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Olivers Mount - Ian Watson Cup

Olivers Mount - Ian Watson Spring Cup - Auto 66 - 19-04-09
Irish raider Farquhar defeats Olis Mount king Guy Martin at Spring Cup

It was a great day of racing in the sunshine as the season got under way at Scarborough's OLIVERS MOUNT. The mainland's only dedicated road racing circuit once again hosted the annual Ian Watson Spring Cup and on a fine spring day, thousands turned out to see some of the biggest names in road racing.




With the likes of Ian Lougher, Guy Martin, Ryan Farquhar and Chris Palmer amongst others, the racing was always going to be of a high standard, the positions hotly contested with every grid filled. Although many would have used the event as an opportunity to warm up for the forthcoming races in Ireland & the Isle of Man, the meeting was also the first round of the 2009 Duke Road Race Rankings, which was won by Farquhar in 2008.

Guy Martin had a terrible start to the day, coming off in the heat race on only the 2nd lap at the approach to the Esses. Although failing to qualify, he was uninjured and was entered into the two-leg Spring Cup.

In the first of the 125 classes, Ian Lougher and Chris Palmer were embroiled in a great contest for the lead with Lougher getting the advantage at the first corner. Close racing ensued and it was Palmer who took the lead on lap 6 of the 8 lap race. On the penultimate lap, the two were almost neck and neck coming down the bottom straight but it was the final lap where Lougher took Palmer to win the race, the strength of his effort showing as he put his Yamaha skywards over Jeffries Jump on the final lap. Daniel Frear rode an impressive race to put his Kawasaki 400 ZXR into 3rd place.

Ian Lougher retired for the 2nd leg, and Chris Palmer triumphed after leading out Wayne Hamilton from the start, with Hamilton retiring on lap 5, however Daniel Frear showed his class by finishing 2nd on his 400cc machine.

In the 600 class, the first race was interrupted twice with the red flag, with the 2nd time the race being declared a result. Mick Goodings was the first to go out on lap 2 and following the restart, Farquhar and Lougher came together at Mountside Hairpin, fortunately none suffering injury however, Farquhars bike was beyond repair and kept him out for race 2. The shortened race was won by Michael Pearson, with Daniel Frear and Kieran Hankin taking 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Alongside Farquhar, the 2nd race saw a number of expected riders out with no appearance from Guy Martin, Ian Lougher or Chris Palmer. Frear was the first over the line after the first lap from Michael Pearson and Keiran Hankin however Pearson moved up on lap 2 and held the lead to the finish line from Frear and Richard Gibson.

Again Guy Martin's luck failed him as he suffered a dreadful start to the 1st leg of the Ian Watson Spring Cup and found himself dropping from the second row right back through the field. Farquhar made a great start and he found himself battling with Michael Pearson for 1st place. He steadily edged his way out in front, extending the lead before the race was curtailed in the 4th lap after Mick Goodings came off at Mountside Hairpin and the race was declared a result. Martin's hard work paid off after pushing his way through traffic to finish a very respectable 4th.

In the 2nd race, Farquhar had the edge at the first lap, from Michael Pearson and Guy Martin and there was very little between them as they came through Drury's (pictured)

Following a close battle at the front, Martin put down a marker to stretch his lead through the middle of the race before Farquhar came back strongly, only to miss out at the line from Martin who made amends for his earlier misfortunes.

In the 250cc and Minitwins class, Ian Lougher took another 1st place finish on his 250 Yamaha to notch up his 117th win at Olivers Mount. Ryan Farquhar took the first Minitwins victory on the ER6 before David Bell took the spoils in the 2nd race. Bell, who also impressed in the 600cc Non-Qualifiers event with his Kawasaki ER6 only just behind Jules Croft on the new Yamaha R1.

Farquhar took the overall Ian Watson Spring Cup for the second year running. It was just as well as he had left the trophy at home!

Words & Pix - Rob Rochester

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