The 2018 road racing season got underway at the KDM Cookstown 100 held on the 2.1 mile Orritor circuit in County Tyrone.
Defending Irish Lightweight Supersport champion Paul Gartland got off to a decent start to his campaign, and although his 400cc machine isn’t quite ready yet, he did have his Supertwin and Superbike with him. 
In the Supertwin practice, Paul posted the 16th fastest time on his 650 Kawasaki which left him in the second group. Due to weather playing havoc, the race was cut to just four laps, but undeterred, Paul rode a great race to finish in eighth position having started from the second group. 
No doubt he would have been further up the standings had it been a longer race. The race was won by Adam McClean with New Zealand newcomer Daniel Mettam and Davey Todd completing the podium. 
In Superbike qualifying, a strong field of 50 riders took to the circuit and Paul posted a time which just saw him outside the top half. This meant he was going to be in the B race, and once again he rode a great race on the North West Gas Kawasaki over the six lapper to cross the line in fourth place behind Paul Williams, Darryl Tweed and Forrest Dunn. 
In the Superbike A race, it was Derek Shiels who took the win on corrected time over Tyco BMC signing Michael Dunlop with Michael Sweeney third. 
Melissa Kennedy got off to a great qualifying session on Friday on the KNR Moto3 Honda, and as she has proved time and time again,she doesn’t mind mixing with the best of them in this class by qualifying in seventh place. 
Unfortunately on race day, problems on the start line left Melissa right at the very back of the grid and with such a short race, it was always going to be hard to make up the time lost even though she did pass quite a few riders during the five lap race. 
Derek McGee took the win with Adam McClean second and Paul Robinson third. 
In the first Supersport A race, it was Michael Dunlop who took the win from McAdoo Racing team mates McClean and James Cowton third. Cowton was to be the victor in the second race with “Man of the Meeting” award winner McClean again second with Derek Shiels third. In the Supersport B race, it was Daniel Mettam who took the win from Kris Duncan and Kevin Fitzpatrick. 
Having qualified last in the Senior support class, it was Tommy Henry who took the win from David Murphy and John O’Donavan. In the Junior support A race, Barry Sheehan took the win from Jason Cassels and Liam Chawke, while in the B race, Enniskillen & District club member Enda Trearty took the win from Dominic Cottrell and RJ Woolsey. Barry Davidson was a double winner in both the Junior Classic and c500 Senior Classic while Richard Ford took the honours in the c1000. 
Unfortunately due to changing weather conditions and a few incidents during racing, the Cookstown Club were unable to complete the day’s racing. Our local road racers will now head to the “Around a Pound” Tandragee 100 this weekend in County Armagh.