MV set for Oliver's Mount return
Thursday 13 September 2007
TT
The combination of road racer Martin Finnegan and MV Agusta will be back in action this weekend.
During the Centenary of the Isle of Man TT, the Dublin rider recorded a creditable fourth in the Superstock TT race on board the Italian machinery.
On Saturday and Sunday he will take on the 2.43-mile Oliver’s Mount circuit in the Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup Road Races.
The event marks a return to the track for MV after an absence of 32 years. The last time an MV took on the Scarborough circuit, in 1975, eight-times TT winner and former World Champion Phil Read rode it to victory.
Three years earlier 15-times World Champion and 10-times TT winner Giacomo Agostini also claimed victory at Oliver’s Mount. The combination of Ago and MV was the ultimate pairing, and the Italian pair has made regular visits to the track, the most recent just last year.
The passionate crowd, lining the course to take in the sight and sound of the legendary pairing, has always warmly welcomed the appearances.
However, Finnegan’s appearance will mark MV’s racing return to Oliver’s Mount.
The Auto Club 66, which organises the Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup, has received a new trophy to be presented this weekend, and at future Gold Cup meetings.
The gold trophy has been created by Raymond Campbell, of R&R Designs of County Antrim, in memory of late road racer Darran Lindsay. Lindsay, who was killed while practising for an event in Southern Ireland 12 months ago, was a regular at Oliver’s Mount.
The Darran Lindsay 600 Trophy will be presented to the winner of the first leg of the 600cc Supersport race on Saturday afternoon.
Mr Campbell, a former road racer, said:
‘Darran enjoyed racing at Oliver’s Mount and it was one of his favourite venues and events of the road racing year.’
‘Darran was very popular with his fellow riders and fans alike, who was forever cheerful, always had a smile and time for a chat, and was a determined, but very fair competitor once action got under way.’
‘The Darran Lindsay 600 Trophy will be a much sought after prize in what is a closely contested class and one that Darran particularly enjoyed racing in.’
R&R Designs design and produce the official merchandise for Oliver’s Mount road races.