Scottish Championship and Knockhill Motor Sports Club bike racing enjoyed blistering sunshine at Knockhill Racing Circuit this weekend (Sat 8th & Sun 9th June). The hot temperatures off-track, were more than matched on it; as several riders posted personal best times and lap records were broken.
The bumper 130 or so riders who entered this weekend, were joined by a number of British Championship competitors looking to fine-tune their machines ahead of next weekend’s MCE British Superbike event. Club president, Niall Mackenzie watched his son Tarran, compete in the Scottish & KMSC Lightweight series. Taz, the current Motostar Championship leader, was joined on track by fellow BSB racers Jordan Weaving, Joe Irving, Lewis Rollo and Jason Vernon. Race wins in the Lightweight class went to Joe Irving (2) and Craig Shirlaw (3). Other podium scorers included Mackenzie, Weaving, and Donald.
The Superstock 600 grid was also boosted by several Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship racers including Tim Hastings, Matthew Paulo, Levi Day (his first time at Knockhill), William Monie, Phillip Wakefield and current championship leader, Jordan Simpkin. However, it was Danderhall’s Michael Robertson, who showed his fellow Superstock riders just how to ride the Knockhill track; taking five race wins and setting a new lap record (51.3 seconds) during a dominant display. Other racers to make the podium this weekend included Hastings, Paulo, Simpkin, Gilfillan, Day and McClung.
Robertson’s superb feat, was matched by Haltwhislte rocket Lee Teasdale. The Yamaha racer took yet another clean sweep of Cupar Motorcycle Pre-Injection 600 race wins for the second successive meeting at Knockhill. Teasdale has now racked up an impressive ten victories on the spin at Knockhill this season.
In the Superbike races, veteran racers Torquil Paterson and Bruce Birnie renewed old rivalries on track, much to the entertainment of assembled fans. Both racers, making a welcome return to form and both seemingly, enjoying the competitiveness of the races. Birnie managed to secure one race win; it would have been two had he not overtaken Paterson under yellow flags; subsequently receiving a ten second penalty which demoted him to 6th place. With Paterson visibly frustrated with Birnie’s infringement (see pic below); Donald MacFadyen took full advantage to claim his only win of the weekend. Paterson managed to finish 3rd in class, however, he was pipped on the finish line by Allan Davidson giving the Clubman rider an on-the-road podium position.
A re-focussed Paterson returned for the afternoon’s races in determined mood; taking is his second Scottish Championship victory of the weekend with a-lights-to-flag victory over Birnie. Paterson then had a brilliant battle with Birnie in the final race of the day, eventually seeing off Birnie’s challenge at the Hairpin on the final lap to secure his third win of the weekend.
Both Callum Grigor and Max Alexander shared the spoils in the Skinner Motorcycles F125 class. Grigor securing three race wins to Alexander’s two. Alexander’s second race win, probably the most impressive performance of the weekend, especially, when you consider the massive crash the youngster endured at the John R Weir Chicane in the penultimate F125 race of the weekend. He simply dusted himself down, sorted his bike with the help of his support crew and climbed back aboard without so much as a passing thought to the previous incident.
“I climbed back on board the bike and felt good, so thanks to everyone who got me back out after my crash,” commented Alexander.
For all the remaining class results please log onto MyLaps and check out the following link.
http://www.mylaps.com/en/events/911236
Thanks again to everyone involved in making this weekend another successful bike racing event at Knockhill. The list of people who deserve a mention is endless, but please know that we really appreciated everyone’s contribution.
Next up, we have the MCE British Superbike Championship on 14/15/16 June. This is Britain’s premier motorcycle racing Championship and the biggest bike racing festival you will see in Scotland all year. Make sure you join us for a thrilling, action-packed weekend of racing. Tickets can be purchased in advance (subject to advanced discounts) and tickets will also be available at the gate all weekend.