A wonderful Scarborough meeting.

[john newton]

You've seen the results, just a few odds and ends:
Race 1 Saturday: Michael Dunlop/Dan S after 2.07.654 in free practice and 2.04.049 in qualifying finished 7th with a best lap of 2.02.366. Ian/Carl Bell led from start to finish with Carl Fenwick/Mark S and Dave Molyneux/Patrick having a cracking battle. Carl did his fastest OM lap at 1.58.200 while Jim Noble/Sean Chandler knocked two seconds off their p.b. at 2.02.515.
Sunday: MD first practice 2.01.343, second practice 1.59.574. mmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!! First race: Ian again, Moly second again, Carl a safe third. Behind, MD led Dave Atkinson/Phil Knapton and Conrad/Lee, then after some shenanigans between Michael and Dave up the top, the order of those three was reversed. Then red flags on last lap, Dave/Phil had overturned on the exit from The Esses - after some delay Phil returned down the hill in the outfit in the breakdown truck, Dave was on his way to hospital but back at the track before most people knew! No lasting harm but aches and pains esp. in the morning! Results as at 5 laps. 2nd race Sunday: Moly led after the first lap but Ian was right behind and gave Dave a nudge at Mount but with possible damage to fairing mounting, retired. Back at Mere on lap one, Carl had taken the 'inside' line MD the outside but MD got the better drive up Quarry and when Ian subsequently retired, MD took 2nd place but was hounded by Carl for the next twelve minutes!
Brief mentions to Robin/Annette still not 100% but three finishes, Dave Hirst/Ben Binns - a frustrating weekend but ended well, to Dave Saunders/Grace Bradbury - 3.7 seconds off their previous p.b., and to the other 'newcomers' John and Jake Lowther, 9th-8th-6th, smooth as ever with a 2.03.939 best lap.
Michael/Dan got a huge amount of attention in the main paddock and greatly impressed. TT entry?? - he says he wants to do it but the logistics of 7 races? Wouldn't bet against it! Ian/Carl and Dave/Patrick are masters of The Mount and yet again were tremendous, three more great battles between them as there have been for over a decade now. Two more mentions: To Phil Harvey (son of Mick), still no Scarborough race win but two second places on the 250 and the overall win to get the Lee Pullan Trophy, and to Dean Harrison, Man Of The Meeting, and quite wonderful to watch doing the Mere section. Weather forecast said heavy rain at 4pm, but thankfully they were 2 hours out.
Next year's Scarborough Dates:
Spring National Sunday 21 April
Barry Sheene Sat-Sun 15-16 June
Cock O' The North Sat-Sun 20-21 July
Gold Cup Sat-Sun 14-15 Sept.

[oldbutnotdead]

Nice writeup- ta. Glad it all went well for everyone