Having almost fully recovered from his TT Practice spill, Ryan Farquhar was
on brilliant form at the Bush Road Races, round eight of the Duke Road Race
Rankings 2011.
The KMR Kawasaki rider took five wins out of five starts and broke no less
than four laps records and one fastest lap to collect the 'Man of the Meeting'
Award at the conclusion to what had been a frustrating day for both the
organisers and competitors alike.
Heavy rain had forced the organisers of the H2 Engineering Bush Road
Races to run the practice session under controlled conditions, with
competitors completing their five compulsory laps behind TM's and grid
positions decided on current MCUI championship positions.
Race day was fine, but water running off the surrounding fields forced the
Clerk of the Course to delay the start of the racing until 1.00pm, two hours
later than scheduled.
Once the racing got under way, all went according to the re-scheduled race
programme, with all races with the exception of the Grand Final being run
over a reduced distance of four laps. The feature race being reduced from ten
to six laps.
Ryan Farquhar opened his account with victory in the Moto 450 class, setting
the first of his new lap records and repeated the exercise in the SuperTwins
650 race; the Supersport 600 and Grand Final. The Dungannon man also
took the Open Race with the fastest lap. Every race was a start to finish
victory.
William Dunlop only had one ride during the meeting, the 125 race which he won comfortably from Nigel
Moore and Darren Burns.
Wyane Hamilton took the 250cc honours from Darren Burns and Daley Mathison, with the 400cc class going
to Vic Allan.
Ciaran Donnelly and Allan Kenny took the chequered flags in the Junior and Senior Support (Newcomers)
races, whilst the Classic races were won by Mark Morgan (1000cc); Gary Jamison (500cc); Sean Leonard
(350cc) & Philip Shaw (250cc).
Late entry, TT Superstock winner, Michael Dunlop riding his Kawasaki ZX-10 and Yamaha R6 machines
took three runner up positions behind the Flyin' Ryan with Derek Sheils filling the final spot on the podium in
the Open Race and Grand Final, whilst John Burrows took the lower step in the Supersport event.
There is no change to the top two in the Duke Rankings, after round eight, apart from Ryan Farquhar
increasing his points advantage over Michael Dunlop.
William Dunlop moves into third place, with Adrian Archibald climbing five places to 10th after a fourth, twofifth
and an eighth during the meeting.
John Burrows slots into 14th from 22nd, with Wayne Hamilton moving into 19th from 27th position, thanks to
his 250 win and a fourth in the Supersport race.
The Duke Road Race Rankings Series continues apace, with five rounds back to back, The Skerries '100'
Road Races on Saturday 2nd July; the Barry Sheene Festival Road Races on Sunday 3rd May;
Walderstown Road Races on Sunday 10th July; The Southern '100' International Road Races, Monday to
Thursday 11th - 14th July and the Kells International Road Races on Sunday 17th July!
Full details can be found on Facebook - Duke Road Race Rankings or on the website:
www.dukevideo.com/DukeRoadRaceRankings .
