Irish Road Racing 2013 by Derek Wilson

Irish Road Racing 2013

Photographs By Derek Wilson.

Jamie Hamilton 2013 Supersport 600 Champion.

Irish Road Race Champions 2013 Superbike – Derek Sheils Supersport – Jamie Hamilton Supertwin – Jamie Hamilton 250GP – William Dunlop Moto3 (125GP) – Sam Dunlop Supersport 400 – Andy Farrell Senior Support – Shane Egan Junior Support – Mark Hanna Classic 250 – Philip Shaw Classic 350 – Barry Davidson Classic 500 – Allan Brew Classic 1000 – Robert McCrum

Front Cover Photograph Derek Sheils 2013 Irish Road Front cover picture:DerekRacing Shiels Superbike Champion. 2013 Superbike Champion. All Photographs © Copyright Derek Wilson 2013

Cookstown 100. 26th & 27th April.

Guy Martin takes the early lead closely1 followed by Derek Sheils in the Cookstown 100 feature race.

Jamie Hamilton dominated the Supertwins race to win by over seven seconds, adding to the two race wins he took at Scarborough

Ballymoney's Michael Dunlop did the Cookstown 100 Superbike double, taking wins in both the feature race and open event, breaking the lap record in the process. Dunlop had to overhaul early leader Guy Martin in the main race of the day after the Lincolnshire man got away early, with Derek Sheils third and Michael Pearson, Jamie Hamilton and Dean Harrison making up the top six leaderboard.Â Riding his MD Racing Honda, he dominated the Open race in comfortable fashion from Suzuki-mounted Martin, who overtook CD Racing Kawasaki racer Derek Sheils to claim second position. Pearson, Hamilton and Harrison again completed the top six. Tyco Suzuki's Guy Martin took the Supersport honours in another tight scrap with Michael Dunlop with the pair coming together on the final lap. Martin got away ahead of Dunlop but backed oďŹ&#x20AC; a little too much which allowed Dunlop back into the race. He managed to hang on but complained that Dunlop ran into him.

Ryan Farquhar's KMR Kawasaki powered by Vauxhall team made a winning start to the 2013 Irish Road Race Championship season with two race wins at the Cookstown 100 . Jamie Hamilton took the win in the Supertwins race to maintain his 100 per cent winning record in the class this year, whilst Connor Behan took a debut victory both for the team and on the Irish roads with an excellent win in the Junior Support class. Behan impressed as it was his first ever race on the Irish public roads and, after a race long battle with Mark Hanna, he was able to make it a dream start for KMR Kawasaki in the Junior Support Championship with the excellent race win. He also had a good outing on the 636cc Kawasaki in the Senior Support race where, despite having to start from the back row of the third wave, he came through the field to take an excellent seventh place.

Michael Dunlop celebrates his second super bike win of the day. 4

Tandragee 100. 3rd & 4th May

Double win for Dunlop at Tandragee. Michael Dunlop followed up his double at the Cookstown 100 Irish national road races with another brace in the Superbike class at the Tandragee 100. Dunlop made a late decision on whether to compete at the event after initially planning to skip the meeting to focus on preparing for the upcoming North West 200 on May 18. The Honda rider sat out the Supersport race but routed the opposition to win both Superbike races on his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. He won the first race by almost 27 seconds after eight laps of the 5.3-mile circuit in County Armagh, beating Michael Pearson on the Team Hotties BMW S1000RR. It was a similar story in the main Superbike race as he hit the front on the opening lap of seven and effortlessly pulled away at the front, setting the fastest lap of the day at 108.992mph as he won by 26 seconds from Dublin man Derek Sheils on the CD Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R. Wayne Kirwan won the Supersport 600 race on the Crossan Yamaha R6 from Pearson, while William Dunlop was a winner in the 250cc race on brother Michael's TSR Honda. Jamie Hamilton and the KMR Kawasaki team continued their winning streak with another win in the Supertwins class. The 22-year old added to the success already recorded on the 650cc ER6 Kawasaki at Scarborough and Cookstown to maintain his 100% record for the season. Sam Wilson beat Paul Robinson to win the Moto3/125cc event.

Wayne Kirwin winner of the supersport race.

Derek Sheils 2nd in the feature Superbike race.

Michael Dunlop in the main Superbike race which he won by 26 seconds, and set the fastest lap of the day at 108.992mph

Northwest 200. 12th - 18th May.

For the second time in three years heavy rain bring proceedings to a halt.

John McGuinness and Honda TT Legends team mate Michael Rutter head out into the countery during Tuesdays super bike practice â&#x2DC;&#x;

Conditions for practice on Tuesday were almost perfect. Cameron Donald and William Dunlop through the very fast Station Corner

â&#x2DC;? Stuart easton approaches the spot where he had his horrific crash in 2011.

Alastair Seeley held oﬀ a determined Bruce Anstey to make it two wins from two starts at the North West 200, with a win in thursday evening's Superstock race. With the best conditions of the day, the circuit was almost dry as the sun shone, the link road section the only wet part remaining and once he was happy with conditions, Seeley moved through from an early third to taken his tenth North West 200 win. It was John McGuinness who again grabbed the holeshot on the HM Plant/Padgetts Honda and he led at York Corner but by the end of the lap it was Gary Johnson who was in front on the Lincs Lifting Ltd Kawasaki, his advantage over Anstey a slim 0.2s. Seeley was in third ahead of Guy Martin with the surprise coming from Brian McCormack in fifth, the KMR Kawasaki rider having started from the second wave. McGuinness meanwhile, had dropped to tenth. Second time around and there was still nothing to choose between Johnson and Anstey with Martin now up to third as Seeley slipped back slightly. Circuit newcomer Derek Sheils was having a great ride and was up to fifth ahead of Conor Cummins and James Hillier as McCormack slipped back to eighth with Josh Brookes moving up to 14th. By lap three, Seeley was back up to third and set about closing the gap to the front pairing, which was now being headed by Anstey with Martin now in a lonely fourth as Sheils and Cummins continued to fight it out. Brookes was up to tenth as both McGuinness and Michael Dunlop retired. Johnson was beginning to experience problems with his quickshifter and slipped back to third and the final two laps saw Seeley and Anstey go head to head, Seeley pulling away only for the Kiwi to immediately fight back, an overtaking maneouvre on the 150mph kink on the run to Magherabuoy particularly impressive. However, Seeley wasn't to be denied and he just held on for another fine victory although Anstey proved once again, he's still at the top of his game. Johnson took his first ever NW200 podium with Martin completing a good day in fourth and Sheils holding off Cummins by 0.4s.

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Alastair Seeley put in a sensational ride to win the opening Supersport race at the North West 200 on thursday evening, he started from the fourth row of the second wave. Race leader Michael Dunlop opened up an eight second lead at half race distance but, on the final lap, the Carrickfergus rider was able to turn a 5.5s deficit into a 1.3s advantage to bring his tally of wins at the Northwest 200 to nine.

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Ballymoney's Michael Dunlop was declared winner of the opening Vauxhall North West 200 Supersport race after it was stopped due to crashes and bad weather after two laps. For the second time in three years heavy rain brought proceedings at the North West 200 to an early halt, standing water stopping the opening Supersport race on the third lap. Michael Dunlop was leading at the time from Bruce Anstey and Lee Johnston while Thursday evening's race winner Alastair Seeley had worked his way up to fourth from the second wave.Â However, with three riders off at Primrose Corner and one at Church Corner, fortunately without injury, the organisers took the decision to stop the race and allow for the circuit to be cleared of surface water as much as possible. The rain that fell overnight failed to stop and a course inspection just before 3pm by Event Director Mervyn Whyte and riders John McGuinness, Michael Rutter and Stuart Easton gave everyone the decision they were expecting, abandonment of the day's schedule.

Six times winner McGuinness was almost speechless after seeing gorgeous sunshine on Friday replaced by monsoon-like conditions on Saturday. "There's four-five inches of water through the Juniper Chicane section and it's like a swimming pool, there's no other way to describe it. The guys are working so hard with machines to pump the water away but as fast as they're clearing it, it's come back. The drains just can't cope. University to Mathers was about rideable but the coast road is completely underwater. We were basking in the sunshine yesterday but now it feels like we've been knocked back to winter." Whyte added, "We took a final course inspection but there's a huge amount of standing water, especially along the coast road and it's just not possible to go racing. We've been working so hard but the elements have beaten us. If the weather had broken we might have got some racing in but the forecast is for heavy rain right through until beyond 7pm. I'm gutted for the thousands of fans who've turned up but in the interest of safety we've had no choice but to make this decision."

Skerries 100. 5th & 6th July.

Michael and William Dunlop dominate Skerries 100 road races. taking two wins each at the County Dublin circuit. Michael set a new lap record in winning the Grand Final and the 24-year-old also took victory in the Open event, with Derek Sheils second in both races. William edged out his younger brother by 0.5 seconds in the 600cc class and enjoyed success in the 250cc event, with Davy Morgan the runner-up. Seamus Elliott secured the 125cc honours after William Dunlop retired. Jamie Hamilton led the Supertwins from start to finish but was pushed all the way by Michael Sweeney, with Andy Farrell and William Davison next to cross the line. Honda rider Michael Dunlop began the day in style, coming home three seconds ahead of Dubliner Sheils in the Open race, with Lisburn's Michael Pearson completing the rostrum positions. The race was red-flagged when Shaun Anderson crashed without serious injury. Pole position man Sheils led for four laps of the Grand Final, but was overhauled by Michael, who enjoyed a 2.5-second advantage at the finish. Davy Morgan, William Dunlop, Jamie Hamilton and Derek McGee made up the top six leaderboard in the feature event.

William was last away from the grid in the 250cc event, but recovered from his bad start to lie third at the end of lap one and lead on lap four. Sweeney was third, behind Morgan. Michael Dunlop set the pace for the first three laps of the 600cc, but Yamaha-mounted William hit the front on the fourth circuit and held on to win by 0.5 seconds, with McGee third. William Dunlop led at the end of the opening lap in the 125cc race but pulled into the paddock after crossing the line, leaving Elliott to take a comfortable win ahead of Bruce Moulds, Nigel Moore, Sam Dunlop and Dan Sayle.

The Supersport 600 race was a close fought battle between the Dunlop brothers, Michael leading for the first few laps before William took to the front beating his younger brother across the line by only half a second. 18

In both superbike races it was Derek Sheils who got the better starts leading for the first few laps, but it was Michael Dunlop who took the chequered flag on both occasions.

William Dunlop 250 race winner.

Jamie Hamilton supertwins winner. 20

Mark Hanna Junior support winner.

Conor Behan 2nd senior support race.

Race Of The South Walderstown.

13th & 14th July.

Seamous Elliott on his Yamaha 450

William Dunlop had a flag to flag victory in the open race.

Derek McGee uses his local knowledge to his best advantage and takes the win in the supersport 600 race.

William Dunlop had a hatrick of wins at the Race Of The South at Walderstown . He won both the the Open race and the Grand Final on his Milwaukee Yamaha R1. The first race of the day saw him take a flag to flag victory in the Open Race from Derek McGee 2nd and Derek Sheils 3rd, The Grand Final wasn’t such an easy task as Derek Shiels pushed him in the first few laps passing him to take the lead twice, but once Dunlop opened a slight gap the race was his, with Sheils 2nd and Michael Pearson on his Hotties BMW 3rd. William also won the 250 race on the MD racing Honda, these wins makes him the most successful rider at the Westmeath circuit with 11 wins to his credit. It was local man Derek McGee however who took the win in the Supersport 600 race, Dunlop took a trip onto the greenery on the opening lap dropping him back to 5th place, leaving the fight at the front between Mcgee and Jamie Hamilton. Hamilton tried a move on the final corner but it didn’t come off and McGee took the chequered flag closely followed by Hamilton and William Dunlop who had fought his way back to take the last place on the podium. Jamie Hamilton was keeping up the unblemished KMR name by winning the Supertwin 650 race unbeaten in the National Supertwin Championship so far this year. The 125-450 race was won by Seamous Elliott on his Yamaha 450 followed by Sam Wilson and Sean O’Neill on their Honda 125s.

Sam Wilson and Sam Dunlop fight it out for 2nd place in the 125/450 race.

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Derek Shiels gets the better start in the Grand Final but his lead was short lived when William Dunlop moved to the front and took his third win of the day.

25 William Dunlop on his way to win 3 of the day.

After a close final lap William Dunlop wins the Supersport 600 race by just 0.6 seconds

Armoy Race Of Legends. 26th & 27th July.

Jeremy McWilliams made his Armoy debut, but had to settle for second place behind Supertwins championship leader Jamie Hamilton.

Dunlops clean up at Armoy. Michael and William Dunlop shared the spoils at the Armoy Race Of Legends Road races. The pair treated their home fans to the perfect results by winning the two Superbike races the Supersport Race and the 250 race between them, sharing a total of 6 podium spots. It was William who struck first by winning the Supersport Race. Guy Martin set the early pace with a lightning start but by the 3rd lap William had closed in and took to the front closely followed by his younger brother who quickly closed the gap but his charge was to late and they crossed the line just 0.6 seconds apart. William also won the 250 race from Sam Wilson and Michael Sweeney. In the first superbike race again it was Guy Martin who got the perfect start and led off the line but by half way Michael Dunlop made up the lost ground and passed Martin before opening a 5 second gap at the flag who was followed in by Derek Sheils. In the grand final “Race Of Legends” Martin fluffed the start and ended up at the back of the opening group a position he could never fully recover

from. As he has done at previous races Derek Sheils got the flying start and led the way off the start line but it didn’t take Michael long to regain the lead, a lead which he extended to take the chequered flag nine seconds ahead of brother William who had taken second place from Derek Sheils and Guy Martin who had fought his way back up to fourth. Michael Dunlop also set a new outright lap record for the circuit at106.015mph. Jamie Hamilton continued his success in the Supertwins Race after a close fought duel with Jeremy McWilliams who was making his National Road race debut. Christian Elken had a start to finish victory in the 125/moto3 race from Sam Dunlop and Sam Wilson. Connor Behan added to the KMR success with a win in Senior Support race beating Mark Hanna who had beat him earlier in the day in the Junior Support race.

Guy Martin got the perfect start and led off the line but by half way Michael Dunlop made up the lost ground and passed him to take the lead and the Superbike Race win.

Michael and William Dunlop shared the spoils at the Armoy Race Of Legends Road races. The pair treated their home fans to the perfect results by winning the two Superbike races the Supersport Race and the 250 race between them, sharing a total of 6 podium spots.

Sam Wilson flying high in the 125 race.

Derek Sheils got of to another superb start in the Race Of Legends pushing for the lead in the opening lap, but it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long until Michael Dunlop opened a gap Sheils could not regain. William Dunlop was to pass him in the latter stages of the race to make it a Dunlop 1-2.

Christian Elkin had a start to finish victory in the 125/ Moto 3 race on his Bob Wylie 250 Honda Moto 3.

Mid Antrim 150. 2nd & 3rd Aug.

Both the Junior and Senior support races were won by Mark Hanna.

Derek Sheils drew first blood at the Mid-Antrim 150 with a start to finish win in the Open Race on his CD Racing Kawasaki, comfortably beating Jamie Hamilton, Seamous Elliott and Michael Sweeney to the flag. In the Superbike race it wasn’t such a straight-forward task with Hamilton and him battling from the start, Sheils had a slender lead until the final lap when Hamilton moved to the front but the pair collided and crashed out with two-thirds of the lap completed bringing out the red flags. The result was taken from the previous lap awarding Michael Sweeney the win Davy Morgan second and Seamous Elliott third. Hamilton took his maiden win in the National Supersport 600 class. Seamous Elliot had the lead oﬀ the line with Hamilton getting a bad start and dropping back to 4th but the race was red flagged after a crash left debris scattered across the track.

At the restart it was Hamilton who got the better start from Elliott and led all the way eventually opening a small gap and taking the chequered flag 2.5s seconds ahead of second place Elliott and Sam Wilson in third. The win moving him to the top of Supersport standings. Hamilton also maintained his unbeaten run in the Supertwin race. Michael Sweeney took his first victory of the day in a closely- fought 250 race in which the lead was swapped on a number of occasions between him Davy Morgan, Seamous Elliott and Sam Dunlop, Elliott was an early retirement leaving Morgan to pick up second place and Sam Dunlop third. Both the Junior and Senior support races were won by Mark Hanna Paul Robinson won the 125 race from Sam Dunlop and Nigel Moore after Sam Wilson had to retire with a mechanical problem while holding a handsome lead.

The KMR Kawasaki team enjoyed yet another excellent day of road racing, with Jamie Hamilton and Connor Behan recording some impressive results . Hamilton, in particular, was in fine form taking victory in both the Supersport 600 and Supertwins races.

In Superbike race 2 Sheils and Hamilton battled for the lead Sheils got the better start and held a slender lead until the final lap when Hamilton moved to the front but the pair collided and crashed out with two-thirds of the lap completed bringing out the red flags. The result was taken from the previous lap awarding Michael Sweeney the win Davy Morgan second and Seamous Elliott third.

Derek Sheils Open race winner.

Michael Sweeney took his first victory of the day in a closely fought 250 race in which the lead was swapped on a number of occasions between him and Davy Morgan.

In the second super bike race Michael Sweeney was handed the win when front runners Derek Sheils and Jamie Hamilton collided and crashed out while fighting for the lead.

Dundrod 150. 14th & 15th August.

Heavy rain brought proceedings for the Ulster Grand Prix to an early end during Thursdays practice sessions, and with torrential rain falling, and showing no signs of easing up, it also meant the Dundrod 150 races had to be abandoned. The rain started falling around 2.20pm during the early stages of the final qualifying session for the Superstock class - where speeds plummeted almost immediately. Dean Harrison managed a lap of 110.929mph on the RC Express Racing Kawasaki but the speeds for the second and third quickest riders - Guy Martin at 100.458 and Fabrice Miguet at 93.888 - were indicative of the worsening conditions and the session was soon red flagged with the hope the rain would pass. Sadly, the opposite occurred and the next two hours saw torrential rain fall and mist on the hills form. Visibility was significantly reduced whilst standing water lay all around the 7.4-mile course and with the weather forecast predicting further rainfall over the next few hours, organisers had little option but to cancel the remainder of the schedule.

Bruce Anstey above, and Guy Martin Below during the Superstock practice which was red flagged due to the torrential rain.

The session was red flagged with the hope the rain would pass.

Ulster Grand Prix. 17th August.

Guy Martin took his ninth victory at the Ulster Grand Prix after getting the better of Bruce Anstey in a thrilling Supersport race, the opening race of the day at a damp Dundrod. The duo led the field round at the end of the first lap and pulled away after half race distance to fight out the win between themselves. Martin led right up until the last lap when the Kiwi went ahead at Tournagrough but he ran wide on the exit of the hairpin allowing the Suzuki rider back through and although he tried to fight back through the Quarries, Martin held on by just 0.038s. 42

Michael Dunlop bounced back from the clutch problems that had put him out of the opening Supersport race to clinch victory in the Ulster GP Superstock race, his third successive win in the class and sixth UGP win in total. Riding the MD Racing Honda, Dunlop overhauled initial pace setter Gary Johnson on the third lap and, aided by the fastest lap of the race at 130.10mph, ran out victor by almost seven seconds.

Dean Harrison tries in vain to hold Kiwi Bruce Anstey oďŹ&#x20AC;, he was eventually passed on the last lap, Anstey finishing 4th and Harrison 5th.

Guy Martin made it two wins from three races at Saturday's Ulster Grand Prix when he took the feature 7-lap Superbike race although it was again close with Michael Dunlop almost pipping him on the run in to the line. The Tyco Suzuki rider took the lead at Lougher's on the opening lap and from there was never headed, his lead at one stage reaching 1.5s. However, when backmarkers came into play, it allowed Dunlop to close in with the Honda rider also setting the fastest lap of the race at 133.128mph. It meant it was all to play for on the final lap but Martin held on although Dunlop's bold attempt around the outside saw him come up short but by only 0.03s

Ivan Lintin won a sensational Lightweight race, which saw no less than four riders separated by half a second going into the final lap, but it was the Lincolnshire rider who got the verdict on the run-in to the line, edging out Jamie Hamilton by 0.046s! It was the first International race win for Lintin and the perfect way to celebrate his 29th birthday.

The race had to be re-started after Peter McKillop crashed out on the exit of Tournagrough, fortunately without injury, and that proved to be a blessing for Hamilton who slid off at Leathemstown on the opening lap. Lintin had opened up a three second lead only to be forced to do it all over again. On the re-start, held over 3 laps, it was Derek McGee who grabbed the lead on the opening lap from Lee Johnston, Lintin and Hamilton but as they went onto their second lap, the gaps closed up and, as well as being three abreast at times, little more than a cigarette paper could be got between them. At the end of the second lap, only 0.4s split them and Lintin managed to work his way from third to first along the Flying Kilo and he led through Leathemstown. McGee was forced to retire soon after which brought it down to a three-way battle and the riders continued to rub both elbows and fairings and Hamilton grabbed the lead at Tournagrough. However, he then ran wide at the hairpin allowing Lintin back through and, try as he might, he just couldn't find a way through and had to settle for second with Johnston a further second back in third. Davy Morgan took fourth ahead of John Walsh and Nigel Moore whilst Ian Lougher took the concurrently run Ultra-Lightweight race, coming home four tenths of a second ahead of Christian Elkin for his 18th UGP win. Paul Jordan took third.

William Dunlop took his seventh Ulster GP victory when he came out on top of a racelong battle with Bruce Anstey in the second Supersport race, a sensational final lap seeing the Milwaukee Yamaha rider sweep round the outside of his Padgetts Honda rival at the final corner to win by 0.058s With conditions near perfect, it was Dunlop who took the lead on the opening lap as brother Michael made a terrible start and at the end of the first lap William held a 0.8s lead over Anstey with Conor Cummins in third ahead of Cameron Donald, Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison. The leading three soon pulled away but Anstey had the magnets on reducing the gap to 0.3s on the second lap with Cummins still hanging on in third. They had a nine second gap over Michael Dunlop who was now up to fourth ahead of Harrison and Donald. Lap three and Anstey hit the front for the first time immediately opening up a half second lead with Cummins a further three seconds back in third. Michael Dunlop, Harrison and Donald were secure in fourth, fifth and sixth whilst a tremendous three-way battle was taking place for seventh between Dan Cooper, Ian Lougher and Ivan Lintin. Anstey held onto the lead on lap four, both him and William running wide at the hairpin simultaneously, and going into the sixth and final lap the Kiwi held a 0.677s lead, Cummins now having dropped six seconds in arrears. Dunlop began to close in on the final lap and hit the front again on the run through Jordan's Cross and when Anstey ran wide at Tournagrough, it appeared to have given him the breathing space he needed. However, he again ran wide at the hairpin which allowed Anstey to close in and he pulled off an audacious move on the run towards the Quarries to re-take the lead. Dunlop wasn't to be outdone and with Anstey losing the drive exiting Quarries, the Ballymoney man got the run he needed and went round the outside to take a superb win, also claiming the fastest lap at 127.94mph. Cummins took a strong third ahead of a low-key Michael Dunlop with Harrison and Donald coming home in fifth and sixth

Guy Martin completed his hat-trick at this years Ulster Grand Prix when he took a comfortable win in the second Superbike race, the Tyco Suzuki rider leading from start to finish to come home four seconds clear of Bruce Anstey. It was the Lincolnshire rider's 11th Ulster GP win moving him to fourth on the all-time winner's list. There was drama just before the start when Michael Dunlop's Honda was wheeled off the line with a fuel leak and it was Martin who grabbed the early lead, ending the first lap 0.4s clear of Gary Johnson with William Dunlop and Bruce Anstey in hot pursuit. On the second

lap, Martin set the fastest lap of the race - 132.94mph and it saw his lead jump up to 1.5s with Johnson also running wide at the hairpin allowing Dunlop and Anstey to close in. Conor Cummins was up into fifth with Lee Johnston, Jamie Hamilton, Dean Harrison and Cameron Donald battling hard for sixth. Johnson dropped back on the third lap, eventually pulling in to retire and with Martin having a near four-second lead, all eyes fell onto the battle for second between Dunlop and Anstey. It was nip and tuck all the way but Dunlop isappeared on the final lap and, with black clouds

looming overhead, Martin was able to come home four a four second win over Anstey with Cummins a similar distance back in third. Johnston completed his good day in fourth as Hamilton got the better of both Donald and Harrison on the final lap to take fifth with Derek Sheils, Derek McGee and Rob Barber rounding out the top ten.

Kiwi rider Bruce Anstey treated the Dundrod fans to a rare glimpse of his native country's most iconic bike, the Britten V1000.

Killalane Road Races. 7th & 8th September.

Michael and William Dunlop dominated the Killalane Road Races. Michael(Dunlop(won(the(Open(and(Grand(Final(races(on(his(MD(Racing(Honda( Fireblade(and(also(clinched(victory(in(the(Senior(Classic(race(in(a(rare(appearance. William(Dunlop(won(the(600(race(on(Chris(Dowdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s(Yamaha(R6,(narrowly(holding(off(( a(late(charge(from(brother(Michael(to(take(the(chequered(Hlag(by(0.081(seconds. The(open(race(was(declared(a(result((after(it(was(stopped(twice(due(to(crashes,(Jamie Hamilton going down on lap three in the initial race and Alan Connor sliding off unhurt in the restarted race. Dunlop was confirmed as the winner by 6.2s from Sheils, with Sweeney earning the final podium spot. William Dunlop came through to clinch fourth on his 600cc Yamaha. Michael underlined his class later in the day with a dominant win in the Grand Final, crossing the line with 11 seconds in hand over Sheils and Sweeney again took a lonely third place. Even though Dunlop won all of the five races he contested at Cookstown, Tandragee, Skerries, Armoy and Killalane it was Derek Sheils who was crowned Irish Superbike Champion, as Dunlop had missed three rounds of the championship due to carrying out race duties for the Honda TT legends team. Michael was denied a fourth win of the day in the Supersport race, with older brother William hanging on at the end to complete another Irish national triumph. The CD Racing Yamaha rider seized the lead of the race from the start and opened a gap of over four seconds as Michael tried to find a way past Derek McGee. Once he moved into second place Michael reeled in the race leader, but William claimed a narrow win with McGee finishing third. Jamie Hamilton bravely battled to fifth place to clinch the title from McGee, adding more silverware to his trophy cabinet after the 22-year-old also won the Supertwin crown. William Dunlop was victorious in the 250cc race winning by 0.71s from Michael Sweeney with John Ella third. Michael Dunlop won the Senior Classic race from Robert McCrum, with Guy Martin finishing fourth.

Despite finishing 2nd to Michael Dunlop in both Superbike races Derek Sheils was crowned Irish Road Racing Superbike Champion. 56

Michael Dunlop fights off Derek Derek Sheils Supersport 600.â&#x17E;Ą

McGee in the supersport 600 race.

William Dunlop won the Supersport 600 race on Chris Dowdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Yamaha R6, narrowly holding off a late charge from brother Michael to take the chequered flag by 0.081 seconds.

Jamie Hamilton had a lucky escape in a 150mph crash in the Open event, causing the race to be red-flagged. The Ballyclare rider suffered superficial injuries and was able to take his place on the grid for the Supersport 600 race, finishing fifth to secure the championship title. 58

Top Left, Michael Dunlop wins the grand final in spectacular style. Bottom Left, Derek McGee in the super bike race. Above, Michael Sweeney in the supertwins race.

Derek Sheils celebrates winning the Superbike Championship. 60

Michael Dunlop chases Guy Martin at the Cookstown 100 races