Jim Hind at Drury's Hairpin on the Team ILR - Mark Coverdale ZX-6R during the Oliver's Mount Gold Cup.
Photo: OTTpix

Team ILR's talented Jim Hind was again among the winners at Oliver's Mount when the annual Steve Henshaw Gold Cup meeting took place over the iconic 2.41 miles of England's only roads circuit.

The 20 year old showed why he is being tipped for the top as he put all three of his bikes on pole during qualifying and consistently lapped among the front runners all weekend on what was only his second visit to the circuit following his debut there just three weeks ago.

A 1 minute 51.3 lap was good enough to claim Supertwins pole from Jamie Coward whilst he showed he can compete with the best by wrestling 600 pole from riders of the experience and calibre of Lee Johnston and Dean Harrison among others.

On his 250 Jim was in supreme form and topped qualifying despite sitting out the second session.

Over the course of the weekend Hind came away with no fewer than six podiums including a 2 & 4 Stroke double win, a fourth in the feature Gold Cup race after a terrific scrap with former Team ILR rider Joey Thompson (3rd) and some impressive rides particularly in the Supersport class.

Race Day 2 however proved to be an eventful one as he dropped his 250 at Farm Bends whilst dicing for the 2 & 4 Strokes Race 3 lead with Thompson, then in the final Supersport Race he crashed out in spectacular fashion at the fast Esses section whilst battling for honours with Johnston and Harrison.

Thankfully he only had mild concussion from this one.


Meanwhile Team ILR owner-manager and Oliver's Mount specialist Ian Lougher was arguably one of the busiest men in the paddock as he juggled managing the team and of course mentoring his young protégé Hind with the quiet, unassuming and professional manner for which he is renowned and respected.

On top of all this Ian squeezed in some good rides in the Supertwins races, during which he took the opportunity to develop the Team ILR - Mark Coverdale S1-R Paton.

Lougher also finished fourth overall in the Supertwins points, just one behind Hind.

With great teamwork matched by great performances on the track, it was a satisfying and eventful visit to Oliver's Mount for Team ILR and the focus for the team now turns to short circuit action with a return to the BSB Supersport paddock this weekend with Joe Loughlin on the Team ILR - Mark Coverdale R6 Yamaha.

Team ILR owner-manager Ian Lougher:

"Once the dust settled after the latest Oliver’s Mount Gold Cup meeting, we have had time to reflect on an up and down meeting for the team.

For myself personally I’m obviously not that chuffed with a brace of third and fourth place finishes, but I have taken the decision to develop the Paton’s suspension in readiness for our riders at the major road races next year, so am quite happy with the progress we’ve made over both Scarborough meetings recently.

What is more important to me and has made me smile and happy is working with such a young intelligent rider like Jim, who on a 7 year old 600 qualified on pole in dry conditions in front of such great riders as Lee Johnston and Dean Harrison and others. Add to that pole on our Paton and pole on Jim’s own 250 Yamaha (his own 250 which he saved up for himself from 13yrs of age and bought himself !!!!) Jim went on to impress with a couple of wins on the 250, seconds and thirds on the twin and a couple of fourths on the 600. Unfortunately he ended the 3 day meeting, in his last race of the weekend biting the dust coming off our ZX6, thankfully unhurt with only a bit of concussion.

It was such a shame as this was the first race he managed to get away with Dean and Lee and was the only rider over the weekend to get anywhere near them over the previous four races.

To put it in prospective ...in only his second visit to Oliver’s Mount he lapped at 1m 47.1 only 0.7 off the previous lap record....to say I’m impressed isn’t the right word.

Not only that, it was a pleasure to work with such a thankful, polite, hard working, down to earth young racer, with an equally nice family, which are not easy to find these days!!

Thank you to all the organisers and marshals who made the meeting able to go ahead.

A big thank-you for all their hard work to Mr Mark Coverdale, Jacko, Robert, Asa, Geoff, Julia and George.

Can’t wait to work with you all again...mega.

In closing, everyone at Team ILR passes on their very best wishes for a speedy recovery to our main sponsor Mr. Mark Coverdale following his recent stay in hospital."


Jim Hind:

"I’m proper happy with how the Gold Cup went, I showed some good pace to run at the front and just need to take a step back and take my time.

Brilliant weekend, I can’t thank Ian and the team enough for their efforts and understanding.

Can’t wait for next year."