Two days of Reverse Circuit bike racing culminated on Sunday with a host of new faces on the podium. With the relatively new implementation of the Reverse Circuit, there are a number of riders who still have to fathom the best way around the track and that presents an opportunity for those who have embraced the new challenge to score good points and bag themselves some podium success.
That scenario was highlighted perfectly in the Superbike class at the weekend. In damp, dreary and extremely windy conditions on Saturday, Alan Bryce piloted his Superbike machine to a welcome front row grid position (2nd) in qualifying just behind Andrew Tasker (1st), and just ahead of Donald MacFadyen (3rd). Graeme Bodel (Clubamn) also took an impressive 2nd row start for the opening Scottish Superbike race of the weekend by piloting his Motorrad Central BMW to a 4th place grid slot – his best qualification result to date on-the-road.
And the surprises continued into the opening races, with Bryce holding station in second place to take a terrific podium – his best result of the season. Andrew Tasker took the win, with another podium newcomer, Sean Gilfillan, taking 3rd spot on the rostrum – also his best KMSC result of the season. After the cancellation of the remaining races on Saturday, Sunday’s raceday took on an even more significance with four races for each class taking place.
Sunday’s weather presented a fairer prospect for the racers and saw the return of the established order. That said, Paul Wishart , the National Superstock 1000 rider, still managed to bag himself a Superbike win and two second places – on possibly his only appearance at Knockhill this year. Sean Gilfillan backed up his Saturday podium with another 3rd place podium on Sunday too. Andrew Tasker and Donald MacFadyen were also amongst the points yet again, bagging themselves 3 and 2 race podiums respectively. However, it was the resurgent Bruce Birnie who would steal most of the plaudits on Sunday; racing his way to 3 race wins. It might have been four had he not had to take evasive action to avoid a fallen rider; but three wins and the fastest lap of the weekend for ‘The Barber’ will see him return to Montrose this evening happy-enough with his weekend’s work.
With Birnie blazing his way to the fastest time of the weekend and with approximately 23 other 1000cc machines on the grid; you might be surprised to learn that the next three quickest riders where in the Superstock 600 class. However, had you watched the trio in question, you’d be well aware that they recorded these times on the absolute limit of there 600cc machines. Paul McClung rode his Yamaha R6 to a new Reverse Circuit lap record (TBC) by posting a 51.734s lap; just 0.003secs ahead of Lewis Rollo’s quickest of the weekend; with Liam Shellcock a further 0.021secs behind on the timesheets with a 51.758 second lap of his own.
With the pace sensationally hot at the front, it was yet again a monumental battle between Rollo and McClung that would entertain a bumper KMSC crowd at Knockhill . The duo are pushing each other to faster and faster times and certainly showing that there are plenty of overtaking opportunities around the Reverse Circuit if you have the know-how and bravery to take them on. In one race alone, the pair swapped the lead on five different occasions. Make sure you tune into the next Motors TV Superstock 600 programme – we predict it will be a belter. Despite the huge credit the top riders can take from the weekend, Championship success ultimately boils down to results and race wins in particular. With that said, Lewis Rollo maximized his weekend by claiming all five wins this weekend. That might seem like a whitewash against the other competitors, but trust us, it was far from that, but the 15 year old just to seems to raise his game when he has top riders to race against. McClung for his efforts takes home four 2nd place podiums, whilst, Shellcock takes home four podiums (3rds) of his very own. There was also a welcome return to the grid for Sammi Tasker this weekend. She also claimed her opening podium of the year with a 3rd place finish on Saturday just behind another podium debutant for the year, Mark Ironside (2nd).
Young Lewis Paterson was again the dominant force in the F125 series; helping himself to another clean-sweep of victories to take his race winning tally for the season to eight from nine races. Elsewhere, James McLaren took home three podiums (two 2nds and a 3rd), whilst Rishon Hickey and Lewis Nicol also shared some podium success.
In the Perth Motorcycles Pre-Injection 600 class, Patrick Forman finally kick-stared his season by taking three wins, three fastest lap bonus points and a 2nd place podiums in the opening four races. However, a DNF in the final outing could prove costly come the end of the season, with his immediate Championship rivals scoring podiums in each-and-every race at the weekend. Kyle Harper powered his machine to two race wins, two fastest laps and three second place finishes; whilst Michael Burke, winner of four races at the opening encounter of the season had to settle four third place finishes and a second. David McCafferty and Russell Will featured throughout the races; with McCafferty taking a well overdue podium in the final race of the weekend, finishing in third.
The Scottish and KMSC Lightweights saw some close action at the front with Gillian McGaw (x2), Torquil Paterson (x2) and Keith Dickie taking the on-the-road wins. That trio also locked out the rest of the podium scores in addition to a 2nd and 3rd place finish for Grant Reid. However, results could have been better for all of them with Dickie the only front running rider to finish all five races at the weekend.
As we touched on before, Graeme Bodel’s heroic 4th place Saturday qualifying performance in the Superbike and Shirlaw’s Clubman race helped him secure his first Clubman race win of the season. Other first-time race winners (for the season) included Des Burns, Jimmy Shanks and Rod Scott – with this trio also adding additional podiums to their season’s tally at the weekend. Defending Champion Richard Hughes took the other win; with Derek Butcher and Gavin Jones also having some success at the weekend.
The next bike racing action for us comes in the shape of the MCE British Superbike Championship, set to take on the Knockhill track over the weekend of 3rd to 5th July. Expect to see super-fast wheel-to-wheel action from the UK’s premier motorcycle racing series featuring top international racing stars. Tickets for this event can be purchased in advance (subject to pre-booking discounts) via the Knockhill website. The next event for our KMSC racers takes place on 1st and 2nd August.
As well as the racing action, the weekend’s event also saw the Knockhill debut of 2-wheel stunt rider ‘Housty’; who took to the track to perform an array of 2-wheeled stunts for the assembled crowds. Houston will be back later this month at the BDC event on 13/14 June!
Knockhill Events Director, Stuart Gray commented:
“It’s been a terrific weekend of action. Some of the racing has been absolutely thrilling, and to have a bumper crowd here to witness it all just tops off another really strong weekend of action for the KMSC and Scottish Bike Racing Championships.”
For a full run-down of all the race results from the weekend, check out SMART Timing or MyLaps.
A massive thanks also to Dan Jess for supplying photos and our Championship sponsors.
