The 2020 Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Southern 100 Road Races were in an advanced stage of organisation, including entries being received, when the decision was made in early March to cancel the meeting, along with the Pre-TT Classic and Post TT Races due to the lack of a guarantee that sufficient medical cover would be available because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The decision was a major disappointment, not only to the race organisers, Southern 100 Racing, but also race sponsors, competitors, along with race fans from near and wide, who had already made their travel plans and reservations to attend the friendly races in July.

This July, more precisely on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 6th,  7th, 8th & 9th would have seen the 65th Southern 100 taking place with the crème de la crème of the road racers, both solo and sidecar vying for the race wins, especially the coveted Solo and Sidecar Championships.

How to fill the void in one of the much-anticipated road racing events in the calendar? Southern 100 Racing’s Broadcast Partner, Manx Radio has a wealth of knowledgeable road racing commentators in its ranks, one of whom has been and still is the long-serving voice of Cross-Four-Ways, Roy Moore.

When not behind a microphone, Roy has for very many years organised ‘Race Nights’, which apart from being very enjoyable and entertaining with his reminisces has also raised vast amounts of money for good causes associated with all forms of motorcycle sport and other interests.

His ‘Race Nights’ are unique in that they are evolved around a road racing course with six riders taking part, in each race  – all shown on a large board with the aid of photographs – a bag of seven test tickles and audience participation. Plus of course Roy’s wonderful commentaries as the race progresses with the appropriate background sound effects!

Roy suggested that the ‘Race Night’ Formula could be adopted to run a series of races during ‘Southern 100 Week 2020’ and a six race programme has been devised catering for 1000cc; 600cc, 650cc, the much missed 250cc class and the prestigious Solo and Sidecar Championship Races.

Continuing Roy’s theme of raising funds during these virtual races, the proceeds will be handed to the Southern 100 Supporters Club, and other charities involved with road racing also benefitting.

The Supporters Club assists injured riders and their families when required and when the circumstances are more serious. also provides funds for the purchase and upkeep of vital safety equipment to ensure the Colas Billown Course has all the latest equipment at its disposal and provides training for marshals and other race personnel.

Our 2020 Race Sponsors have kindly agreed to allow Southern 100 Racing to add their names to the six races in appreciation of their continued support in these unprecedented times and we are incredibly grateful to them.

The six races will be broadcast ‘live’ over three evenings, on Tuesday 7th; Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th July on the Southern 100 Facebook page https://tinyurl.com/s100Virtual from 8.00pm (20.00hrs)

The full race programme is:

Tuesday 7th July

Ellan Vannin Fuels & G H Corlett 1000cc Race

Mike Kerruish & Ocean Motor Village 650cc Race

Wednesday 8th July

Bettridge Motors & JCK Ltd 600cc Race

S & S Motors & Radcliffe Butchers 250cc Race

Thursday 9th July

Daryl Blake & Ace Hire Sidecar Championship Race

Hunt’s Motorcycles Solo Championship Race

Full details on how you can bet on each of the races are provided on the Facebook page and the club’s official website (www.southern100.com). Technical support for the betting has kindly been provided by Mark Moorley of Idesign of Castletown for which we are indebted.

We are sure you will enjoy these virtual and unique Southern 100 Races and enjoy a wager should you wish to help raise funds for the Southern 100 Supporters Club and other charities involved with road racing.

We also look forward to welcoming friends old and new to the ‘real’ Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Southern 100 Road Races in 2021 on 12th, 13th, 14th and Championship Day 15th July.

S & S Motors & Radcliffe Butchers 250cc Race
(Wednesday)

Ellan Vannin Fuels & G H Corlett 1000cc Race
(Tuesday)

1  - 1  - Dean Harrison - 1000 Silicone Engineering Kawasaki

The three-time Solo Champion holds the unique position of also being only the third rider to achieve this by way of a hat-trick of wins, 2017, 2018 & 2019. Dean is the second of the three riders this week to have two rides, in the 1000ccand the Solo Championship, he will once again be on the Silicone Engineering Kawasaki machine for both races.

2  - 3 - Michael Dunlop - 1000 Tyco BMW Motorrad

The popular Ballymoney rider has to date 3 Solo Championships to his name and is one of only three riders in the invitation only meeting to have two rides.  For the 1000cc race, he has chosen the Tyco BMW Motorrad machine, but will be astride the 1000 Hawk Racing BMW for the Hunts Motorcycles Solo Championship race.

3  - 10 - Ryan Kneen - 1000 Charmers Builders BMW

Part of the famous ‘Isle of Man Kneen Family’, Ryan has creating his own niche in Manx road racing with some impressive results on the Charmer Builders 1000 BMW, none more so that a dine second place in last year’s Hunts Motorcycles Solo Championship race. Not surprisingly he has chosen to rider the same machine in the opening race of this year’s series.

4  - 11 - Mark Parrett - 1000 W / C C Ltd BMW

Another long-time competitor at the Southern 100, Millhurst rider Mark Parrett has been around since 2000 enjoying his racing around the Billown Course with reasonable success during the past 20 years, with an 11th place finish in the 2019 Solo Championship on the W/C C Ltd BMW, which he will ride in this week’s 1000cc race.

5  - 44 - Rob Hodson - 1000 BMW

Another popular rider with race fans, Wigan’s Rob Hodson is making a name for himself at the July races with a number of top-six placings, most importantly a podium third in the 2019 Solo Championship on a 1000 BMW, which he has chosen to bring to line start line in the 1000cc race.

6  - 65 - Michael Sweeney - 1000 BMW

Skerries rider Michael Sweeney is a relative newcomer to the 4.25-mile Billown Course, but has certainly already made a lasting impression, notching up two podium places in last year’s Southern 100, along with a creditable 6th place in the prestigious Hunts Motorcycles Solo Championship race. Michael returns with his 1000 BMW to race in the opening events of this year’s series.

Mike Kerruish Plumbing & Ocean Motor Village 650cc Race
(Tuesday)

1  - 2 - Dominic Herbertson - 650 RE Express-Dafabet Devitt Racing Kawasaki

Hexham’s Dominic Herbertson is also a regular face at the Southern 100, more recently as part of the RC Express – Dafabet Devitt Racing Team on their 650 Kawasaki Supertwin machines on which he scored a double in 2019.

2  - 67 - Gav Brown - 650 Faraghers / Metalco Kawasaki

Port Erin’s Gav Brown is a regular entry in the Southern 100 more recently on 650cc machinery taking a 14th and 10th placing in the 2019 races. Gav will be riding his 650 Faraghers / Metalco Kawasaki.

3  - 36 - Jamie Coward - 650 KTS Racing Kawasaki            

Yorkshireman Jamie Coward is ‘a fixture’ during the racing season at Billown, racing in all three meetings, achieving success in all enjoying some nail-biting action on his way to the chequered flag. The Hebden Bridge rider will be out in his 650 KTS Racing Kawasaki in this special race.

4  - 56 - Adam McLean - 650 Roy Hanna MSS Kawasaki

Another of that talented group of riders born in Ballymoney Adam McLean has enjoyed success since he joined the fabled McAdoo Racing Team, but has also suffered the misfortune of racing injuries that have kept him away from the sport he thrives on.  Adam has enjoyed the taste of victory on the Billown Course and makes a welcome return on the 650cc race on the Roy Hanna MSS Kawasaki he rode to victory in 2018 in the Ocean Motor Village Supertwins Race.

5  - 75 - Dave Moffitt - 650 Kawasaki    

Another well-established Manxie, Dave Moffitt is a well-recognised face in the Billown Paddock, Dave is well suited to the popular 650 class, gaining 6th and 5th places in the 2019 races. It is no surprise that the Douglas man will be astride one of the Kawasaki twins in Tuesday’s race.

6  - 182 - Xavier Denis - 650 Kawasaki

A Newcomer to the Southern 100 in 2019 French Rider Xavier Denis, he certainly proved his pedigree with two top-ten places in the 600 races and a fourth and podium third place in the Supertwin. Xavier has chosen to rider the 650 Kawasaki in Tuesday’s race.

Bettridge Motors & JCK Ltd 600cc Race
(Wednesday)

Daryl Blake Construction & Ace Hire & Sales Sidecar Championship Race
(Thursday)

1  - 1 - Dave Molyneux & Craig Hallam - 600 DMR Honda

Manxie Dave Molyneux has a total of 15 race victories at the Southern 100 Road Races, including six Sidecar Championships shared with passenger Paul Kneale (1986); Karl Ellison (1991 & 1992) and Craig Hallam 1998, 2002 & 2003. Dave has his triple winning passenger Craig Hallam with him on their 2003 DMR Honda for Thursday race and starts in pole position.

2  - 2 - Charlie Freeman & Billy Nelson - 500 Norton

Charlie and Bill won the first Sidecar race in 1962 and went on to win a further four championships, the last one in 1969 on their Norton outfit.

3  - 1 - Lowry Burton & Julian Tailford - Ireson Yamaha

Carrickfergus sidecar man Lowry Burton with Marty Murphy as passenger first raced at the Southern 100 in 1979, taking the first of his five Sidecar Championships in 1980, which he retained the following year (1981). A change of passenger to Pat Cushnahan, the Ulsterman regained his championship status in 1983 and again in 1987 with Pat. 1988 saw Lowry achieve his last Championship win with Julian Tailford in the chair. Lowry and Julian return with their Ireson Yamaha in this one-off championship race.

4  - 1 - Nick Crowe & Dan Sayle - 600 LCR Honda

Manx pairing of Nick Crowe and Dan Sayle join forces again for this year’s championship race. Nick Crowe has four Sidecar Titles to his name three with Darren Hope in the chair in 2004, 2005 & 2006, with Dan taking over as ‘ballast’ advisor in 2007. So far, the only time one driver has achieved four in a row. The Northern crew will be on their 2007 LCR Honda.

5  - 77 - Tim Reeves & Mark Wilkes - 600 LCR Honda

Tim Reeves so far has four Sidecar Championships to his name in 2013, 2015, 2016 & 2018, with a change of passenger each year! Sulby’s Dan Sayle helped show him the way around the Colas Billown Course to victory in 2013. 2015 saw Mark Wilkes keeping the third wheel down, the following year it was Frenchman Patrick Farrance, with Mark Wilkes returning in 2018.

Mark is back on passenger duties in the LCR Honda outfit for the 2020 races

6  - 72 - Pete Founds & Jevan Walmsley - 600 Rowtec Suzuki

Knutsford’s Pete Founds and Grimsby’s Jevan Walmsley made their Southern 100 racing debut in 2018 finishing fourth in the first race and going one better in the Daryl Blake Construction Sidecar Championship filling the final podium place.

Returning in 2019, the same pairing took third in the opening Ace Sale & Hire Sidecar race before lifting the coveted Peel Engineering Trophy for winning the Sidecar Championship.

Once again, the Cheshire / Lincolnshire pairing will be aboard their Rowtec Suzuki for their race on Thursday evening.


Click here to place your bets: https://southern100.com/index.php/s100-virtual-races  

Hunts Motorcycles Solo Championship Race
(Thursday)

Click here to Enter - https://southern100.com/index.php/s100-virtual-races/

It's only £1 per race - from 6 races & we close the betting tonight at 23:59!!

It's going to be a cracking bit of entertainment with the legendary Roy Moore and not only are you in with a chance of bagging the winnings but you're helping the club raise some much needed funds also.

https://southern100.com/index.php/s100-virtual-races/