This Bank Holiday Monday sees
the first meeting of the year to be held at Oliver’s
Mount, Scarborough with the second running of the Ian
Watson Spring National road races. Coming hot on the
heels of the Cookstown 100, a number of riders will
be making the trip over to North Yorkshire and it promises
to be a tremendous day’s action at the tough parkland
circuit.
The man they all have to beat is Guy Martin and the
Lincolnshire rider has made the venue all his own in
the last few seasons, dominating the races and securing
all the silverware. Having won the inaugural Ian Watson
Trophy in 2005, the 24-year old will be hoping for a
repeat performance to get his AIM Racing Yamaha career
off to a flying start. The effervescent youngster may
sit out the 600cc races as his bikes are being prepared
for the NW200 but he should be the pace setter in the
two big bike races.
There are a number of riders queuing up to wrestle
the trophy from the youngster, none more so than Ian
Lougher. The Welshman, already a victor around the 2.43-mile
venue on a staggering 82 occasions, lines up with his
Black Horse Finance 600cc Honda and a new 250cc TSR
Honda and although not entered in the 125cc class, there’s
still a chance he may be out on the Lloyds/TSB machine.
New teammate Mark Buckley will also be out on his 600cc
Honda and having impressed on his circuit debut last
September, his progress will be eagerly watched.
Ryan Farquhar is entered on the 600cc TAS Suzuki which
will give mainland UK fans their first opportunity to
see the Dungannon man in his new livery. Farquhar is
expected to make the trip over from the Cookstown races
although he may wish to save himself for the International
events, which will soon be upon us.
Darran Lindsay makes a welcome return to Scarborough
for the first time since 2004 and if the stories are
true about him not being given an entry for the Cookstown
races, he will be eager for the track time this Monday.
The Lisburn rider brings his 125, 250 and 600cc Honda’s
with him and will be looking for at least one victory
on the day.
Chris Palmer cannot be ruled out of the equation in
any of his races and the Castletown-based rider also
has a busy day in store with outings on his 125, 250
and 600cc Honda’s. If Lougher fails to come under
starters orders in the 125cc class, expect a two-way
battle between the likeable Palmer and Lindsay.
A number of other TT stars are on the entry including
David Bell who is eagerly looking forward to the 2006
real road-racing season on his 600cc and 1000cc Kawasaki
Newcastle machinery. The ever-smiling Bell has firmly
established himself as a front-runner at Oliver’s
Mount and is sure to feature prominently. Mark Parrett
will be hoping for better luck than 12 months ago when
he broke his collarbone and the Midhurst rider has entered
on his 600cc and 1000cc Yamaha, as well as being due
an outing on the Intersport 400cc Honda.
VRS Performance have no less than three riders entered
for the meeting with Robbie Silvester and Rob I’Anson
going in the 600cc and Superbike races whilst Real Road
Racing.Com forum regular Garry Dickinson will have his
first outing of the year on his 250cc Honda. The Doncaster
man is also hoping to be out on the McKinstry 600cc
R6 Yamaha.
Despite the closeness of the meeting to the Cookstown
and Tandragee races, there is the usual presence of
Irish riders and riders expected to feature include
Dwyer Agnew, Victor Gilmore, Trevor Keys, Liam Quinn,
David Guiney and Michael Dunlop, who will be making
his circuit debut.
Circuit regulars Bret Crossley, Mick Goodings, Dave
Woolams, Justin Waring, Phil Harvey, Richard Gibson,
Marc Ramsbotham and Peter Wakefield are top six contenders
in their respective classes whilst an interesting entry
has been received from Peter Turnbull. The former Lightweight
Manx Grand Prix winner hung up his leathers a few years
back but he has entered the meeting on the ZGT Motorsport
125cc and 250cc Honda’s.
Unlike recent times, the entry for the F2 Sidecar class
is somewhat thin on the grid with a number of regular
crews opting not to have a pre-TT shakedown. However,
what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality
with TT stars Simon Neary and Stuart Bond leading the
entry list. The Leeds youngster has only recently been
attending the Oliver’s Mount meetings but he will
go into both races as favourite.
The chairs have two races in total and other crews
chasing glory include Mick Harvey/Fiona Baker-Milligan,
Tony Thirkell/Roy King, David Wallis/Sally Wilson, Ben
and Luke Beckworth and the returning Eddy Wright who
will be passengered Neil Wheatley.
The organising Auto 66 club are celebrating their 40th
anniversary in 2006 and so will be hoping the sun shines
for their first meeting of the year. Despite a clash
with the Oulton Park BSB round, thousands of real road
race addicts will once again flock to the seaside circuit
to witness the action and the action gets underway at
8.30am on Monday with the 14-race programme commencing
at 11.00am.
We would like to wish everyone involved with the meeting
the very best of luck for a safe, and enjoyable, days
racing.
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