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SUPERBIKE RACE START
Cameron Donald took his first
ever TT win today with victory in the action packed and drama filled
Dainese Superbike race. Riding the Relentless by TAS Suzuki, the
Australian took advantage of the misfortunes of Guy Martin and John
McGuinness to seize control at two thirds race distance and he came
home just over ten seconds clear of team-mate Bruce Anstey, to make
it a tremendous day for Hector and Philip Neill’s team. A perfect
day for Suzuki was completed with Adrian Archibald finishing in
third.
With bright, sunny weather bathing the Island, conditions were ideal
for racing but their was confusion at the start and Guy Martin was
delayed getting to the line. He missed his starting slot by almost 9
seconds before getting underway. Conor Cummins and John McGuinness
were also delayed before everything got back on track and their
delay clearly showed at Glen Helen as it was Ian Hutchinson who led
from Donald, Anstey, Ryan Farquhar, McGuinness and Martin. However,
as the lap progressed, Martin was getting into his rhythm on the
Hydrex Bike Animal Honda and he took the lead with an opening lap of
129.103mph to lead McGuinness by almost 4 seconds with Donald,
Anstey, Hutchinson and Farquhar not far behind.
The drama continued on the 2nd lap when McGuinness was late at Glen
Helen but he eventually arrived, pulling in with a misfire. He got
going again but the problem returned and he called it a day at Sulby
Crossroads. Martin now had more breathing space and with a second
lap of 129.540mph, the fastest of the race, his lead was up to over
ten seconds. The Lincolnshire rider controlled the race from his
signals until the 4th lap when he was reported as being missing at
Ramsey Hairpin. News came through that he too had retired at Sulby
whilst early pace setter Hutchinson was also out near Union Mills
with Cummins following on the 4th lap at Keppel Gate.
The two TAS Suzuki’s were flying though, circulating together on the
road and although Anstey tried to break away, he soon realized it
was a forlorn task and he tucked in behind Donald for the rest of
the race. The Aussie, in only his third TT, was lapping at the
129mph mark and the duo crossed the line almost together although it
was Donald who prevailed over his Antipodean rival by 10.77 seconds
with a new race record of 1hr 47m05.89s, 126.82mph. It was not only
his first win, but also Australia’s first since Graeme McGregor won
the 1984 Junior TT.
Archibald, 9th on the first lap, worked his way through the field
with his fastest ever TT lap to finish 3rd, his first podium for
three years, firmly silencing his critics. Gary Johnson, one of last
year’s best newcomers, rode brilliantly on his Honda to take 4th
with Ian Lougher finally getting the better of Farquhar, on his
Superstock machine, for fifth.
Keith Amor took 7th ahead of an excellent ride by Dan Stewart in 8th
with the top 12 being completed by Carl Rennie, Steve Plater, Mark
Parrett and Les Shand. Incidents were reported for Stephen McKnight
at the Bungalow and Thomas Shoenfelder at Sarah’s but neither was
believed to be serious.
TT SUPERBIKE WINNERS ROSTRUM
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Cameron Donald Pit Stop
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Picture's provided by
Stephen Davison @ Pacemaker press Intl |