Grand Prix marred by death of rider
LIKE the Ulster GP, the Manx Grand Prix had its race programme disrupted by the bad weather conditions.
Postponements and re-sheduling, unlike the Dundrod club who organised the Ulster GP, the Isle of Man race promoters were able to complete all the races as they were allowed to close and open roads to suit the racing.
Monday's newcomers and senior classic races were first to suffer and instead of a 10.15am start the first bikes did not leave until 4pm with the race distance cut to two laps of the 37 mile circuit.
At the end it was young Manx rider Daniel Kneen who came out on top with the best Irish rider, Derek Costello from Skerries, finishing fourth.
This was followed by the senior 500cc classic event which was also cut to three laps and it was the sound of a MV Agusta three cylinder machine ridden by Yorkshire man Gary Johnson, in the lead, recalling the halcyon days of the great names such as John Surtees, John Hartle, Gary Hocking, Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini on board the all conquering Italian 'fire engines'.
Unfortunately a fuel problem meant it had to be retired at the end of lap one.
The much anticipated race between it and another Italian marquee, the twin cylinder Paton, ridden by our own Ryan Farquhar, did not materialise from then on it was a question of how much the Dungannon man would win by.
That turned out to be nearly 21 seconds as he eased the pace on the last lap, with Manx Norton rider, Alan Oversby filling second spot from G50 Seeley Matchless mounted local man, Allan Brew.
Tragically this race was marred by the death of Welsh rider John Goodall, the man who won the first senior classic race in 1983 and featured on the front cover of this year's programme in recognition of his performances on the world's toughest circuits.
He was presented with the Manx Sword of Honour and was confidently expected to add to the 40 replicas he had gained in his years of riding on the Isle of Man.
Unfortunately the 67-year-old crashed at Ballacraine on the opening lap, when he hit oil left when another engine blew.
He died later in Nobles Hospital from severe chest injuries, which cast a sad cloud over the island, as he was highly respected by fellow competitors and race fans as a superb rider and expert in machine preparation.
Wednesday's schedule was also upset as mist on the mountain caused another delay, this time to 3pm, when the junior classic field roared off in pairs at 90 second intervals.
Farquhar was again favourite to win on a 350cc Honda but after three laps it was Blackpool's Roy Richardson who took the chequered flag from Yorkshire's Paul Coward, who edged out Farquhar into third.
On the last lap Dungannon's John Burrows was pleased with sixth position, especially as he failed to start the senior race with engine problems.
The modern bikes were next up, in the junior race where Manx man Daniel Kneen made it a double a head of Ryan McCay and Daniel McGurk.
Wednesday's other winner was Scotsman Ewan Hamilton who brought his 250cc Suzuki home ahead of Peter Symes and Jonathan Cutts in the classic lightweight which ran along with the classic junior race.
Friday's programme was a wipe out, but with the facility of being able to run the next day, the senior and lightweight races did go ahead on Saturday albeit with a delayed start and shortened distance.
This time it was welsh rider Adam Barclay who took the winner's laurels ahead of James McCullagh from Strabane and Co Meath's Mickey Fitzpatrick in the senior category.
Unfortunately Moira club rider, Andrew Neill was a non-starter in both junior and senior races following a spill in practice which left him with broken fingers.
History was also made in the late afternoon for Daniel Kneen became the first rider to win three Manx grand prixs when he took the ultra-lightweight honours.
Spare a thought for Nigel Moore though, the Dungannon rider was docked 10 seconds for not putting his foot down in the stop box when he came in to re-fuel in the lightweight 250cc class.
In the end he finished eight seconds behind Dan Satle, another Manx rider, but without the penalty would have moved him to the top of the rostrum.
Glengormley's Brian Mateer just missed a podium, finishing in fourth.
A difficult week for organisers but the Silver Jubilee Classic Manx will be remembered for the loss of John Goodall.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Lurgan
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
