Easter Monday 2009 - 13th April at Kirkistown
IRISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP (ROUNDS 7 AND 8)

Mark Lunney steals the show with 5 wins
and Keith Amor extends his winning streak in the ISB class

All day blue skies were a welcome return at Kirkistown this Easter Monday. In 'almost' summer warmth Lisburn man Mark Lunney* enjoyed possibly the most successful day at Kirkistown ever ! Clocking up a total of five wins altogether in the 25GP, 250GP and the 600 Supersport classes. Added to this success story the popular rider from Falkirk in Scotland, Keith Amor continued with his Good Friday and Easter Saturday ISB wins at Bishopscourt to do the same again at Kirkistown and also to win the Mayors Trophy for the highest aggregate score from the two ISB races.
An excellent 15 race programme was enjoyed by a large Easter holiday crowd. There were a number of racing incidents necessitating red flags. Supertwins competitors, Scot Thompson* was taken to hospital but released later in the afternoon after examination and Alan Glasgow* also in hospital with a suspected broken wrist. The Club wishes everyone a very speedy recovery.
* denotes B&D Competitor Members.

Councillor Jim Fletcher presents the Mayors Trophy to Keith Amor
Photo by Steve Freeburn

Results:
Detailed results (supplied by Richard Agnew & Team in .pdf format) can be accessed by clicking on the following links:

125GP - SuperTwins - Irish Superbike - Lightweight SuperSport 400 - 250GP - SuperSport 600 - Sidecars

Racing:

125GP Event 1 & 9
Race 1
The first 125cc race was no sooner underway when it was red flagged because Jamie Patterson on the third row had stalled his machine , initially the starter did not notice Jamie's gesturing but then a false start was declared.
On the restart the pack got away cleanly into Debtors with Mark Lunney* quickly taking control of the race from the start. He continued to build upon this lead over the 10 laps winning with a margin of over 8 seconds at the end of 10 laps. Second place was taken by Drew Jamison with Robert English* only 1 second behind in third. 4th, 5th and 6th went to Michael Dunlop*, Alan McClean* and Jamie Patterson.
On lap 3 Karen Hadden's (21) engine seized going into Debtors which she sensed in time and was able to coast to a safe stop.

Photos by John Tennant & Mervyn McBride

Race 9
The second 125 cc race (Race 9) was a virtual carbon copy of race 1 for Mark Lunney* but this time the 2nd and third positions were swapped around between Robert English* and Drew Jamison. The 4th, 5th and 6th positions went to Ciaran Donnelly, Bruce Moulds and Andrew Irwin. Michael Dunlop* and Malcolm Love both went out on lap 6.

Photos by John Tennant

Super Twins - Event 2 & 10 (Sponsored by Isaac Agnew Van Centre)
Race 2
Taking pole position in timed practice it was obvious that Lee Hill had resolved the engine problems he had suffered on Easter Saturday. Race 2 got underway in bright but slightly breezy conditions, looking at the morning practice times by Alan Glasgow there was every chance that last years lap record (62.949 seconds) set by Lee Hill could be beaten. In the early stages Alan Glasgow* (#25) hit the front closely followed by Lee Hill (#22) and David Craig (#200). As predicted the 2008 record was broken and this was the case by the top three riders! Club members Steven Clarke* (#29) and Scott Thompson* (#10) were lapping very consistently with Scott finally finishing in 8th and Steven in 9th. Saturdays very close finish was not repeated but none the less it was a hard fought race for all positions. In the end the win went to Lee Hill with David Craig and Alan Glasgow* 2nd and 3rd respectively. The next three positions going to Keith Meere (#8), James Conroy* (#3) and Malcolm McKinney (#51). The lap record went to Lee Hill with a time of 62.196 seconds.

Race 10
The second Supertwins race was somewhat ill-fated with two red flag incidents in the early stages. Opening race 10 was red flagged when Alan Glasgow went out at Fishermans and then on the first restart another incident occurred at the hairpin involving Club members Scott Thompson* (#10) and Steven Clarke* (#29). This race was then abandoned and then re-run later in the afternoon.
On the second restart the race ran without further problems with the win going to Lee Hill (#22) and 2nd place going to David Craig (#200) and a very creditable 3rd place going to James Conroy (#3) who has been running Classic racers very successfully for sevearal years. At the final flag it finished with Keith Meere (#8) in 4th, Gary Matthews (#53) 5th, Malcolm McKinney (#51) 6th and Darren Gilpin (#38) in 7th place.

Photos by Davy Anderson & Baylon McCaughey


Photo by Mervyn McBride

Irish Racer - Irish Superbike - Event 3 & 11 (Sponsored by Ards Borough Council)
Race 3
Keith Amor took full advantage of his pole position getting a good start and leading into Debtors but this race was also red flagged in the opening lap involving Michael Sweeney (#65) at the hairpin.
On the restart Keith Amor (#24) got another good start but this time James Dickson (#16) made a brilliant start from the 2nd row to get into 2nd place at Debtors. A brave and very good move by James. David Haire (#50) following closely. By lap 3 Keith Amor had built up a 3 second lead. Gerard Kinghan (#18) was surprisingly well down the field, unfortunately he had not been able to get rid of those handling problems during practice. Keith Amor took his first chequered flag of the day with David Haire finishing in 2nd followed by James Dickson (#16). Rory Clarke (#39), Alastair Kirk (#9) and Gary Johnston (#69) taking 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.

Race 11
Due to the earlier stoppages the 2nd ISB race was cut to 7 laps. At the off Keith Amor maintained his earlier status getting into the lead from the off (under the watchful eye of his proud dad, Bob) Keith powered the 'Superstock' Wilson Craig Honda lap after lap to the finish, riding brilliantly.
In race two Gerard Kinghan* (#18) was starting to shake off the earlier problems and came home a very creditable 3rd behind David Haire (#50). With James Dickson (#16) - from Coleraine coming home in 4th. All of these competitors are representing a bright future in the sport. We wish them every success.

Photos by Davy Anderson


Photos by Baylon McCaughey


Photos by Joe Beattie


Photo by Joe Beattie

Lightweight Supersport - Event 4 & 12
Race 4
In full sun the first of the 400 SuperSport races got underway with Emmet O'Grady (#89) getting the hole shot from the line into Debtors and Colonial 1 closely followed by Joseph Loughlin (#27), Michael McKinley* (52) and Joe Phillips* (#49) and Johnny McKay* (#54). Coming onto the back straight all five leaders were pushing very hard towards the hairpin. Michael McKinley almost overhauled Emmet O'Grady on the brakes coming into the Hairpin but couldn’t quite pull it off. By lap 2 Joseph Loughlin was in front holding that position until lap 7 when Joe Phillips* (#49) took over. The top six riders taking the chequered flag were Joe Phillips, Joseph Loughlin, Emmet O'Grady, Michael McKinley, Johnny McCay and Noel Boyd.

Race 12
The 2nd 400cc race started cleanly with the same six or seven competitors battling it out for the lead as in first leg (race 4). On lap one, amongst the rush No 27, Joseph Loughlin veered of the racing line at Fishermans, he did well to get going again but was unable to catch up with the leading pack for the rest of the race. From the opening laps Emmet O'Grady and Joe Phillips fought a close battle with Emmet winning out. On lap two a blanket could have covered the next four positions over the start finish with Michael McKinley, Johnny McCay, Noel Boyd and Keith Costello all charging for the same piece of tarmac into Debtors. Going over the finish line Emmet O'Grady just managed to hold off Joe Phillips* (by 0.4 secs) with Michael McKinley*, Johnny McCay* and Noel Boyd taking 3rd 4th and 5th. The Costello brothers, Keith (#43) and Gareth(#148) took 6th and 7th.

Supersport 600 - Event 4 & 12 (Sponsored by Ards Tourism)
Race 5
With less than 1 second covering the top 12 riders from the timed practice sessions in the morning the excitement was all around as the riders took their positions at the start od the 600cc races. A measure of this closeness was brought out by the fact that Mark Lunney* qualified in seventh place but he was the only competitor who beat Amor on Saturday!
Race one was on its opening lap when one of the competitors tumbled at Fishersmans which necessitated a red flag. On the restart all got away with Keith Amor, William Dunlop* and Supercup rider Glenn Irwin (#2) and Mark Lunney taking the top four places. On the second lap William Dunlop made a very brave passing manoeuvre on Keith Amor at Debtors and took the lead into Colonial 1. Keith managed to steal the lead back by the Chicane, the pace going down towards the hairpin was blistering. Young Glenn Irwin was there all the way and continued to hold an excellent third place to the chequered flag. At the end of lap 4 William Dunlop managed to outbrake Keith Amor at the Hairpin and accelerated into the lead through the start finish as he began the last lap. He held on to this place all the way to the chequered flag. Keith went through just over .6 secs behind closely followed by Glen Irwin and Mark Lunney.
John Anderton got a good 5th place closely followed by Kirk Jamison who was experiencing some difficulties with his machine.
Special mention must go to Glenn Irwin for his excellent performance in this class and for getting the fastest lap time at 57.279 seconds

Race 13
Keith Amor's 600cc machine had developed a suspension fault and the end of the first 600cc race was not able to compete in the second 600cc race.
Kirk Jamison* (#15) got a brilliant start and lead the pack into Debtors closely followed by Mark Lunney* (#69). With amazing speed down the back straight Mark managed to pull out and get a wheel in front on the bakes into the Hairpin. Accelerating towards Debtors Mark managed to hold a marginal advantage. lLess than one second coved the top six riders going into lap 2. (Mark Lunney*, Kirk Jamison*, Willaim Dunlop* Jonny Buckley and Alastair Kirk*). The hot pace continued with William Dunlop taking second place from Kirk Jamison at the Hairpin again on lap four of this six lap race.shortened race. . (Kirk was experiencing some braking issues with his machine). On the last lap the young pretender Glenn Irwin fought his way into third place again. Mark Lunney punched the air with delight as he took the chequered flag to clock up his fourth win of the day. On the final lap Willaim Dunlop recorded the outright Lap record at 57.114 seconds beating the previous time of 57.222 set by Michael Laverty. Glenn Irwin recorded the fastest lap record for the SuperCup competitors with a time of 57.279 - very well done William and Glenn.

Keith Amor #124- By Davy Anderson and Jonny Buckley #222 by Baylon

Photos by Mervyn McBride


Photo by Mervyn McBride


250cc - Event 6 & 14
The first 250cc race was run over 8 laps and the second race was cut to six laps because of the earlier stoppages.
Race 6
The Lisburn flyer Mark Lunney has his 250GP machine well set up as he built a strong lead from the start and continued to build upon his lead to win the first race by almost 13 seconds. Mark Hanna*(#36) on his Bathmart Honda took second place in race 1 very closely followed over the finish line by Thomas Lawlor (#73), Ronan Shannon (#41), Barry Davidson (#4) and Derek McCloughlin (#58).

Race 14
The second race was also won by Mark Lunney and surely this took him into the record books as this was his fifth win on the day. Can anybody confirm if this has been done before at Kirkistown ? Very well done to Mark and all at in the Street Sweep team.
Derek McCloughlin got a good 2nd place with Thomas Lawlor, Barry Davidson, Paul Robinson and Kieron Edgerton taking 4th to 6th respectively.

Photo by Davy Anderson & Mervyn McBride

Sidecars - Event 7 & 15
The sidecars events which are always enjoyed by the Kirkistown crowds provided a suberb display of racing over the two legs. John Clark / Stuart Graham (#2) dominated both races winning by almost 20 seconds and 16 seconds respectively. There best lap was marginally over the 1 minute (1:00:457) it would be great to see them get into the sub-minute category - keep it going lads. Scott Lawrie /James Connell team took 2nd place in both races. Something happened the local guys George Kennedy/Colin Smyth and Scobbie Killough/Paddy Marley failing to finish race 1.
In the second race George/Colin got the problems solved to take third place in front of Steve Pullan/Kevin Morgan.

Photo by Davy Anderson

Marshals Draw
The club held the traditional lunchtime draw for Marshals with the following names being drawn by Keith Amor.
1st Place Richard Hemsley £30
2nd George Watson £20
3rd David Evans £10

Club Message from Clerk of Course - John McClure.
Big thanks to everyone for attending our Easter Monday event. He hope you have enjoyed your day and look forward to meeting up again at our Clubmans races on 6th June and 5th September.

Report on behalf of all within B&D
Steve Freeburn - many thanks to all for supplying above photos.