Reeves edges ever closer to British title
Tim Reeves and Gregory Cluze edged ever closer to retaining their British F1 Sidecar Championship title at the weekend with a dominant display at Cadwell Park. The Anglo-French pairing won all three races on their Haith/Padgetts LCR Honda to extend their lead to a whopping 120 points.The duo signalled their intentions from the off with a good pole position, almost half a second clear of regular sparring partners Ben and Tom Birchall and it was the Nottinghamshire brothers who proved to be Tim and Gregory's closest rival all weekend. Indeed, they had to give best to the Birchall’s in the early stages of Saturday’s 10-lap race, but on lap six, Tim hit the front and was able to edge away all the way to the flag eventually taking the win by 0.848s, the gap being reduced significantly on the final lap when Tim accidentally ran into the tail end of a backmarker. Onto Sunday’s racing, and Tim and Gregory left no-one in any doubt to the outcome as they grabbed the lead from Scott Lawrie/James Neave on the opening lap and were never headed again, utilising the clear road in front of them to press home their advantage. With the fastest lap of the race and a new lap record, 1m31.995s, on lap 3, they were able to forge clear and take their second win of the weekend, this time by a commanding 7.14s. The final race of the weekend was the best of the three and it was a lot closer this time around although Tim and Gregory were able to be in the lead each time they crossed the line. His eventual winning margin was 0.451s although Birchall only narrowly missed out on taking the lead on the final lap after a brave overtaking attempt at the bottom of the Mountain. The hat-trick means Tim now has 305 pts, 120 more than nearest rival Lawrie and with only 175 available from the final three rounds, he could well clinch the crown next time out. 
Speaking afterwards, a delighted Tim said; "What a brilliant weekend, it really couldn't have worked out much better for us! We've had a bit of bad luck at a few of the recent World and British rounds, despite wins and podiums at the latter, and have been suffering a bit with the handling of the bike but we fitted a new Maxton suspension system and it totally transformed the bike this weekend. I had a lot better feeling and it was cornering so much better than before so it felt like 'my' bike again - a big thanks to the guys at Maxton for doing a terrific job.""I followed Ben for a bit in the first race and then, once by, opened up a bit of a lead only to hit a backmarker at the end which caused us a few anxious moments but we had enough of a gap to bring the bike home. In the second, I got to the front early and just made full use of the clear road, taking the lap record in the process. Ben pressured me a fair bit in the last race and we had a right old ding-dong but it was all good,clean racing and although he tried to get by me at the bottom of the Mountain, I was able to hold him off to seal the hat-trick. Pole position, three wins and a new lap record really is a faultless weekend so a big thank you to Gregory again and all of my sponsors for making it happen." Round 6 of the series takes place at Donington Park in September but, prior to that, Tim turns his attention back to the World Championship with Oschersleben, Germany hosting the penultimate round on August 27/28. Back Two rostrum finishes for Burrows at Bikeweek John Burrows and his Cookstown/BE Racing team spent all last week at Dundrod in County Antrim where the Dundrod 150 Road Races took place last Thursday followed by the International Ulster Grand Prix Races two days later.The Dundrod 150 meeting brought Burrows the first of two rostrum finishes. After qualifying for a front row start for the Supertwins race on his 650 Kawasaki, the Dungannon rider took third behind Wayne Hamilton and Ryan Farquhar. Burrows earned a second row start for the Dundrod Superbike race in qualifying but bad weather denied him a great result. In the race, Burrows and his GSXR 1000 were lying in a terrific fourth place behind Guy Martin, Ryan Farquhar and Gary Johnson only for the race to be red flagged because of rain. As it was late in the evening and the light was fading, the meeting was abandoned so there was no Superbike restart. On Thursday night Burrows said: "The top two in the Supertwins race pulled clear of me so I just cruised to third. There was no pressure coming from behind. To have the Superbike race stopped when I was on the verge of a great result was frustrating but I realise safety is paramount and it was the right decision." At the Ulster Grand Prix, the Supertwins class brought Burrows another trip to the rostrum, this time after he had finished third behind Ryan Farquhar and Adrian Archibald who only beat the Cookstown/BE Racing pilot by half a second. John reviewed the race: "Archibald and I were under no pressure from behind so we rode at a very comfortable pace, neither he nor I wanted to show our hands to early. We both put the hammer down on the last lap and unfortunately he was ahead of me at the chequered flag. It's no disgrace to finish third behind two TT winners." Burrows qualified ninth for the Ulster GP Superbike events but facing really stiff international competition, he could only manage two 13th placings on his GSXR 1000 in the races. He also had a 13th place finish in the Superstock 1000 race on his new ZX10R Kawasaki. John took the positives from the Superbike races: "I was aiming for the top ten but I'll settle for 13th twice against the best in the world. I had the satisfaction of setting a personal best lap speed for the 7.4 miles Dundrod circuit. I lapped at an average speed of 126.82 mph in Superbike race one. I firmly believe I would have been close to the 130 mph mark if the conditions had been right. In that race, I beat James McBride who is a member of the '130 MPH Club' so I was in good company." Finally, Cookstown/BE Racing would like to say well done to the Lightning Motorcycles team who broke the 200 mph barrier last weekend at Bonneville Salt Flats with the electric bike that John rode at the TT in June. He said: "200 mph from an electric bike is some achievement. I'll be riding the bike at the TT in 2012 and it will give me a great chance in the Zero Emissions race." Back McAdoo Up and Down Dundrod for Conrod!
McAdoo Kawasaki Racing¹s Conor Cummins had a mixed 2011 Ulster Grand Prix last weekend - some good rides but with some technical issues thrown in.The very changeable weather conditions didn¹t help either with heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday bringing major disruption to practice and the cancellation of the Dundrod 150 race. Thankfully, race day on Saturday brought better conditions and although not perfect, all races were run as per schedule. The opening race of the day was the Superstock 1000 race. The circuit was damp in places so tyre choice was critical. Conrod opted for a Pirelli wet front and intermediate rear. At the end of lap one the Ramsey Rocket was in 11th place but began to up his pace and move up the leaderboard. He would eventually finish in 6th place but with the track trying rapidly, felt he could have finished higher had he not selected a wet front tyre although it held together brilliantly on the dry roads. Supersport race one followed but an electronics issue on the grid meant the McAdoo Kawasaki ZX-6R had to be wheeled away with the race about to start. Superbike race one wasn¹t much better. Already forced into riding the 2010 McAdoo Kawasaki Superbike because of an engine problem with the 2011 ZX-10R Superbike, Conrod was forced to pull out of the Superbike race with a slipping clutch. Supersport race two brought some encouragement with an 11th place finish. The electronics issue wasn¹t completely sorted meaning Conrod was again frustrated at not being able to show his real pace. The day finished with an 8th place in Superbike race two - an excellent ride considering the Manxman was on the team¹s ZX-10R Superstock bike - just behind Michael Dunlop in 7th who also rode his ZX-10R Stocker. Perhaps another case of Œwhat might have been¹ for the McAdoo Kawasaki team and Conrod. The pace wasn¹t great again, just like the TT, meaning Conrod¹s 2009 133.28mph Dundrod lap record was never threatened by anyone. Conor¹s fitness and form is certainly returning and with a bit more luck will threaten international road race podiums again very soon. Kawasaki Racing¹s Conor Cummins had a mixed 2011 Ulster Grand Prix last weekend - some good rides but with some technical issues thrown in. 
The very changeable weather conditions didn¹t help either with heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday bringing major disruption to practice and the cancellation of the Dundrod 150 race.
Thankfully, race day on Saturday brought better conditions and although not perfect, all races were run as per schedule. The opening race of the day was the Superstock 1000 race. The circuit was damp in places so tyre choice was critical. Conrod opted for a Pirelli wet front and intermediate rear. At the end of lap one the Ramsey Rocket was in 11th place but began to up his pace and move up the leaderboard. He would eventually finish in 6th place but with the track trying rapidly, felt he could have finished higher had he not selected a wet front tyre although it held together brilliantly on the dry roads.Supersport race one followed but an electronics issue on the grid meant the McAdoo Kawasaki ZX-6R had to be wheeled away with the race about to start. Superbike race one wasn¹t much better. Already forced into riding the 2010 McAdoo Kawasaki Superbike because of an engine problem with the 2011 ZX-10R Superbike, Conrod was forced to pull out of the Superbike race with a slipping clutch. Supersport race two brought some encouragement with an 11th place finish. The electronics issue wasn¹t completely sorted meaning Conrod was again frustrated at not being able to show his real pace. The day finished with an 8th place in Superbike race two - an excellent ride considering the Manxman was on the team¹s ZX-10R Superstock bike - just behind Michael Dunlop in 7th who also rode his ZX-10R Stocker. Perhaps another case of Œwhat might have been¹ for the McAdoo Kawasaki team and Conrod. The pace wasn¹t great again, just like the TT, meaning Conrod¹s 2009 133.28mph Dundrod lap record was never threatened by anyone. Conor¹s fitness and form is certainly returning and with a bit more luck will threaten international road race podiums again very soon. Back Lougher Re-Writes Ulster Grand Prix and Dundrod Statistics
Ian Lougher made it 17 Ulster Grand Prix victories with a start to finish win in the 250cc event on Saturday.
On Rico Mendel's 250cc bike, the pre-race favourite dominated the race from the opening lap and ran out the winner by over seven seconds from Denver Robb with Jamie Coward third.Earlier in the week, the Blackhorse Kawasaki rider/manager became the second most successful competitor round Dundrod when he won the Ulster Grand Prix 125cc race on Thursday afternoon. Before his 125cc win, Ian had shared the honour with Bob Jackson. Riding Norman Rank's Motorcycle Competition Service 125cc machine, Ian stamped his authority on the race from the flag and was already moving clear of the field by the time they got to Leathemstown on the first lap. He continued to lead the race with Paul Robinson in hot pursuit until red flags brought the race to a premature end with just over two laps remaining. The 2011 Ulster Grand Prix double win takes the popular Welshman's tally of victories at Dundrod to 20 with only Joey Dunlop having more wins, and has also provided him with a total of 38 Ulster Grand Prix rostrum finishes. Saturday Race DayLisburn City Council Superstock Race. Ian lined up on the second row of the grid for the opening race on Saturday on the Ninja ZX-10R. A rain shower just before the start meant that tyre choice would be critical with parts of the circuit dry and others wet.Gary Johnson led on the opening lap by over a second from Michael Dunlop, Guy Martin and Ryan Farquhar as Ian went over the line in seventh, just under three seconds down on the leader and in the company of William Dunlop and Bruce Anstey. On lap two Lougher was very much on the move and had overhauled not only Dunlop and Anstey but also Farquhar to move up to fourth just under two seconds off the new race leader Michael Dunlop. A lap later and he was up to third just over a second behind second placed Guy Martin and now very much in contention. The next two laps saw Ian settle into third but as they began the last lap Gary Johnson was starting to threaten and indeed it was Johnson who just managed to get past at the hairpin on the final circuit to claim the third podium place with fractions of a second separating the two at the line. Nevertheless a solid start to day for Ian and the team. Aer Lingus Supersport Race 1After the initial race was red flagged, from the re-start there was only one second between the leading seven at the end of the first lap as Cameron Donald led from Keith Amor, William Dunlop, Michael Dunlop, Gary Johnson and Bruce Anstey with Ian just behind in eighth ahead of John McGuinness, Wayne Hamilton and Ryan Farquhar. On the second lap Johnson went straight on at the hairpin as McGuinness and Hamilton relegated Lougher to ninth. On the next lap McGuinness was safe in seventh and Farquhar had now moved ahead of Ian who was now tenth. Ian held this position on lap four and on the fifth and final lap Keith Amor crashed out at Leathemstown as Ian eventually finished ninth.Wash 'n' Dash 250cc RaceBefore the race the name on most people's mind as the race favourite was Ian Lougher and indeed that was how the race developed. A spell of rain before the race eventually gave way to bright sunshine as the riders headed out on their opening lap. At the conclusion of the lap it was clear that barring a mechanical mishap, no-one was going to upset the pre-race predictions and on Rico Mendel's immaculately prepared machine that wasn't likely to happen as Ian led by just under seven seconds, a lead he was increase to 7.15 seconds at the end of the six lap race. Ian was never troubled throughout the race except for some rear tyre problems in the closing stages, however he had enough in hand in terms of time and race experience to bring the bike safely home for Ulster Grand Prix win number 17. Seamus Elliott went out of second on the final lap enabling Denver Robb to take second with Jamie Cowden third. Quickest through the speed trap was Lougher at 150mph.McKinstry Skip Hire Superbike Race 1The race was one lap old when it was stopped due to rain and on the re-start Ian decided to pull in at the end of the opening lap.Around A Pound Supersport Race 2Ian's last race of the day was the second Supersport race and at the conclusion of the first lap he was ninth just ahead of Conor Cummins and Dan Kneen. On the next lap Kneen moved into ninth with Ian just behind followed by Cummins and Ben Wylie. On lap three Lougher re-claimed ninth with Cummins now tenth with Kneen and Wylie completing the four-man group. On the next lap positions changed again as Wylie, Kneen and Cummins all got past to relegate Ian to twelfth. Ian and his BSB Superstock runner Cummins were enjoying a great race long scrap, with Lougher eventually getting the better of the Manxman to claim 11th at the conclusion of the six lap race.So for the second year in succession Ian Lougher has re-written the Ulster Grand Prix and Dundrod Circuit statistics. It's a welcome break for Ian and the team now before preparations begin for the next rounds of the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 and 600 Championships at Cadwell Park on Bank Holiday weekend August 27-29. Back Mixed bag of results for Farquhar at Ulster GP
Ryan Farquhar endured one of his most frustrating Ulster Grands Prix ever at the weekend when a win in the Supertwins race was offset by a mixture of results in the other classes. Problems in qualifying meant that he started a number of races low down on the grid and although he scored a brace of top eight finishes in the Superbike and Supersport races, the KMR Kawasaki rider was left to ponder what might have been.Thursday's Dundrod 150 race saw Ryan enjoy a good battle with Wayne Hamilton in the Supertwins race but, just as they'd started their fourth lap, the red flag came out due to rain falling at various parts of the circuit. Subsequently, the results went back to the end of the second lap and that meant Ryan was awarded second, just 0.656s adrift of Hamilton. The feature Dundrod 150 Superbike race was next, finally getting underway at 7.30pm, and despite starting from the fifth row of the grid, Ryan was amazingly up to second at the end of the first lap. However, no sooner had the riders started their second lap then the red flag came out to stop the race due to further rain falling and the race was ultimately abandoned as time ran out. Onto Saturday's Ulster GP and a good start in the Superstock race saw Ryan up to 4th at the end of the first lap, despite another lowly start position, and this soon became 3rd half way round lap two. However, it soon became apparent to Ryan that his choice of a wet front tyre wasn't going to work in the drying conditions and, after a number of slides, he retired at the end of the lap. With conditions considerably better for the following Supersport race, Ryan then took a hard fought 8th, just ahead of fellow Kawasaki rider Ian Lougher. Another rain shower meant that Ryan started the Supertwins race on wet tyres and in the early stages it was another battle with Hamilton. This time though Ryan was in front and when they caught a group of slower 250cc riders, Ryan used his experience to get through cleanly and seize control with his task being made slightly easier as Hamilton crashed out. Ryan eventually took the win by over a minute, also taking the lead on the road, and it proved to be a great race for the team with Adrian Archibald taking second and newcomer Jamie Hamilton taking fourth. Ryan was then back out on his Superstock machine for the feature Superbike race and, despite the speed advantage of the Superbikes, he took a strong 8th place, not too far behind a similarly mounted Michael Dunlop. However, upon arriving back at the paddock, it soon became apparent there was a problem with the bike and a broken radiator meant that Ryan's racing for the day was over. Speaking afterwards, a philosophical Ryan commented: "It's definitely been a bit of an up and down meeting for me and, aside from the Supertwins races, it's been heavy going - just as it looked like I might be able to get a good result, something's come along to prevent it! In all the years of racing I've done at the Ulster, it has to be the most problematical qualifying I've ever had with all manner of things going wrong whether it be the weather, a poor tyre choice or something else! Still, I got stuck in during Thursday's races and was right with Wayne when the red flag came out in the Supertwins race so, with no time to re-run the race, I had to settle for second. I was way back on the fifth row for the Superbike race but made a really good start and got by everyone bar Guy Martin who was so far ahead by the time I'd got up to second I couldn't even see him! I felt comfortable out there but another red flag came out just as another podium looked to be on the cards." 
"I put it all behind me for Saturday's race and was hopeful that the Superstock race could give me my best result. The track was quite wet on the warm up lap so I swapped from intermediates to wets but as soon as we went out on the first lap, I could see the track was drying so thought we could be in trouble. I started to get some major front end slides so much so that I thought I had a puncture but the tyre must have overheated due to the conditions so it wasn't safe for me to continue and I had to pull in. I rode as hard as I could in the 600 race and enjoyed a good battle with Wayne Hamilton and Ian Lougher and then regrouped for the Supertwins race. It was wet again so I went for the wets and this time they were the right decision and I was able to keep out of trouble and stay out front. It was a great race for all of the team with Adrian and Jamie finishing 2nd and 4th and if he hadn't had to start from the back of the grid, it could have been a clean sweep of the podium as Jamie was riding so, so well.""The Superstock bike was up against it in the Superbike race so, again, I rode as hard as I could, but towards the end of the race, steam started to come up from the bike and it turned out the radiator had gone so that was me done for the day. It was certainly a tough day for everyone but we all did the best we could and I think the fans would have gone home happy." Ryan now heads to the Manx Grand Prix where he'll have three rides on Roger Winfield's 500cc Paton, 350cc Honda and GS1000 Suzuki. He'll also be supplying Shaun Anderson with a 650cc ER6 Kawasaki for the Supertwins race. Practice gets underway on Saturday August 20th. Back Connor Behan #72 Club NewsletterHi All,
Well what can we say! Connors first Pole and Superstock 600 win of the season! Hopefully you all managed to watch it live on TV! Total domination from start to finish!Shame about the safety car coming out, but Connors plan worked and he shot off again, causing a bit of havoc behind and seeing series leader Keith Farmer drop a few places. On lap 8, Connor set the new lap record of 1:31.084, the previous being 1:31.210. He now stands in 2nd place, just 26 points behind series leader Keith Farmer with 5 races to go, so is in with a chance of taking the Championship! It was great to see some of you at Brands Hatch, and glad the VIP Tickets winners, Simon and Ren from Sol Acoustics had a great weekend! Unfortunately #03 Nathan Bowerman who won the tickets for the next round at Cadwell cannot make it, and has asked us to re-draw a name out, which we did and the winner is - 
#36 Sophie Ikin - Congratulations!The names on the bike for the next round at Cadwell are - CATERFAB (UK) LTD VITAL SIGNS JOHN BURDSALL NEIL COLLEY BARRY IKIN JOHN DUFFY We would like to thank you all again for your continued support and hope Connor can get another solid result at Cadwell in a fortnight! PS. Don't forget to get your guesses back to us for Connors final points of the season, we've had about 8 back so far varying from 165 to 205! Make sure you have them back to us before RaceDay! Closest to the final points will receive a large signed & framed picture of Connor in action! Thanks All at Connor Behan Racing Back |
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