Southern 100, World & TT Champions head for Billown

Southern 100, World & TT Champions head for Billown - Printable Version

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Southern 100, World & TT Champions head for Billown - Malcolm - 24-06-2013

The crème de la crème of the road racing world descend on the Billown Course for the 58th Steam Packet Southern 100 International Road Races.

Headed by the current and 2011 Solo Champion Michael Dunlop who will be riding the Honda TT Legends Superbike, hopes to retain his prestigious title for a third time in a row and emulate his Uncle Joey who achieved so far, the only ‘treble’ in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

Past Champion Guy Martin on the Tyco Suzuki will be one of stars who will be hoping to claim the premier prize of the meeting, the Manx Gas Solo Championship away from the current holder.

Riders who showed their prowess at the recent Metzeler Post TT Races on the Billown course, Dean Harrison, Jamie Hamilton, Ivan Lintin and James Cowton are very likely to feature on the podium, as are regulars, William Dunlop, Conor Cummins, Dan Kneen, Michael Pearson, Ian Lougher, Davy Morgan and Paul Cranston to name but a few.

The ‘Lightweight’ classes will see the renewed rivalry between Chris Palmer, William Dunlop, Ian Lougher, Nigel Moore, Sam Wilson, with newcomer Paul Robinson also likely to be in the throws of the battle.

Full grids are the order of the day for the Sidecars with current Champions Ben and Tom Birchall hoping to retain their title to add to their first TT victory last month.

Fellow TT winners Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle, who won the opening Sidecar race at the 2012 Southern 100 will be wanting to take the Championship race away from their arch rivals.

Whilst former champions Ian and Carl Bell will be aiming to take the coveted title for the fourth time with Conrad Harrison and Mike Aylott looking for their maiden championship victory.

Michael Dunlop - Southern 100 Solo Champion 2012
(with his minders Andy Clark & George Peach)
(Alan Armstrong)

The 14-race programme has attracted no less than 21 Newcomers to ‘the friendly races’ as the event has become known over the years along with 11 newcomers to the meeting.

The 2013 Steam Packet Southern 100 International Road Races gets underway on Monday evening 9th July, with Roads Closing at 6.05pm until no later than 9.40pm.

Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th at the same times and Championship Day, Thursday 11th July between 9.50am and 12.15pm then 1.00pm until 5.45pm at the latest.

The ‘unique’ Prize Presentation takes place in Castletown Square on Thursday evening from 7.00pm to Midnight and not to be missed!