BRADY AT THE DOUBLE WITH SECOND MANX GRAND PRIX WIN

Northern Ireland racer Andy Brady won a thrilling Visit Isle of Man Senior Grand Prix, adding to the Manngo.im Junior title he won earlier in the week, the first time a rider has won both titles since Craig Atkinson achieved the feat in 2006. The Martin Bullock Racer was pushed all the way by Grant Wagstaffe, eventually crossing the line a mere three seconds ahead of the English racer.

After a short delay to allow roads to dry, the final race day of the 2011 Manx Grand Prix got under way at 10.50am with the Visit Isle of Man Senior GP the first race around the mountain course.

Republic of Ireland racer Michael Sweeney, the first rider away from Glencrutchery Road, was the first to the first checkpoint at Glen Helen but he was passed, on the clock, by Northern Ireland’s Andrew Brady with fellow Northern Ireland rider Shaun Anderson a second down on Brady and Bedford’s Grant Wagstaffe a further three seconds back in third.

Brady maintained his lead with an opening lap of 112.580mph (20:06.50) to leave him just under a second ahead of Shaun Anderson (20:07.40 – 112.496mph) with Grant Wagstaffe’s 111.585mph (20:17.26) putting him in third place.

With conditions improving all round the course, Brady extended his lead significantly to Glen Helen on the second lap, building an eleven second lead over Anderson with Wagstaffe a further three seconds back in third. He maintained his lead over Anderson into the pits with a second lap of 114.538 (19:45.88) to. Anderson’s 113.816mph (1953.40) with Wagstaffe closing on Anderson in third (19:44.35-114.685mph), less than a second behind him.

Wagstaffe passed Anderson on the second lap and, leading on the road, had a clear run at Brady, closing the gap to eight seconds between himself and Brady by the Bungalow with Anderson over twenty seconds back in third.

Wagstaffe’s lap of 111.323 left him only five seconds behind Andrew Brady (110.949) and set the scene for a thrilling last lap shoot out. Wagstaffe cut the lead to only two and a half seconds by Glen Helen. However, he lost a couple of seconds in the run into Ramsey and by Ramsey Hairpin Brady had again built a five second gap.

However, Wagstaffe again came back at Brady, cutting the gap to only three and a half seconds at the Bungalow but the Northern Ireland rider held his nerve to take the chequered flag with a last lap 117.281 (19.18.14) and overall race time of 1:19.34.75 (113.788mph) to Wagstaffe’s 1:19.38.42 (113.701).

Behind the pair, with Shaun Anderson retiring at Kerrowmoar West, 2011 Sidecar Race 1 winner, the Isle of Man rider Dan Sayle came through to take the final podium position in 1:21.26.13 (111.195mph).

Race Result

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