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The Kells Road Races - Preview
The ever-popular Kells Road Races are set to take place
this weekend with a bumper entry in the programme to contest
the thirteen races. There are some notable absentee's including
Adrian Archibald, Martin Finnegan and Guy Martin, but at
the same time there are some new faces to the event, including
Ryan Farquhar, William Dunlop and the almost legendry Ian
Lougher to keep the expected large crowd entertained.
The circuit has been resurfaced in time for this year's
event, and the lap records are expected to tumble if the
weather is good on race day. And with a total prize fund
of £22,000 Euro's, it has the makings of a great weekends
racing and of course craic!
Race 1 - The Senior Support Race
With Guy Martin out injured, CD Racing's latest recruit,
Jonathan Ralph looks favourite to land victory, on board
Chris Dowd's Kawasaki in the big Support Race
Derek Brien will hope to put one over his close rival Ralph,
however, and he has been riding well as have Alan Kilpatrick,
Denis Murphy, Killian Galligan and numerous others.
The Support classes have taken a bit of stick of late, however,
we think that this has been placed wrongly, and you will
see for yourselves this weekend, how good the racing is
in this class, which is producing a steady stream of quality
riders who move up into the National ranks each year.
Race 2 - The Gary Dynes Foundation 250cc Race
All the top men are out in the 250cc event, which is a class
that has provided some of the best action this year between
the hedges, and long may it continue.
Darren
Burns is the man to beat on his 250cc Honda, and is a good
goer at Kells too. Ryan Farquhar won this race at Skerries
and can't be discounted, and along with Davy Morgan will
be expected to provide the biggest challenge for Burns whilst
not forgetting newcomer Ian Lougher.
You
then need to add in the lines of Barry Davidson, James McCullagh,
Adrian McFaralnd, Rikki McCready, Andrew Neill and Robert
McCrum, and you have a great race in prospect.
Race 3 - Open Classic Race
All the top Classic men are out for the 'big' Classic race
including Karl Wilkie, Phil Riddall, Bill Wark, Colin Rodgers,
Billy Lyle and Adrian Elwood. It could be anybodies!
Race 4 - 600cc Race
Richard Britton took a hat trick of victories at Kells last
year, and will start this race as favourite on his Kawasaki
machine. Ryan Farquhar undoubtedly poses the biggest threat
to Britton's plans, in the absence of Archibald and Finnegan,
and he also lines up on a Kawasaki.
John Donnan was back on form at Walderstown and will be
out to prove it wasn't a one off, and the ever-improving
Davy Morgan, will be keen to make another visit to the rostrum.
Victor Gilmore is going well on the new FC Moore Suzuki
in this class, and Ray Porter is getting back to form after
his Cookstown crash. Barry Maguire can be relied upon to
feature strongly in the Supersports as can Darran Lindsay,
who is still trying to get back to full fitness after his
hefty Cookstown crash.
Others who could feature include Paul Earney, Barry Davidson,
James McCullagh and not to mention newcomer to the circuit,
Ian Lougher on the Honda machine
Race 5 - The Junior Support Race
The Junior Support class has provided us with some great
racing this year, and Keels should be no exception. Jonathan
Ralph has been one of the finds of the season, and he can
be expected to go well on his 400cc Kawasaki, however, it
may not have the edge on the hoards of 250cc two strokes
entered.
Noel
Nally is one 250cc rider to look out for, as is Sean Leonard
on a similar mount. Others who could get in amongst the
results include Herbie McHenry and Stephen Murray.
Race
6 - The 125cc Race
Robert Dunlop missed Kells through suspension last year
last year, and will be out to earn himself another victory
this year, He has hit form once again, after a difficult
start to the season, and will need to be on top of his game
at Skerries to hold off the strong challenge.
Welsh superstar Ian Lougher will be looking for a win on
his debut visit to the event, whilst, Trevor Ritchie, Nigel
Moore, Marc Curtain and the returning Darran Lindsay should
all be close to the front of the pack along with another
welcome name on the entry for the first time; William Dunlop.
Another name to look out for is Paul Robinson who finished
second at Skerries on his debut. He is a provisional entry,
and we look forward to seeing him mix it with the countries
best between the hedges exponents once more should he decide
to ride.
Race 7 - The Junior Classic Race
Colin Rodgers will be hard to beat in the 350cc class of
this race, but Adrian Elwood will no doubt be doing his
best to put one over his biggest rival.
Bill
Wark, Gerry O'Sullivan and James Thompson will be other
names to look out for in the bigger capacity class, with
Geoff McMullan the best of the 250cc men entered.
Race 8 - The Open Race
Richard Britton starts this race as favourite, however,
there has been a reliability problem with his Superbike
this season, and on occasion he has been forced to switch
to his Supersport machine, thus loosing out on the race
wins he could arguably be achieving.
However, if the bike is right, and with no Archibald or
Finnegan to contend with, Britton should be able to chalk
up another Kells victory. But, there is a man by the name
of Farquhar to consider of course!
Farquhar will go on the Harker Production Suzuki, and the
lack of power and his own lack of circuit knowledge, could
go against him, but he is in form, and capable.
John Donnan, Davy Morgan, Ray Porter and Barry Maguire are
all riding well and could feature, as could Ian Lougher,
Victor Gilmore, Liam Quinn, Alex Donaldson and Darran Lindsay
amongst others. It should make for a close and exciting
race!
Race 9 - The Open B Race
The 'B' Races on the smaller Southern circuits are making
for some superb racing this year, with this class at Skerries
in particular, producing one of the closest road race results
in recent history.
Unfortunately,
we can not say for sure at this point, who will be graded
for this class, but names that have featured well at recent
meetings include Robert McCrum, Gordie Taylor, Kenny McCrea,
Davy Coughlan, Barry Davidson and Paul Earney, not to mention
some of the 250cc runners like Rikki McCready and Ryan McCay
too.
One
level above the Support class, this race should hopefully
continue the trend of this year, producing close exciting
action.
Race 10 - The 125 Non Championship Race
The Kells club have managed to accommodate a second 125cc
Race in their programme, which is a boost for the fans,
as this class has also been producing some top drawer action
this season.
Robert Dunlop, Ian Lougher and Darran Lindsay are expected
to do battle, but the likes of Marc Curtain, William Dunlop,
Nigel Moore and Trevor Ritchie have all proved this season,
that on their day, they can run with the big three in this
class.
Race 11 - The Senior Support Non Championship Race
Jonathan Ralph will be out to make it a debut double
in the second Support race for the bigger capacity machines.
However, Ralph making it to the chequered flag first is
by no means a certainty, and this most competitive of classes
has plenty of opposition for Ralph. Alan Kilpatrick, Denis
Murphy, Killian Galligan and Derek Brien will be out to
stop the Kawasaki rider, and any one of them could take
the spoils.
Race 12 - The Grand Final B
Again, we cannot be certain at this stage who will be lining
up for this appetiser for the main event.
James McCullagh won the corresponding event at Skerries,
and could be a good bet again, along with the likes of Robert
McCrum, Gordie Taylor, Kenny McCrea, Davy Coughlan, Barry
Davidson and Paul Earney.
Race 13 - The Grand Final
The big guns are out for the final race on the programme,
with everyone out to fight it out for the biggest single
pay cheque on the National Road Race scene.
Ryan Farquhar has won two Grand Final's this year already,
whilst Adrian Archibald, Martin Finnegan and John Donnan
have one a piece to their name. Farquhar should be fully
up to speed by this stage in the weekend, and could make
it three for the year, and with Archibald and Finnegan missing,
Richard Britton, winner of this race last year, must be
his main rival.
John Donnan likes Kells and will want to continue with his
recent return to form, and then you have a whole host of
other riders looking to impress including Ray Porter, Barry
Maguire, Victor Gilmore, Liam Quinn, Alex Donaldson, Davy
Morgan and Ian Lougher - phew!
All in all it has the makings of being a great weekend for
racing. Roads will close on Saturday for practicing at 1:00pm
and at 11:00am on Sunday for racing.
See you there!
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