Six-times winner Laverty is Sun-thing special

The feature race had to be red flagged on the first attempt, after Ben Wilson dropped the Gearlink Kawasaki, suffering a suspected broken ankle.

Laverty made his move right from the lights on the 10 lap re-start. He moved ahead of the rest of the field, but was soon under pressure from WSB rider Ian Lowry. Lowry, a former chef from Moira, took over at the front on lap 4, by virtue of breaking Jonathan Rea's lap record.

Laverty hit back straight away and at the finish Michael, watched by his parents Micky and Sheila and World Supersport rider brother Eugene, grabbed his sixth Sunflower win. Lowry slipped back, finishing just 2.5 seconds adrift, but well ahead of Portadown man Marshal Neill, the 2010 ISB series winner.

In the Superbike races, again Michael Laverty had no equals. In the first outing he took the race win, from Marshal Neill, who pressed hard for a few laps, but simply couldn't match the sheer speed of Laverty's Suzuki, the Toome man breaking the lap record on his fourth circuit. At the line there was 3.5 seconds separating the both of them, with Ian Lowry a further .2 behind Neill.

In the final Superbike race, the eldest Laverty brother simply cleared off to take the race win with ease. He was over 7 seconds ahead of Lowry, with Alastair Seeley almost a seconds further back.

The Supersport 600 races produced some fantastic racing. Only to be expected, Sam Lowes, on the Parklagar Honda ridden at WSS this year by Eugene Laverty led the first race.

It wasn't long before Marshal Neill got his head down, and forced his way by the English rider. Lowes didnt give up, though, and more then once was elbow to elbow at 150mph plus with the local man. At the finish Neill won, by just .1 of a second.

Ben Wilson, on the Gearlink Kawasaki took third, his radical hanging off style obviously suiting the bumpy Bishopscourt track. Wilson was just .3 behind Lowes. Neill broke the SS600 lap record while Keith Farmer, better known for his Supermoto skills, upped the ISSCup lap record.

Neill made it a double in the second Supersport race. He was pressed hard by James Ellison, on the second Parklagar bike. Ellison was setting up a move, but seemed to miss a gear, running onto the grass. He returned to the circuit, but by then Neill had gone.

Ellison worked hard, but at the line was almost a full second back. James Westmoreland was a distant third, after battling for the whole race with Billy McConnell. McConnell was having a guest appearence for the MarTrain team, who have announced that the Sunflower was their final meeting.

Better known as a pure road racer, Ryan Farquhar proved he can mix it with the short circuit men as well. Farquhar held an early lead, but it wasn't long before Banbridge rider Marty Lennon took over at the front. Lennon broke the lap record at the mid distance, but Farquhar hit back, grabbing the race win by just .1 of a second.

The top two finished well ahead of the dice for the final podium place. It involved Jamie Hamilton and Manx GP winner Michael Sweeney. Sweeney finished in third place, just .3 ahead of Hamilton.

Farquhar had things a bit more his own way in the second race, despite some lunatic deciding he would wander across the track as Ryan rounded the final bend at the end of his first lap. He led more or less from the start, eventually winning by over 6 seconds. Again, Marty Lennon was runner up, while Sweeney was just over a second back in third place.

The two 125 races also produced some close action. In the first one, Andy Reid took the win, after coming from behind Randalstown's Nigel Percy. Riding his British championship bike for the Repli-Cast team, Percy was the early leader, but had to settle for second best when Reid made his move.

The local rider finished 2.9 seconds adrift of Reid, with Ballymena's Robert English slipping back in the closing stages. Young English, at 16, is a great prospect, and wise enough to know that points are better than a gravel trap!

Nigel Percy was the early leader of the second race. Then Robert English took over, but was never any more than a half second ahead. English led until for a couple of laps, when Andy Reid made his move, pulling away from the local lad, to win by 4.2 seconds. Percy slipped back, finishing a similar distance behind Robert.

Nigel told me on Sunday night: “I was thinking of the championship. I had the pace to run with Andy and Robert, but I knew all I had to do was finish ahead of Paul (Robinson) to get the championship. I wasn't going to take any chances.”

That gives Nigel Percy his third 125 Irish title in the last 4 years, with him missing out in 2009.

A young man who had his championship won before Bishopscourt was Antrim's Mark Hanna.

That didn't deter him, though, and with double and new lap record in the 250 class, he finished off his season in style.

In the first race Paul Robinson was a second behind Mark at the finish, with Paul Jordan, like Robinson, riding for D&GW team in third, some 6.5 seconds back. Hanna broke the 250 lap record on his final lap.

The second race was even closer, with Robinson able to sit right on Hanna's rear wheel, but never able to get in front. There was .2 of a second separating the first two, with Christian Elkin in a distant third place.

Run concurrently with the GP bikes, Carl Phillips inflicted a rare defeat on new SS400 champion, Castleblaney's Joseph Loughlin. Joe could only manage second place, 2.9 seconds behind Phillips. Ryan Maher, some 13 seconds back was third. Young Phillips upped the lap record in this one, and, from memory, he also holds the Clubmans 600 record as well.

It was a near dead heat in race two, but this tim Joe Loughlin grabbed the race win by .032 of a second. Ryan Maher was third yet again, and again was about 13 seconds back.

While the sidecar class was well supported, I have seen better racing. Both turned into processions. Ben and Tom Birchall broke the lap record to win the first race, finishing 6.6 seconds ahead of Tim Reeves/Gregory Cluze, while Scott Lawrie/James Neave got the better of Darky Clarke and former Antrim man Stuart Graham.

In race two the Birchall brothers upped their own record by .3 of a second, taking a comfortable win. Reeves/Cluze were second, with John Clarke/Stuart Graham third.

In summary, one of the best days racing at the Sunflower I have seen for many years. There were a couple of wee points that made things awkward for myself and some of the other photographers and pressmen, but I will speak to the Hillsborough club about them myself. I'm sad now that the season's over.

SUPERMOTOS

You might remember last week I mentioned that I wasn't sure about whether or not the P&O Winter series was going ahead this year.

Speaking to Jan Lappin, from the organising Killinchy club on Sunday night, she tells me that its not looking good for them.

Jan said: “We have had 17 entries to date. We are giving it until tomorrow (Monday) and then a decision will be made about whether or not to cancel. We have to have 60 entries to break even, and its just not happened.

“We have been promised that so and so will be out, and he's bringing his mate with him, but that's not good enough.”

Jan told me about some of the costs involved like hire of the circuits and PA systems, medical cover, insurance and the dozen or so other things that must be paid. To tell you the truth, I don't even think that 60 entry fees would cover it.

It would be sad if the Winter series was dropped. Its hard enough to get sponsors interested in racing, let alone getting them to come back year after year.

P&O have been there for the Winter series for a long time, and it would be sad if they ended their involvement because riders cant be bothered to enter. The riders will be the ones who will complain if the championship doesn't go ahead. According to Jan, if the first meeting doesn't go ahead, the next ones might, if entries improve.

The planned dates are this weekend, 23rd, at Bishopscourt, Kirkistown on the 30th October. Theres a week break then Nutts Corner short circuit on 13th November and the final is at Kirkistown on the 20th November.

CLASSIC BIKE SHOW

Dont forget the Classic Bike Show in Ballymena this Friday and Saturday. There's a host of famous people and bikes coming to the Seven Towers.

David Pattison tells me that it will be his last, final, never again, definitely not any more, show. Some of the names I have heard are Peter Williams, Ron Haslam, the Dunlop brothers, Jim Redman, Ralph Bryans. I won't start to go into all the info I have, again, but if you read last week's Times, its all in there. Its on Friday and Saturday.

Also on this weekend is the Bike Show in Kells. The Kells, Co Meath, that is.

A number of top riders have given their bikes over to be displayed, and quite a few clubs have taken stands to showcase motorcycle sport in Ireland.

A sort of a Stop Press to this story, is that Michal Dokoupil, better known as 'Indi', will fly in to help the Victor Gilmore Racing stand sell Happy Gilmore badges. Indi was very friendly with Victor, and after the popular rider's death, was close to tears in the paddock when I spoke to him. The show starts on Saturday at 11am until 6pm, while on Sunday its 10am until 5pm. Its in the Enterprise Centre, Cavan Road, Kells.

A busy weekend coming up. I will have coverage of the Classic Show in Ballymena, and hopefully, the Supermoto in next weeks Times.

ENKALON/LOANENDS COUNTRY EVENING

Two clubs who do a lot for the sport of motorcycling are the Loanends and the Enkalon Clubs.

They have got together to organise a 'Good old Country Night' in the Royal British Legion in Antrim.

It will take place on Friday, 29th October, starting at 8pm. Admission will be 5, and music will be provided by Just Joey.