Former Champions return to Southern 100 2010

With the 2010 Steam Packet Southern 100 International Road Races less than a month away, the organisers are pleased to say that an excellent entry has been received to the traditional July meeting, including former Solo and Sidecar Championship winners.

Five time Solo Champion Ian Lougher, along with 2003 winner Ryan Farquhar will once again hoping to ‘take home’ the magnificent Derek Ennett Memorial Trophy, as Solo Champion, however, the 2009 holder Guy Martin has announced that he will make his road racing return after his serious TT spill at ‘friendly meeting’, the Southern 100 and will no doubt be aiming to once again take the winners laurels and trophy back home to Kirmington!

Last year’s Sidecar Champions, Ian & Carl Bell will also be hoping to retain the title, father Ian for the fourth time, having also previously taken the sidecar championship crowns in 1999 & 2000 and son Carl for the second time. (Ian also won the Solo Championship in 1987.)

Double Sidecar TT winners last month, Klaus Klaffenböck and Dan Sayle also return to the Billown Course hoping to add the Petrochem Carless Sidecar Championship to their C.V.’s.

As always the quality of the entry received for the Southern 100 provides the prospects for some close exhilarating racing over the four days of the meeting which has been run since 1955, providing through the years future British and indeed World Champions.

William Dunlop’s last visit to the Southside course resulted in a hat-trick of wins in the prestigious Manx Telecom Post TT Races, which he followed up with a four-timer, including five lap records seven days later at the Bush National Road Races, will be out to collect more silverware as he competes in most of the solo classes being contested.

Two other winners at ‘The Bush’ were Davy Morgan and John Burrows; they two will be endeavouring to be on top of the podium during the meeting.

The depth of the entry doesn’t stop with the above mentioned riders, as you add to the mix previous Billown winners Roy Richardson, Barry Davidson, Adrian McFarland, Nigel Moore, Michael Dunlop, Chris Palmer, Steve Mercer, Phil Harvey, Dan Sayle along with fast-learning mewcomers’ Czech Michal Dokoupil; Ulstermen Michael Pearson and Wayne Hamilton the tension will be electric as the grid form up prior to each race.

The Sidecar entry is equally impressive with previous winning crew Roy Hanks/Dave Wells in the line-up alongside Simon Neary/Paul Knapton, Greg Lambert/Jason Slous, Gary Bryan/Gary Partridge, Nigel Connole/TBA, Wayne Lockey/Dave Brown, Brian Kelly/ Dicky Gale and Glyn Jones/Jason O’Connor to name just some of the entry and once again the ‘charioteers’ will be certain to live up to expectations once the flag drops!

Practice for the 2010 Steam Packet Southern 100 International Road Races takes place on Monday evening 12th July between 6.05pm and 9.40pm and the first part of Tuesday evening 13th July, once again starting at 6.05pm.

The first two races of the meeting commence at 8.00pm on the Tuesday after the conclusion of qualifying, with the roads opening no later than 9.40pm Wednesday, 14th July sees a further four races run, including the first outing of the three-wheelers, whilst ‘Championship Day’ Thursday 15th two races will be held between 9.50am and 12.15pm.

The roads will close again between 1.00pm and 5.45pm for the final five races, including the prestigious Petrochem Carless Sidecar and the Pro Tours Solo Championship Races.

The definitely not to be missed Prize Presentation takes place on Thursday evening in the unique atmosphere of Castletown Square starting at 8.30pm, where fans and enthusiasts are able to mingle with the stars of the ‘Southern 100’ and acknowledge their efforts and applaud all the riders, who will have provided such a spectacle of racing over the four days of the 2010 Southern 100.