Oliver's Mount Barry Sheene 2017

Despite a day of frustration, delays, wet weather and misfortune, day 1 of the Barry Sheene Road Race Festival Powered by Suzuki, still provided top quality action at England’s only real roads venue. Arguably main highlight of a trimmed down day of race action, was the opening Sidecars race, which saw the Ramsden’s Steve and Matty edge out the Lowther brothers John and Jake, by just 0.16 to reassert their growing Scarborough credentials.

Greg Lambert/Julie Canipa finalised the top three finishers, whilst Lightweight/Junior Classic honours went the way of Brian Clark, with Oliver’s Mount debutant Roger Chen finishing second. Daley Mathison won the opening Junior A and Senior races, both times in front of Radcliffe’s Racing’s Jamie Coward with James Cowton and Dafabet Devitt Racing’s Ivan Lintin also securing top three finishes respectively.

Fresh off a top three finish at the Southern 100, Top Gun Racing’s Gavin Lupton kept up his form from Billown, winning the Junior B race, as he lead home Tom Collinge and mount newcomer Max Dixon. Fellow debutant Longshot Racing’s Davey Todd who secured a brace of top ten finishes today also impressed, as did David “Action” Jackson. Due to combined lengthy delays via sea fog and an oil spillage, just five of the scheduled 11 races took place today.

This included the opening lap of the showpiece Barry Sheene Trophy races, which Jamie Coward is on pole for, as he aims to seal a first grand slam Scarborough title. SUNDAY: After a challenging Saturday at the Barry Sheene Road Race Festival, event organisers decided to include the six races, which where not run yesterday into today’s schedule. With this in mind, competition got underway at just after 9 AM.

Opening race of the day, the first of two Lightweight/Ultra Lightweight encounters, saw Joe Thompson dominate to take his tally of Oliver’s Mount victories in 2017, to seven. The Yorkshireman went onto move this impressive ratio up to eight, with another commanding performance in race 2. Ian Stanford claimed maiden Scarborough victories, heading the Ultra Lightweight class in both races, whilst Scarborough’s Nick Anderson, an unwell Ivan Lintin and Alistair Haworth all wrapped up top three finishes.

Daley Mathison took the Senior and Solo Open spoils, both times in front of Radcliffe’s Racing’s Jamie Coward. The Hebden Bridge rider went onto secure Junior A race 2 and Senior Classic race 1 victories. Another notable feat today for the twice TT Privateers Championship runner up, was dipping under the 1 minute 46 second mark for the first time around Oliver’s Mount.

Father and son duo the Ramsden’s Steve and Matty’s Sidecar race 2 and 4 wins, where sandwiched by a well earned victory for the Lowther brothers, John and Jake. James Cowton chalked up back to back Super Twin wins, as Darren Cooper and Brad Vicars, claimed a brace of third and second place finishes respectively.

Junior B and Senior/Junior Classic victories went the way of Top Gun Racing’s Gavin Lupton and Scarborough newcomer, Robert Chambers. In amongst the race winners, the likes of Mark Goodings, Paul Owen, Craig Neve, Owen Graves, Tom Collinge, Davey Todd, David Jackson, Max Dixon, Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie all showed accomplished form in recording high calibre results.

Although it was at times, an extremely frustrating weekend at Scarborough, the 2017 Barry Sheene Road Race Festival Powered by Suzuki, still showcased all the great features that makes Oliver’s Mount one of pure road racing’s most treasured circuits.

Words: Stevie Rial – Road Racing News
Image: Charles Robertson