Burrows excels in big bike events

Cookstown/BE Racing's John Burrows travelled to the famous Skerries Road Races in North County Dublin where he grabbed four top five finishes on a scorching hot day which brought the fans out in their thousands. Burrows took fourth in the Supertwins race, fifth in the Supersport event but it was his two Superbike performances that really caught the eye.

In the Superbike Championship race Burrows took his Cookstown/BE Racing Suzuki 1000 to third place behind the Dunlop brothers, William and Michael. Runner-up Michael only beat the Dungannon man by 1.3 seconds
Burrows said: "The big Suzuki was really flying and third was a great start to the day. It felt good to beat Derek Sheils and Ryan Farquhar. Derek won the corresponding race last year and everybody knows the form Ryan has been in recently."

At the end of the day Burrows picked up a cheque for €1000 for finishing third in the Grand Final on his Suzuki 1000 behind Ryan Farquhar and Michael Dunlop.
He said: "I had a good battle for third with Derek. He held the position starting the last lap but I had a passing plan and it worked perfectly. The two men ahead of me are the cream of the cream in road racing, both Ryan and Michael won TT races this year, so it's no disgrace to be third in this kind of company."

In between the two big bike races Burrows had the Supersport and Supertwins races to keep him busy. He was fifth in Supersport on the Moira Club's CBR 600 RR Honda before taking fourth in the Supertwins race on the KBM Kawasaki 650.

Burrows commented: "I beat Davy Morgan and Adrian Archibald to take fifth in the Supersport race which was won by Ryan Farquhar. It was stopped when William Dunlop crashed. I'm not that happy with fifth but the important thing is that William was not seriously injured. He did pick up arm and shoulder injuries and I'd like to wish him a speedy recovery.
"My Supertwins machine felt a bit sluggish today so I had to settle for fourth behind Farquhar, Jamie Hamilton and Michael Sweeney. Next time out I intend to be back in the top three of the class so we'll take a good look at the KBM machine and make sure she's back to her best sooner rather than later."



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Farquhar takes superb four-timer at Skerries

Ryan Farquhar's superb 2012 season showed no signs of slowing down at the weekend 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 to take his win tally to the season to a stunning 30.

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. 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 crashed out 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 team-mate 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. 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.

Speaking later, a delighted Ryan said; "A few people were saying I had it easy at the Bush and Mid Antrim races with a lack of opposition so, with Michael and William being here today, I was really fired up and out to prove a point. The weather on Friday left the whole paddock a bit of a mud bath so I decided to take the wee 600 out for the first Superbike race as I didn't want to mess the big bikes up with the Southern 100 so close. I was never going to be in contention but it was a good fifth and I followed this up with a win on the same bike in the Supersport race. William and Michael were with me the whole time but I just kept my head down and it was a shame William crashed out as it was a great race. The 450cc race was straightforward enough but Jamie really kept me honest in the Supertwins race and I had to work hard for that one - maybe I'm teaching him too much! I'd done a bit more work to the bikes and they were working so, so well."

"That just left the Grand Final and with conditions drying up all the time in the paddock, I decided to take the Stocker out. It hadn't turned a wheel since the TT and was set up for the Mountain Course but a couple of warm up laps allowed me to get dialled in. The bike was working well, the sun was shining and after sitting behind Michael for a few laps I waited until the last lap to make a move so that he didn't have time to come back at me - it worked a treat so to come away with four wins is brilliant. A big thanks to Vauxhall for lending me a van and also to Millers Oils who I'm using this year. The gap between the Bush and Skerries allowed me to strip the bikes down and give everything a refresh and seeing how well all the components still looked is a testament to the quality of their product. There's no let-up at the moment with the meetings coming thick and fast so I'm off to the Southern 100 now where I'll have the Superbike, Superstock and Supertwin machines to use. We're awaiting a few parts for the big bike but, hopefully, there'll arrive on Tuesday and we can give a good account of ourselves on the Island."

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Victor Cox second at Oulton Park

For the second race in succession, Victor Cox placed the ILR Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R on the podium when he finished a brilliant second in the latest round of the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship at Oulton Park. His team-mate Ash Beech also rode well to finish just outside the points in 16th.

The organisers decided to hold the free practice session in two separate groups and both riders were in the same session with Cox quickest through the first sector, second in Sectors 2 and 3 and fastest in the group (2nd overall) with Beech tenth (24th overall).

Thankfully qualifying took place in much better conditions with Victor the highest placed Kawasaki rider on the front row of the grid in third, just over half a second off pole position with Ash on the sixth row in 22nd.

Dry weather again prevailed for the race as Cox got a great start to quickly settle into third behind David Johnson and championship leader Keith Farmer, Beech meanwhile had quickly gained three places and was in the middle of a four-man scrap in 19th. As they completed their second lap, Johnson had moved into the lead with Victor 0.67s clear in third and right on the tail of second placed man Farmer. Positions remained the same for the next few laps with Victor 2.33s behind the leader and now coming under pressure from Steve Brogan and Jason O'Halloran. Ash Beech meanwhile was going well and was now 18th but only one second off 15th placed man John McGuinness.

As Cox moved into second, the safety car came out for a couple of laps and when they resumed Victor set about overhauling race leader Johnson who was now only fractions of a second ahead. However it wasn't to be, with a race win a very real prospect red flags brought the race to an early conclusion and a race result was declared, leaving Victor in second and Ash just one place off a points finish in 16th.

Nevertheless it had been a great performance from both riders and Cox in particular. Fastest lap of the race on Lap 9, in the top six in all three sectors (fastest in the third sector) and first Kawasaki rider home, brought the popular Trowbridge man to within one point of the top four in the championship standings.

On the podium in second in the same meeting last year, Oulton Park in July is proving a good place to be for Victor Cox.

Victor Cox: 'I am really happy after our 2nd place finish on Sunday. The team did a fantastic job all weekend working hard, so to get them a podium finish was great. I felt really good in the race with the bike working well and I think if the race wasn't cut short maybe we could have pushed for the win, but a second place finish was mega!! And getting the fastest lap of the race was good too! Massive thanks to all the team, all my sponsors and everyone who supports me. Now I can't wait for Brands Hatch!'

Ash Beech: 'The race was good but I just need to get my qualifying sorted because my times are the same as riders in the top 10. I feel we have made a big step forward in bike set-up and I feel a lot more confident on the bike now. I also feel that if I can get on the first few rows in qualifying then I could run in the top 10 and learn a lot. A big thanks to the team, the bike was spot on as always. Roll on Brands Hatch.'

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Farquhar and Hamilton shine at Southern 100

KMR Kawasaki's Ryan Farquhar and his young team-mate Jamie Hamilton enjoyed some excellent results at this week's Southern 100 road races on the Isle of Man with Hamilton claiming his first ever road race victory. Team leader Farquhar took the opening Supertwins race by just 0.197s from Hamilton but the latter turned the tables in the second encounter, also claiming a new lap record.

The racing got underway on Tuesday evening with the Corlett's Trophies 1000cc race but problems with his Superbike meant Ryan had to use his trusty Superstock machine and although he started well, a tough move by Guy Martin at Stadium Corner pushed Ryan wide and down to third as he fought to keep the bike upright. He regrouped but Conor Cummins relegated him to fourth at the final corner on the last lap whilst Hamilton, making his debut around the 4.25-mile road course, finished in a superb 6th.

With good weather continuing on the Island, Wednesday's racing commenced with the Senior race but Ryan was an early retirement on his Superbike, which was still causing problems, whilst Jamie again took sixth. The Supertwins race saw the duo go head to head on their ER6 Kawasaki's, the pair continually breaking the lap record as they pushed it over the 100mph mark for the first time. Ryan eventually held on by 0.197s although Jamie set the fastest lap and won the Walter Wain Cup in the process, the trophy awarded in memory of the life long enthusiast who passed away in 2006.

That just left Thursday's main race day and it saw Hamilton take his first ever road race victory as he dominated the second Supertwins race, pushing the lap record higher still to 102.527mph. Ryan had no answer to his protege but still took a good second, just over 5 seconds adrift. The final race of the week for the pair was the Southern 100 Championship and a strong ride by Ryan saw him lap at close to 112mph on his way to fourth place whilst Jamie finished in a fine 7th and became one of only two newcomers ever to break the 110mph barrier around the course, his best lap being 110.475mph.

Speaking on his return home, Ryan commented; "For me personally, it's been an up and down week as I've had a few problems with the bikes and am absolutely shattered after a really hectic few weeks but, on the plus side, Jamie's had a superb few days and it was great to see him get his first ever road race win. He rode excellently throughout the event, very smooth and there's no doubt he's got a big future in the sport."

"When I arrived on the Island, I found a problem with the valves on the Superbike so didn't get to go out on that until Wednesday's race and in Tuesday's Superbike race I was having a good run on the Superstock bike until Guy put a hard move onto me into Stadium. It ran me right out to the kerb and I was lucky not to be in the wall so, after that, I ended up just riding round almost and that, along with a bit of brake fade, allowed Conor to pip me on the run into the line. I went into Wednesday's race without any practice on the Superbike and the suspension wasn't right but the Supertwins was a great race. There was nothing between Jamie and myself and I just managed to get the better of him - but it was very close and I think he could have passed me if he'd have wanted to!"

"On Thursday, the bike wasn't working that well, I think there may be an electrical problem somewhere, but Jamie was absolutely flying and he beat us fair and square, he throughly deserved his win. I was back on the Superstock bike for the Championship race and although I had no problems and felt that I was riding well, I think the bike's a bit long in the tooth now and I just can't run with the Superbikes. It's ok around the likes of Bush and Skerries where top speed isn't crucial but here it's just not possible. Since the TT, I've been flat out and haven't had a day off so now I think it's time to have a week off and have a good look at all the bikes. They're not quite working right so I need to get them all stripped and working properly so that everything's 100% for the next meeting. Like I say, I'm shattered and need a bit of time out to get myself mentally and physically prepared for the next meeting."

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Winning Weekend for Maxton at BSB Oulton!!

Maxton enjoyed an excellent weekend of results at Oulton Park British Superbikes this weekend. In the Ducati 848 Challenge James Folkard won both races on the Saturday and the Sunday and had the fastest laps in each race. It was James' maiden victory in the class in his first year riding large four stroke machine. The Sunday race victory was made even more satisfying after finding out (after the race) that his Lamba sensor had blown a large hole in the exhaust, leaving him considerably down on power.

In the Superstock 1000 class Victor Cox had an excellent 2nd place finish following on from his 3rd place at the last round at Knockhill. Victor was in the process of challenging for the lead when the Red flag came out on lap 9 or 12 for a crash further back in the field. Even though Victor was a little disappointed he was still very happy with second and he also got the fastest lap of the race with a 1.39.438.

In the Monster Energy Motostar British Championship Connor Behan finished in 3rd place on his comeback to the 125 class. Connor has not raced all year due to lack of funds, so to come back riding a bike he has not ridden for 2 years and claim a podium is an excellent achievement, made even better by the fact that Connor also gives a lot away in weight.

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