Following a frenetic period of practice; racing at the Southern 100 meeting began in tropical weather and on track the racing was red hot. A record breaking Corlett’s trophies 600cc/1000cc provided a wonderful spectacle for the huge crowds gathered around the lovely 4.25 miles of the Billown Circuit and raised the spirits after the tragic death of David Jukes in Monday’s practice session.

Race 1.

Guy Martin was out of the traps faster than Usain Bolt, leaving pole sitter Dean Harrison and race favourite Michael Dunlop in his wake as the field screamed away towards Ballakeighan. He had a lead of over 1s at Cross Four Ways, taking advantage of a clear track whilst his rivals scrapped for track position. Martin was flying as he rounded Stadium using all of the road, before breaking hard for the tight right hander at Castletown Corner. He was neat and fast on the Tyco Suzuki as he took the corner and then powered away onto the bypass to complete the lap. He led by 2.5s from Dunlop, who was wearing a new black and gold Shoei helmet; Harrison and Dan Kneen. A blanket would have covered the three as they came into the corner. Michael Pearson and Jamie Hamilton filled out the leader board; whilst the first 600cc machine was, as expected, that of William Dunlop on his own Yamaha. The Milwaukee machines that he and Conor Cummins were due to ride had been withdrawn by the team; problems elsewhere robbing William of his Superbike and Conor of all of his scheduled rides.

Martin continued to lead on the second lap; his advantage over Dunlop was 1.95s as he left Castletown Corner for the second time. Harrison was 0.75s behind Dunlop but was clearly in the mood for a race and as tucked in behind to try keep the tow. Kneen held fourth, with Hamilton fifth and Pearson in sixth. In the 600cc class William Dunlop was stamping his authority over the race, he set a new lap record of 107.901mph as he mixed it with the larger capacity machines of Davy Morgan and Russ Mountford. Michael Dunlop continued to gnaw away at Martin’s lead; it was down to 0.75s as Dunlop backed into the corner in fine style. Harrison was 1.6s behind Dunlop but was lapping slightly faster than Martin. Hamilton, Kneen and Pearson were engaged in a tight battle for fourth that was providing great entertainment for the crowds. William Dunlop raised the 600cc class lap record again on this lap, but then eased his pace with the class win in his pocket. Jamie Coward appeared comfortable in second place in the 600cc class but Tim Poole in third had only a slender advantage from Seamus Elliott and Ivan Lintin.

On lap 4 Dunlop was just 10 metres behind Martin as they peeled onto the bridge; it seemed inevitable that there would soon be a new leader. Harrison was 1.75s down on the leading duo and clearly trying hard. Behind; Hamilton had eased away from Kneen and Pearson. Martin still had a tiny advantage on lap 5; but the scrap with Dunlop was allowing Harrison to close. Dunlop took the lead on the sixth lap and opened the taps to try to pull away from Martin. He led by 1.25s at Castletown Corner and seemed right on the limit of adhesion as he powered around the corner. Such was his pace that he broke his own lap record. Harrison was also upping the ante and he had closed to be just 0.65s down on Martin.

Dunlop was even faster on lap 7, raising the lap record to 113.412mph. Harrison was also inside the old lap record as he continued to hunt down Martin. In the 600c class Poole had caught and passed Coward; but he was unable to retain the position to the end. On the final lap Dunlop had a 3.65s advantage as he accelerated away to take the laurels. Martin took a defensive line to prevent Harrison passing on the inside of the corner. Harrison’s wider line enabled to get onto the middle of the tyre more quickly and gain better drive out of the corner; this proved decisive, allowing him to edge past Martin on the run to the finish line. The great scrap for fourth was settled in Hamilton’s favour, with Kneen fifth and Ian Lougher sixth, with only 0.34s covering them on the line. Michael Pearson missed out on a leader board place by just 0.5s. William Dunlop finished seventh overall for a clear class win, from Coward and Poole; the unfortunate Elliot retired from the fray on the final lap.

This was a fine opener for the meeting there was close action throughout the field; with new lap and race records being set in both classes.

Corlett’s Trophies 600cc / 1000cc Race

1. Michael Dunlop 1000 Honda 111.258mph
2. Dean Harrison 1000 Kawasaki 110.877mph
3. Guy Martin 1000 Suzuki 110.869mph
4. Jamie Hamilton 1000 Kawasaki 108.057mph
5. Dan Kneen 1000 Suzuki 108.036mph
6. Ian Lougher 1000 Honda 108.025mph


Race 2.

The second race of the meeting was the Vehicle Sourcing Centre Sidecar Race. This produced the expected duel in the sun between Tim Reeves/Dan Sayle and Ben Birchall/Tom Birchall. The start was delayed because of – good weather. The bright sunlight meant that those at the rear of the grid could not see the starting lights. The delay caused an overheating problem that resulted in past champions Ian and Carl Bell having to withdraw. The race was finally started by using the tried and tested flag method.

Reeves was quickest away from the line and he led as the outfits powered past the commentary point at Cross Four Ways. It was an impressive sight as the leading outfits swept around Stadium and then snaked under breaking for the bridge and tight right hander. Reeves was just 20m ahead of Birchall as they threw their outfits around Castletown corner and hammered away towards the line. Gary Bryan / Jamie Winn were close behind in third and in turn 2.1s ahead of the battle for fourth between Greg Lambert / Kenny Cole and Conrad Harrison / Dipash Chauhan.

Reeves had opened a gap of 2.5s as they began the third lap of the scheduled six. Bryan was 1.4s further behind and pulling well clear of the Lambert and Harrison scrap that sixth placed Wayne Lockey was set to join. The close racing became too close when David Hirst and Dean Lindley swapped some paint in a minor coming together. Birchall upped his pace and began to edge closer to Reeves; the lead was down to 1.9s as they crossed the bridge on the third lap. The leader used a wide line that squared off the corner; whilst Birchall used a tighter, more flowing line; each seemed to be effective. Bryan was secure in third, with Harrison fourth and pulling away from Lambert and Lockey. The machine of Darren Hope spewed out flames as it left the bridge, the harbinger of a retirement at Great Meadow.

Reeves and Birchall upped the pace on the fourth lap; each lapping at over 98mph; with the lead 1.35s as they left Castletown corner. The only change to the order was that Lockey had passed Lambert to take fifth. Down the field a battle had developed between Doug Chandler and Debbie Barron. As she turned onto the bridge Chandler came into the corner far too fast and his outfit smashed into hers; making a sickening crunching noise as it did. The passengers were fired out of the outfits, with Barron’s passenger Stephen Cowin appearing to have been knocked unconscious briefly. Barron was stuck on her twisted outfit for some time before the marshals could lift her away. With two outfits on the racing line; three competitors on the road, along with the marshals assisting them; it appeared to take an age before approval was given for the red flag to be displayed. The spectators; who had been growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of the obviously necessary red flag; greeted its belated appearance with some ironic applause. Thankfully there were no serious injuries; with Debbie and the two passengers able to walk to the ambulances that took them to hospital for checkups and any necessary treatment. Chandler appeared to have no sense of contrition; saying that she had been holding him up at the hairpins (she had actually overtaken him on that lap). Behaviour like his has no place on any circuit; much less on a road circuit.

The stoppage meant that the race result was declared on the positions at the end of lap 4, with Reeves the victor by 1.1s; the consolation for Birchall being the honour of setting the fastest lap of 98.368mph.

Vehicle Sourcing Centre Sidecar Race

1. Tim Reeves / Dan Sayle LCR Honda 96.520mph
2. Ben Birchall / Tom Birchall LCR Honda 96.352mph
3. Gary Bryan / Jamie Winn Baker Honda 94.729mph
4. Conrad Harrison / Dipash Chauhan Shelbourne Honda 94.143mph
5. Wayne Lockey / Luke Capewell Ireson Honda 93.697mph
6. Greg Lambert / Kenny Cole GLR Honda 93.519mph


Report Received by Email from External Source
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Incident during Southern 100

The Southern 100 MCRC, organisers of the Southern 100 International Road Races, regret to announce the death of Mark Madsen-Mygdal, from Douglas, Isle of Man following an incident at Stadium Corner during the 600cc Supersport race on Thursday morning.









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Incident during Southern 100 Sidecar Race

The Southern 100 MCRC, organisers of the Southern 100 International Road Races, regret to announce the death of Paul Thomas, from Ballasalla, Isle of Man following an incident at Osborne's on the back section of the Billown course on the last lap the Sidecar Championship race on Thursday afternoon.

Paul 58, leaves a wife Nancy and a daughter Claire.

He was an experienced sidecar passenger and had competed previously and won on the Southern 100 course.

Away from being the ‘ballast’ in the sidecar outfit, ridden by Nick Houghton, he was a hard-working member of the Southern 100 Racing organisation and a great friend to all connected with the sport of motorcycle road racing.

Southern 100 Racing extends its sincere condolences to families, relatives and friends at this very sad time.

The organisers are carrying out a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident; the Coroner of Inquests has been informed.





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GUY MARTIN AND SUZUKI STORM SOUTHERN 100

Guy Martin and Tyco Suzuki today lifted the coveted Manx Gas Solo Championship title in spectacular fashion at the Southern 100 Road Races on the Isle of Man.

During the feature race, GSX-R1000-mounted Martin shadowed his main rivals Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop for five of the eight laps around the 4.25-mile circuit, before edging ahead to take his second career Solo Championship victory and a new absolute lap record in the process.

Martin's lap time of two minutes and 13.923 seconds upped the absolute lap record to an astonishing 114.245mph on lap five. The Tyco Suzuki rider also set a new lap record in the Supersport class on Wednesday night with a lap speed of 110.306mph aboard his GSX-R600, only losing top spot on the podium by 0.077sec. Martin also recorded second and third-placed finishes in the Superbike support races on Tuesday and Wednesday.


Guy Martin:

"I'm delighted for the boys and everyone involved with the team. I always knew I could do it when we got things bang on and today we've got things bang on. There was no re-inventing the wheel; it was just Danny, Mark and me and this morning we were cutting the grass and having a brew - no stress. But we've proved today that it's not a fluke. We caught him [Dunlop], passed him; took the win and the lap record. I said yesterday that I didn't mind coming last in those first two Superbike races to win the big one and that's what we've done. Suzuki is the bike to be on as we've shown this week, and as for the Metzeler tyres - they were as good on the last lap as they were on the first. Bang on 100%, boy. I'm now looking forward to running the number 1 plate when we return next year. I think we deserve a beer tonight, don't you?!"

Philip Neill - Team Manager:

"They say you are only as good as your last race and that's the race we really wanted to win. Everyone knows how much Guy loves the Southern 100 Races and for him to come away with the main Superbike race and lap records in both Supersport and Superbike classes is thoroughly deserved, and testimony to both Guy and the Tyco Suzuki GSX-R machinery. A massive well done to Guy and thanks to the boys for their efforts. It's nice to give our title sponsor Tyco Security Products and all our other associated sponsors a top notch victory on the roads; not to mention the many fans and supporters we have."

Manx Gas Solo Championship Race (8 laps of the 4.25 Billown Circuit):

Champion: Guy Martin (Tyco Suzuki) 18min: 07.864s;
2 Michael Dunlop (Honda) +0.5sec;
3 Dean Harrison (Kawasaki) +18sec;
4 Jamie Hamilton (Kawasaki) +17sec;
5 Ian Lougher (Honda) +10sec;
6 Russ Mountford (Kawasaki) +25sec.




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Ross Johnson - An Update

With rumours circulating at Walderstown Road Races in Eire and Mallory Park over the weekend that Ross Johnson who was injured during the 600cc Race at the Southern 100 on Thursday morning 11th July had passed away, the organisers are able to confirm that this is not the case.

Southern 100 Welfare Officer, Wyn Evans MBE, says, that Ross is in a normal ward at Nobles Hospital in the Isle of Man and will be undergoing a further scan during Monday.

His injuries are not life threatening and his condition is described as comfortable.

Further information will be released when appropriate.

Southern 100 Racing wishes Ross a speedy and full recovery and look forward to seeing him at Billown in the future.