clucas |
An early season crash dented Sells's confidence
early on, but he seems to be getting back to form of
late as his recent results prove. Philip Bell-Scott, Dave Kinrade and John Hulley
could all be in with a shout of the honours as well.
There will be two Forgotten Era races and they
should both be between reining local Champion Brian
Kneale and current Championship leader, James
Broughton. Kneale hasn't ridden at Jurby all season,
contesting the British Championship instead with
some success, holding on to second position in the
current rankings.
Brian Kneale |
Broughton has dominated the local scene all year,
but is likely to find it more difficult this time
out. There are a number of overseas entries in this
class to look out for also.
The concurrently run 125cc class should be a win for
ex-British Champion Chris Palmer, who has dominate
the whole season so far. However, Chris Grose is
expected to make his first appearance of the season
to the track, which he was master off last year, and
will be determined to show he still has it against
his good friend Palmer.
Chris Grose |
Norman Kneen will go well in this class as will
young Richard Murphy on his Mannin 125cc Honda. Keep
a look out for two other young locals also. Daniel
Sayle from Sulby is the current holder of the Race
School award and is doing very well in his first
full season.
Connor Cummins at just 15 years of age is even more
impressive, and has shown great maturity and style
in his first full season. The abnormally tall Ramsey
rider is enjoying his battles with fellow novice
Sayle and the two of them are showing great promise
for the future.
The two Formula 600cc events could prove to be the
best races of the day with any number of riders
capable of winning.
My money is on a straight battle between the 600cc
Kawasaki of Farquhar and the 250cc Honda of Beattie.
Nigel Beattie | 
Nigel Beattie |
Paul Dedman is the outsider, who is continuing to
regain bike fitness and confidence and could easily
spring a surprise in this race. Juan Kinnish is
another who will be battling for the win, after
enjoying a recent good spell on the Mainland.
Chris Dowling, Paul Corrin, Gary Carswell, Greg
Broughton, Tom Clucas, Rob Sells and Norman Kneen
are expected to fill the lower leader board
positions in this class.
The dark horse could be Big H himself, Paul Hunt,
who is hoping to ride one of the new 600cc Suzuki's
he was supposed to ride in the TT. The bikes have
performed well in the UK so far this year, and
should be powerful enough to pull his hefty frame
round quick enough to be on the pace!
The final class in the programme is the Formula 400cc,
which the 125cc machines will be eligible for.
Farquhar is entered aboard the John Shand 400cc Honda
rocket ship, but it looks unlikely that it will be on
the Island in time.
Therefore, 125cc stars Palmer and Grose should make the
running, with Paul Corrin on his 400cc Kawasaki likely
to be their main challenger.
Others to look out for include Dave Madsen Mygdal,
Kevin Ago Murphy, Norman Kneen and Neil Muirhead.
If the weather holds out, it should be a great days
action. We are covering the meeting in full as are the
Andreas Clubs own site and we ill have race reports
and pictures on the site shortly after the meeting.
Be sure to pop in to the Sulby Glen Hotel after the
racing for a pint, where several of the Bulletin Board
readers and posters are hoping to meet up for a few
drinks, and several of the riders including Farquhar
and Greene could pop in also.
Andreas Racing Association www.andreas-racing.iofm.net
Nigel Beattie www.nigel-beattie.iofm.net
Seamus Greene www.roadracing.fsnet.co.uk
Brian Kneale www.briankneale.iofm.net
Juan Kinnish www.juankinish.co.uk
Tom Clucas www.tomclucas.com
Ryan Farquhar www.mcadoo.co.uk
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