TT stars dominate Spring Cup at Scarborough
The Ian Watson Spring Cup, held at England’s only real road racing circuit, Oliver’s Mount, was dominated by top names from the Isle of Man TT.
With the Isle of Man TT 2013 fuelled by Monster Energy only a month away riders were keen to get out on the roads for the first time this year, blow away a few cobwebs and work out any gremlins in the new kit.
Scarborough’s Oliver’s Mount is a tight and undulating course set in parkland overlooking the seaside town. The 2.41 mile course features the famous Jefferies Jump and three hairpins, including one named for Barry Sheene.
Guy Martin, a noted specialist on the course, took home the overall Ian Watson Spring Cup, having previously won his heat. He also dominated the Junior 600cc race, bagging victory in both legs.
TT and Classic MGP star Chris Palmer proved once again he’s the man to beat on the little bikes with double wins in the 125cc Ultra-Lightweight class. Ian Lougher and Seamus Elliott took second and third respectively in both races
Davy Morgan, a TT regular and stalwart of the two-stroke classes, took a win in the 250cc Lightweight after it was red-flagged on the fifth lap with Derek Clark and Bob Farrington filling the runners-up spots. The second leg went to Derek Clark, Bob Farrington second and David Guiney took the third spot.
Rising stars of the TT Jamie Hamilton, Dean Harrison and Ivan Lintin all put in solid performances and had their fair share of time on the podium.
Northern Ireland’s Hamilton took the laurels in both rounds of the 650 Supertwin race – helped in part by the superbly prepared KMR Kawasaki ER6 – no doubt pleasing team boss multiple TT winner Ryan Farquhar, and new sposnsors Vauxhall (Northern Ireland dealers).
Jamie was also on the top step in his heat for the Ian Watson Spring cup, as well as third in the first leg of the cup race.
Harrison meanwhile took second place to Hamilton in both Supertwin races and added a brace of second place finishes in the Junior 600cc class aboard his RC Express machine.
Lincolnshire’s Ivan Lintin placed himself on the podium twice through his efforts on the Taylor Lindsey sponsored Kawasaki.
'I planned to use the day to blow off the cobwebs and get dialled back into racing' said Lintin 'I’ve gone on to exceed what I set out to do. To take a second and a half of my personal best lap time around Oliver’s Mount, so early in the season, was especially pleasing'.
He added 'big thanks to Taylor Lindsey Racing, John King of JK Tuning and all of my other sponsors for supporting me this year, hopefully we’ll have plenty more days like this over the next few months.'
The sidecar races were also dominated by crews experienced in the ways of the Snaefell Mountain Course – Ian and Carl Bell scoring a pleasing win over Mountain Maestro Dave Molyneux and his passenger Patrick Farrance in the first leg.
2012’s two-time TT champions fought hard but the Bells were in determined mood and ran out deserved winners at the end of the six laps. Conrad Harrison and Lee Patterson rounded out the podium positions.
In the second leg Molyneux and Harrison reversed their finishing positions but the Bells were clear winners with a margin of over seconds at the finish from Harrison/Patterson.