Joey Thompson continued his pure road racing season when he took part in the Barry Sheene Road Race Festival at the weekend at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough, a circuit on which he has always ridden particularly well.

This meeting was no exception, and on a weekend which at times was badly affected by poor weather, the young relative newcomer to this particular discipline of the sport came away from the meeting with more solid performances including two wins and a further podium place.

On a particularly tough first day due to the weather, Joey managed two top ten finishes, 6th in the Junior 600 (4th fastest lap) and 8th in the Solo Open races (second 600 rider) respectively.

On Sunday, the Auto 66 club re-scheduled the programme to fit in the six races which were unable to be run on Saturday, so a busy day lay ahead.

The action got underway at 9 am on a drying circuit, and Thompson got his day's action off to the perfect start when he romped to a start to finish victory in the Lightweight race by over half a minute and claiming the fastest lap of the race.
With Team ILR mechanic Jacko and his dad John providing the crucial support, it was a repeat performance in the second Lightweight race when Joey again was never headed to win by almost 24 seconds on the immaculate JTR Thompson TZ250 Yamaha and again post the fastest lap.

Sandwiched between the two wins was a superb ride in the second Junior 600 race of the weekend where Joey took second place on the Team ILR ZX-6 Kawasaki, 2.44 seconds behind Jamie Coward and almost a second and a half clear of third placed James Cowton.
Particularly pleasing was Joey recording his personal best 600 lap around Oliver's Mount, which also gave him the fastest lap of the race and the event record which was held by Daley Mathison from the previous day.

Thompson concluded his weekend with another impressive ride to take fifth in the Senior Open event where he was the highest placed 600 rider and was the third fastest rider in the race.

From the Yorkshire coast, Joey now heads to Northern Ireland where he will be joined by his mentor and Team ILR owner/manager Ian Lougher as they both make their debuts at the Armoy Road Races this weekend.


Team ILR owner manager Ian Lougher:

"Joey is gaining in confidence at every meeting. although Saturday at Oliver's Mount was a bit of a wash out with bad weather and then an oil spillage,

Sunday was Joey's best showing to date, finishing 2nd in the 600 race bettering his best lap times by over one and a half seconds. In the 1000cc race he came from 11th place on the first lap to come home in a fine 5th place.

In the 250cc event he once again took the honours on his Thompson TZ Yamaha. 

We all look forward to working with Joey next weekend at Armoy road races."

Joey Thompson:

"What a weekend at Oliver's Mount, conditions changing all weekend put us on the back foot setting up the new Kawasaki.

Our aim was podiums in the 600 and 250cc and we achieved our target and much higher with two 250cc wins and a 2nd place in the 600 race and also taking the fastest lap of the race.

Hopefully we can carry this progression on to Armoy next weekend.

Once again thanks to all my sponsors, family and all Team ILR for the great support."