Irish Road Racing 2012 by Derek Wilson

Irish Motorcycle Real Road Racing 2012. Photography By Derek Wilson.

2012 Championhip Positions. Superbike Supersport 600 650 Supertwins 250 GP MOTO 3 (125) Supersport 400 Senior Support Junior Support

Michael Dunlop. Ryan Farquhar. Ryan Farquhar. William Dunlop. Sam Wilson. Andy Farrell. Alan Kenny. Mark Shiels.

Front cover:- Michael Dunlop Kilalane Road Races. ÂŠ Copyright Derek Wilson 2012.

Cookstown 100. Ryan Farquhar opened his Irish road racing season in fantastic style when he again dominated the Cookstown 100 road races. The KMR Kawasaki rider was in scintillating form around the 2.1mile Orritor circuit and took four wins during the day including the feature Superbike encounter, extending his record number of wins at the event to 27. Indeed, it was a great day all round for the team with Jamie Hamilton finishing in second place, behind Farquhar in the Supertwins race and also claiming two top ten results in the Superbike races. The meeting didn't get off to the greatest of starts for Farquhar though, as an incident in Friday evening's practice session saw him catch his knee on a sandbag and be pulled off the side of the bike. As he fought to keep control, he also clipped a Recticel barrier and not only did he hurt his knee he also bent the bottom yoke of the bike, his 2009 Superstock machine. Fortunately, it didn't stop him from racing on Saturday and the day got off to a good start with a solid second place in the opening Superbike race behind Guy Martin. It would prove to be his only defeat of the day and after taking a comfortable win, and new lap record in the Moto 450 race, he

led from start to finish in the Supersport 600cc race to win from William Dunlop by 4.1secs. Next up was the main event of the day, the Cookstown 100 Superbike race, and the early stages saw Ryan go head to head with Guy Martin once more although this time Farquhar led the way. At half race distance his Suzuki-mounted rival outbraked himself and that allowed Farquhar to complete his hat-trick and take another four second win, this time ahead of Michael Dunlop. The day then ended for Ryan with another start to finish victory, and another lap record, this time in the Supertwins race where his winning margin over team-mate Jamie Hamilton was 7.5secs, another one-two for the team after the same result at Scarborough the previous weekend. Hamilton also took two ninth place finishes in the two Superbike races thus meaning it was another excellent circuit debut for the 21-year old.

Ryan Farquhar.

Wayne Kirwin.

William Dunlop.

Michael Dunlop.

Guy Martin.

Tandragee 100.

The same pairing then went head to head in the Supersport 600cc race but this time it was even closer with the lead changing hands on a number of occasions. This time though it was Michael Dunlop who prevailed and he just held off Farquhar, the gap between the duo at the end of the 5 laps just 0.096 seconds! However, Ryan didn't have to wait long for his second win of the day with a start to finish victory coming in the Moto 450 race. It was a similar story in the Supertwins race where he ran out a convincing winner by a whopping 15.4 secs. to complete his hat-trick and that just left the main event of the day, the Tandragee 100 Superbike race. In what was without doubt the race of the day, Ryan and Michael gave the fans a race to remember as they embarked on a furious battle that went the entire race distance. There was nothing to choose between them with both taking turns in the lead but, on the final lap, Michael grabbed the lead and he held on in the run in to the flag to edge Ryan out by just 0.9 secs.

Michael Dunlop.

Team-mate Jamie Hamilton had a bit of a mixed day around the 5.5-mile venue, retiring from the first Superbike race with a broken radiator as he fell victim to all the stones that were being kicked up from the recently resurfaced circuit. However, despite the distinct lack of track time, he did take an excellent third place in the Supertwins race for another podium finish.

Ryan Farquhar enjoyed another superb day of racing with the KMR Kawasaki rider taking a hat-trick of race wins at the Tandragee 100 road races. The Dungannon ace took the Open, Supertwins and Moto 450 races and backed this up with two extremely hard fought runner-up spots behind Michael Dunlop in the Supersport and feature Superbike events. The Open race was first up for Ryan and with a good start, he led Michael Dunlop by 0.6 secs. at the end of the first lap. The duo soon began to pull away from the rest of the field and as the race entered it's second half, Ryan began to edge away from Dunlop too. Sure enough, he was able to open up a significant gap and he eventually took the chequered flag 3.25 secs clear of his younger rival for his first win of the day. Jamie Hamilton.

Michael Pearson.

Dave Hewson. John Burrows.

Paul Robinson.

William Dunlop.

Andy Farrell.

Ryan Farquhar.

Northwest 200.

Alastair Seeley.

Tyco Suzuki's Alastair Seeley took his third victory of the 2012 North West 200 festival, bagging the blue riband second Superbike race ahead of veterans Michael Rutter and John McGuinness with Simon Andrews coming through the second wave to take fourth on corrected time. Seeley won the second Supersport race just ahead of the feature North West, wins adding to the first Superstock win in the wet on Thursday night. The result ensured Seeley took home the Man of the Meeting award with a superb return of three wins and three seconds from his six races. John McGuiness

Michael Rutter won a thrilling Superstock race on Thursday, coming through from the second wave to get the better of Alastair Seeley and James Hillier on corrected time. Seeley, Hillier, Ryan Farquhar and John McGuinness went toe to toe at the head of the field throughout the six laps but Rutter, who started from the front row of the second wave, fully utilised the clear track in front of him and aided by a new lap record of 120.153mph, he romped home almost seven seconds clear.

Michael Rutter.

William Dunlop.

William Dunlop gave Wilson Craig Racing their first ever International road race victory with a highly impressive performance in the first Supersport race. Cameron Donald.

Jeremy McWilliams

Ian Lougher.

Dan Kneen.

Ian Hutchinson.

Mid Antrim 150.

Fresh from his race-winning exploits at the Isle of Man TT Races, Ryan Farquhar's highly successful season continued when he dominated the Mid Antrim 150 road races. Despite the tricky, damp conditions around the 3.54mile Clough circuit, the KMR Kawasaki rider won all five of his races, including the Grand Final, by comfortable margins to make it 21 wins already for the season. Having been hit by bad weather in the last three years, the organising Mid Antrim club brought the meeting forward from their traditional August date to June but sadly, they were still hit by wind and rain and so only 5 controlled laps of practice could take place, Ryan completing his on the 450cc Kawasaki. Saturday was still damp although a dry line appeared as the day wore on and first up for Ryan was the Superbike race. Despite having made a few changes to the big since the TT, the bike was still handling poorly but, after taking it steady in the first few laps Ryan moved up from third and took his first win of the day by 10.44 seconds. Next up was the Supertwins race and Ryan, quite literally, dominated the race with a start to finish victory, which saw him take the chequered flag some 45 seconds clear of second placed John Burrows. He also set a new lap record of 98.735mph. Riding a borrowed 600cc ZX-6R Kawasaki, he then completed his hat-trick with a 9.6s victory in the Supersport race and win number 4 soon followed with another dominant performance in the 125cc/ 450cc race and another new lap record. That just left the Grand Final and, aided by the fastest lap of the day at 106.501mph, it was another start to finish victory for Ryan as he beat Derek Shiels by 10.3s.

Ryan Farquhar.

Team-mate Jamie Hamilton took strong 5th and 6th place finishes in the two Superbike races but was denied 2nd place and a podium in the Supertwins race when he slid off at the Clough hairpin, fortunately without injury.

John Burrows, Ryan Farquhar, Derek Sheils.

Ryan Farqhar.

Paul Robinson.

Jamie Hamilton.

Seamous Elliott.

Jamie Hamilton.

John Burrows.

Bush Road Races. For the second successive weekend, Ryan Farquhar won five Irish National road races in a day when he dominated proceedings at the Bush meeting. The KMR Kawasaki rider was again in imperious form and won every race he started, the 125cc/450cc, Supersport, Supertwins, Superbike and Grand Final, to move onto 26 wins for the season. After practice was wiped out due to rain, the riders receiving just a handful of controlled laps instead, Ryan's day started in fine style with a start to finish victory in the Supertwins race and there was further joy for the team with Jamie Hamilton taking second and Paul Cranston in sixth on a third KMR Kawasaki. Another start to finish victory then followed for Ryan as he dominated the Supersport race, his eventual winning margin being a commanding 16 seconds.Â

The first Superbike race was a lot closer affair though as Ryan had to see off a last lap charge by Derek Sheils. With his lead over Sheils being less than he thought, Ryan got overtaken on the final lap but he was able to fight back and complete his hattrick with a 0.463s victory whilst Hamilton crossed the line in seventh. Keen to make no mistakes in the Grand Final, Ryan grabbed the lead from the start and promptly pulled away from the rest of the field as he swept to yet another win. The gap on this occasion was 15 seconds with John Burrows taking second as Hamilton claimed a brilliant third, his first podium in the Superbike class. That just left the 125cc/ 450cc race for Ryan and he not only led the 450cc class but also the 125cc class when the red flag came out due to rain after four laps. The result was taken and so Ryan wrapped up yet another five timer. Ryan Farquhar.

Jamie Hamilton.

Brian Mateer. 16

Ryan Farqhar.

Sam Wilson.

Skerries 100.

With heavy rain severely affecting conditions during Friday evening's practice sessions, race day dawned bright and sunny although the adjacent fields and paddock remained extremely muddy! Due to this, Ryan opted to just take out his 600cc machine for the opening Superbike race and, naturally down on power compared to the 1000cc machines he finished in a somewhat unusual 5th place.Â From that moment on he was never beaten though with his first victory coming in the following Supersport 600cc race after a battle with Michael and William Dunlop. The latter crashing heavily on the fifth lap and with the result taken at the end of the fourth lap Ryan took the win by 0.173s from Michael. After an easy victory in the Moto 450cc race, Ryan's hat-trick was completed in the 7-lap Supertwins race where he was pushed hard by teammate Jamie Hamilton. The pupil pressured the master hard in the early laps but aided by a new lap record Ryan slowly edged away and took the chequered flag over five seconds clear.Â That just left the Grand Final where Ryan again went head to head with Michael Dunlop with the latter leading the way for much of the 8-lap race. However, Ryan, who used his ZX-10R Superstock machine for the race, was just biding his time and made his move on the final lap to duly take his fourth win of the day, this time by 1.71s. Hamilton's successful day continued when he took a fine fifth after earlier finishing seventh in the Superbike race.

Michael Dunlop.

Ryan Farquhar's superb 2012 season showed no signs of slowing down when the KMR Kawasaki rider took four wins from five starts at the Skerries 100 road races. Flyin' Ryan took victories in the Grand Final, Supersport 600cc, Supertwins and Moto 450cc races increasing his win tally so far this season to a stunning 30.

Ryan Farquhar.

Davy Morgan.

Sam Wilson.

John Walsh.

John Burrows.

Ryan Farquhar.

William Dunlop.

Michael Dunlop.

Wayne Kirwin.

William Dunlop.

Alan Kenny.

Andy Farrell.

Derek Sheils.

Race Of The South Walderstown.

John Burrows Michael Dunlop.

Michael and William Dunlop both completed doubles at the Race Of The South Road Races at Walderstown in County Westmeath. Michael continued his excellent form having taken victories at the Southern 100, taking the win in the Open Championship race after brother William decided not to go out. However, it was local rider John Burrows on the Cookstown/BE Racing Suzuki who gave him a run for his money in the opening few laps. Michael also won the feature Race Of The South Grand Final. For William it was a return to racing after a heavy crash at the Skerries Road Races a week earlier which caused the Wilson Craig Honda rider to miss the Southern 100 races with a dislocated shoulder, although he bounced back taking the Supersport and 125 races. Having taken his first international race win at the Southern 100 Jamie Hamilton showed it was no fluke as he claimed the chequered flag in the Supertwins Race.

Michael Dunlop.

Paul Robinson was the surprise winner of the 250 race after pre race favourite William Dunlop retired on the last lap with a broken chain. However, at that stage Robinson held a slender lead over Dunlop and Ed Manly took second ahead of Davy Morgan.

Michael Dunlop.

Derek McGee.

Michael Sweeney.

William Dunlop.

Jamie Hamilton.

Armoy â&#x20AC;&#x153;Race Of Legendsâ&#x20AC;? Road Races. When it resumed, Ryan grabbed the holeshot and led for the opening three laps before the rain returned and so signalled to the officials who had agreed to stop the race if conditions became unrideable. Michael Dunlop passed Ryan just before the line and, with another lap being completed it was he who was awarded the victory when the race was eventually stopped.

Ryan Farquhar. Sam Wilson.

Ryan

Farquhar battled his way through the difficult weather conditions at the Armoy 'Race of Legends' Road Races to add two more wins to his haul for the season. The KMR Kawasaki rider took victory in the Supertwins and 450cc races whilst also claiming three more podiums thus ensuring another successful day's racing. Conditions changed throughout the day as the rain came and went but Ryan opened his account with a comfortable victory in the Moto 450cc race, which was held in wet weather. The rain worsened for the Supersport 600cc race and after two warm up laps the riders spoke to the officials and with lots of standing water the race was delayed.

William Dunlop. Michael Sweeney.

Next up for Ryan was the first Superbike race and, with conditions still wet, he opted to take out his 600cc machine once more. Despite being at a major disadvantage against the 1000cc machines, he led for the first two laps before being overhauled by Michael Dunlop and Guy Martin but third was an excellent result given the horsepower deficit. Meanwhile, team-mate Jamie Hamilton took a solid eighth and the duo then went head to head in the Supertwins race. There was little between the two but it all went wrong when Hamilton tried to out-brake his team leader and he crashed out. That enabled Ryan to take the win from Adrian Archibald and Michael Sweeney. The Grand Final was Ryan's last race of the day and he again went head to head with Michael Dunlop, leading in the early stages before his younger rival found a way through. There was nothing separating the two until the closing few laps when backmarkers came into play and it was enough to allow Michael to edge out a gap and so Ryan had to settle for second at the chequered flag.

Ryan Farquhar.

Conor Cummins.

Guy Martin.

Dundrod 150 & Ulster Grand Prix.

Guy Martin took a thrilling victory in the 7lap Ulster GP Superbike race after Michael Dunlop crashed out at the hairpin on the penultimate lap. Martin overhauled Gary Johnson on the second lap before Dunlop reeled him in but after exchanging places on the sixth lap, Dunlop slid off to leave Martin clear in the lead for his eighth UGP victory. It was Johnson on the Padgetts Honda that led the field round at the end of the first lap, his lead over Martin just 0.09s whilst Dunlop was a further second back in third and the same margin ahead of Ryan Farquhar. Martin and his Tyco Suzuki hit the front on the second lap but Dunlop was the fastest man on the circuit and there was just 0.9s between the trio at the end of the second lap. William Dunlop was an early retirement though, disappointment for the Wilson Craig Racing rider who'd qualified on the front row. The front three closed to within 0.6s each other at half race distance as Conor Cummins overhauled Bruce Anstey for fourth but Dunlop moved up to second when he overtook Johnson at the end of the Flying Kilo, going on to take the fastest lap of the race at 133.263mph, and he repeated the move on lap six to take the lead for the first time. Martin returned the compliment at Wheeler's but just as it looked like we'd have a grandstand finish between the two, Dunlop slid off. That allowed Martin to have a comfortable final lap and he eventually took the flag over five seconds clear of Johnson with Cummins a further eight seconds back in third. Anstey coasted over the line in fourth with Adrian Archibald having a great ride into fifth just ahead of fellow veterans Farquhar and Ian Lougher. Dan Kneen retired on the penultimate lap and that allowed Michael Pearson, none the worse for a spill in the Supersport race, to take eighth ahead of Dean Harrison and Rob Barber.

Michael Dunlop.

Michael Dunlop claimed his first International Superbike victory when he took the second Superbike race of the day at the Ulster Grand Prix. The McAdoo Racing rider hunted down Guy Martin on the Tyco Suzuki and after an exchange of places on the final lap Dunlop sealed the win with a move at hairpin and crossed the line to rapturous cheers. Martin led on the opening lap and it was Gary Johnson on the Padgetts Honda who was tucked in his slipstream with Dunlop having made a better start this time around to slot into third. Conor Cummins tucked into fourth with Ryan Farquhar in fifth and William Dunlop in sixth but the latter named only got to Leathemstown on the second lap before retiring.

Lap two and the order was still the same and there were battles all the way through the field with 6th to 11th separated by just 1.5s whilst it was also bunching up at the front with only 0.8s between Martin, Johnson and Dunlop. With what turned out to be the fastest lap of the race, 133.433mph Dunlop moved up to second on lap three after passing Johnson at Wheeler's and it was now Dan Kneen in sixth ahead of Michael Pearson, Adrian Archibald, Ian Lougher and Bruce Anstey, who was out on his Superstock machine. The thousands of fans were focussing on the battle for the lead and on lap four Dunlop hit the front for the first time, his lead at the end of the lap though still only 0.2s.

There was literally nothing between the Northern Irishman and Englishman with their fifth lap times absolutely identical and the last lap was nothing short of superb. Martin led going into Wheeler's but Dunlop wasn't to be denied and a 'block pass' move at the hairpin sealed his win, sweet reward after tipping off at the same corner earlier in the day. Cummins put in a final lap charge to take the last podium spot, his third of the day, with Johnson in fourth and Farquhar in fifth. The battle for sixth went all the way to the line and it was Pearson, Kneen, Dean Harrison, Lougher and Archibald in that order. Harrison also became the first newcomer to break the 130mph barrier with a lap of 130.228mph.

Michael Dunlop.

Conor Cummins.

Jamie Hamilton.

Guy Martin. Ryan Kneen.

William Dunlop.

Michael Dunlop.

In the Around A Pound Supersport 600 race two Dunlop for a second successive year at the Ulster Grand Prix lost out of a fine race win on the last lap when Anstey slipped underneath Dunlop on the run through the Quarry Bends section on the last lap, with Anstey taking the chequered flag with 0.194 seconds over Dunlop and Conor Cummins.

William Dunlop.

Wilson Craig Honda rider William Dunlop endured mixed fortunes at this years Grand Prix, sharing two podium positions in the Supersport 600 Races which included a fine win in race one.

But Dunlop's luck was non-existant in the Lisburn City Council Superstock race and the two Superbike races, having to retire out of all three races with mechanical problems on his Honda Fireblades. In the Aer Lingus UGP Supersport 600 race Dunlop just managed to hold off New Zealand's Bruce Anstey for a narrow win after this race was cut short because of two separate red flag incidents which brought a premature end to the race. The race was stopped on lap three and the result declared, leaving William the winner from Anstey and Lee Johnson. Bruce Anstey.

Former National Superstock 600cc Champion Lee Johnston dominated the 5-lap Dundrod 150 National race, leading from start to finish. Riding the Millsport Racing Honda, the County Fermanagh rider made the break from the start and with a lead of over two seconds after the first lap, he was able to control the race and, aided by the fastest lap of the race at 123.198mph, he ran home winner an eventual 4.2s clear of Dean Harrison. Johnston took his second win on Thursday when he won a thrilling Dundrod 150 Challenge race by two seconds from Rob Barber. Riding the Millsport Racing Ducati Panigale, Johnston led in the early stages but a new lap record by Barber of 129.147mph on his BMW saw him close right up and there was just 0.133s between the duo with just two laps to go. That was when Johnston upped the ante and with backmarkers coming into play, he was able to edge away slightly and eventually took the chequered flag by two seconds.

Ryan Farqhar.

Ryan Farquhar ensured his International road race season ended on a high note when he claimed victory in the Supertwins race. The win meant that the KMR Kawasaki rider completed the set after already having taken victory in the corresponding races at the Isle of Man TT and North West 200. Taking a commanding 11.5sec win in the day's Supertwins race whilst team-mate Jamie Hamilton took a strong second to give the team another 1-2.

Lee Johnston.

Killalane.

The Dunlop brothers William and Michael made the final Irish Road Race of the 2012 season their own with William taking three wins at Killalane and younger brother Michael securing two chequered flags. William took the first victory in the 250cc race and followed that with a six second advantage over his rival brother Michael in the 600 Supersport race and completed his treble taking the flag in the Ultra-Lightweight 125cc race. Michael Dunlop made the Open Championship Race and the Grand Final his own with a four second victory over Derek Sheils in the Open and a two second advantage over Michael Pearson in the feature event of the meeting.

Jamie Hamilton, riding the KMR Kawasaki machines also scored a double in the 650cc SuperTwins race and the Moto 450cc race, run concurrently with the 125's. Sam Wilson, currently leading the chase for the Duke Road Race Rankings Newcomers Award took a hard fought for victory in the Senior Support race, following that with a second behind the unstoppable William Dunlop in the 125cc event.

William Dunlop.

Derek Shiels.

William Dunlop.

Davy Morgan.

William Dunlop. Jamie Hamilton.

Michael Dunlop.