Enniskillen and District Motorcycle Club members made their way for a second weekend in a row to take part in round two of the Ulster Superbike Championship, his time hosted by The Mid Antrim 150 Club.

This was the first two-day event scheduled on the racing calendar for 2021. The event followed the usual schedule of three races per class over both days. Qualifying and race one took place on Saturday, with the remaining two races on Sunday. The weather conditions were uncomfortably hot on Saturday with slight relief on Sunday as a cooler breeze was welcomed. The event ran with social distancing and safety measures in place.

Double Trouble

The Pre-Injection class was first on the grid, two classes running together - up to 600cc and 600cc–1000cc. Following on from both winning each of their races at the last event, Enniskillen club members Derek O’Donnell and Andrew Brady were again neck and neck.

Brady’s sleek style on his 1000cc machine was constantly pressurised by O’Donnell who was described as a powerhouse on his smaller 600cc Yamaha. Both riders’ machines were the first two bikes across the line ahead of the other 18 competitors on the grid in every lap, Brady fractionally ahead of O’Donnell.

This is a difficult race for spectators to follow as although Brady crossed the line first in all three races and O’Donnell over the line in second place in all three races the two men where racing in different classes leaving both taking three wins in their individual classes with both leading their class championship.

Fivemiletown’s Trevor Quinn also made an appearance in this class entered only in Saturday’s race as a newcomer aboard his 600cc machine and finished in a respectable 12th position.

Lyons fights through the pack

Next race on the schedule was the Supersport 600 race. Most of the riders in this grid are classed as ‘pro’ riders - the pack mixed with the best of the short circuit riders and road racers. Making his debut in this class was Enniskillen club member Jamie Lyons. At just 16, Lyons has been competing in the British Talent Cup at the BSB series. This weekend was Lyons first outing on the 600cc machine, entered initially in the ‘Supersport cup’ B class. Lyons qualifying times meant he was upgraded to race in the (pro) class amongst seasoned riders.

In all three races Lyons was on the podium as the second cup rider across the line. Mixing it up with the best of the Supersport riders was a massive achievement for his first-time racing in this class finishing overall in each race in 13th, seventh and eighth position.

Other results from the Supersport cup class saw Lisnaskea man Alan Armstrong finishing in eighth position in all three races out of 33 starters on the grid.

Production Twins

The production Twin class (production-based twin-cylinder bikes of up to 650cc.) riders has a mixed bag of results over the weekend.

Michael McKernan from Fintona finished in ninth position in race one, retired due to technical difficulties in race two, but made it back to the grid for race three, regaining a steady race to take another ninth place finish.

Newtownbutler’s Duane Lewis, who finished in seventh place in race one, also had a problem with his machine in race two resulting in him sitting out the remaining races.

Brookeborough man Adam McClintock entered this class as a newcomer and finished all three races with two 14th position and one 12th place, McClintock was aiming to see his lap times improve per each session and was pleased with how the weekend went.

Superbike

In the superbike race Fermanagh was represented by Lisnaskea’s Aaron Armstrong and Ederney’s Paul Gartland. Armstrong came home with a sixth, fourth and third place podium.

Gartland who needed to make adjustments to his machine was only able to finish one race in 21st place. Alistair Seeley was the man to beat in this competitive class winning all three superbike races.

In the Superbike B Races the top two positions was tightly contested with club member Steven Love setting the pace by taking home a race win and two second place finishes.

Fastest Female

Florencecourt’s Melissa Kennedy was out in the final race group of the weekend, the Moto3 class aboard her Honda Moto 3 machine. The weekend didn’t go as planned when various issues left her unable to start race one, and retiring in race three, the only result of the weekend was a fifth position in race two. Despite the issues with her machine, she was awarded the Mid Antrim150 trophy for the fastest female lap of the weekend.

In other news

Another local man Michael Huey had a successful weekend in Anglesey at the No Limits National Endurance Championship races. Huey and his team managed to secure first place in the Rookie 3-hour endurance race and took a third position in the Clubman series.

Racing continues

Next in the racing fixtures is Armoy Road Race on July 30-31.