Lougher fourth in Senior TT

Ian Lougher rounded off his Isle of Man TT with an excellent fourth place finish in the Blue Riband Senior TT event. It was just rewards for the popular Welshman following some determined performances earlier in the week which included two top ten finishes.

Riding the Kawasaki ZX-10R Superbike, Ian had been lying 12th in the first race when it was red-flagged after Guy Martin crashed out in the Ballagarey area on the third lap and it was decided to re-run the race over four laps. An opening lap of 127.52mph put Ian in 7th place as he set off down Bray Hill for the second circuit, then at Glen Helen on the second lap John McGuinness retired which moved Ian up a place in the standings. Ian was in fifth as the riders came in for their pit stop and positions remained unchanged on the third lap with Ian riding strongly, this was emphasised on the final lap when he recorded his fastest lap of the race at 127.98mph to bring the ZX-10R home in fourth place.

An excellent result for Ian, however celebrations were subdued when it emerged that Blackhorse Kawasaki's BSB Superstock 1000 rider Conor Cummins had crashed out at the Verandah on the second lap. The Manxman was airlifted to hospital with arm, back and leg injuries and everyone associated with the team wishes Conor a speedy recovery.

In recent years the Isle of Man TT has become only Ian's second race meeting of the season and the 2010 event once again saw him competing at the highest level with three top ten finishes from five starts and a fastest lap 128.22mph.

Ian Lougher: "Overall I was pleased with my performances during the 2010 TT races. The 600 unfortunately was a bit down on speed and we tried to find a good set-up for the Superbike which is very difficult on such a long demanding course as the TT circuit. The racing has become so competitive and to be in the top ten in three of the races is no mean feat. I had a few eventful moments during the Senior TT race with the big bike doing its level best to pitch me off at the top of Bray Hill and Union Mills and a bird also had an argument with the screen of my ZX-10R up on the mountain section. But to finish fourth in the Senior TT was a very pleasing result which was overshadowed somewhat by Conor's crash on the second lap. Thankfully he is 'ok' and we all wish him well. The TT is very much a big team effort at Blackhorse Kawasaki and I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and support throughout the fortnight."

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Farquhar ends TT2010 with brilliant runner-up spot in Senior TT

Using Maxton's GP30 fork cartridges and GP10 rear shock, Ryan Farquhar ended his 2010 Isle of Man TT campaign with a brilliant second place in Friday's Senior race, the Blue Riband event of the fortnight. The first attempt to run the race was stopped after an incident involving Guy Martin who, thankfully, wasn't seriously injured, and Ryan had retired at Cronk y Voddy but with the race declared null and void, he was able to take part in the re-start and grabbed the opportunity with both hands to record his ninth TT podium finish.

It was a fuel pump problem that stopped Ryan in the first start but with the problem rectified, he was able to take his place on the line for the new, shortened, 4-lap race. A good start saw Ryan occupy fifth place at Glen Helen and he completed his opening lap at 129.613mph to hold onto the position, only 0.9s adrift of HM Plant Honda rider Keith Amor. On lap two, John McGuinness retired and Conor Cummins crashed, promoting him up to third although Cummins' crash on the Mountain had delayed Ryan slightly, but the Manxman was, thankfully, reported to be conscious with arm and leg injuries.

As the riders went into their fourth and final lap, Ryan was comfortable in third, 18 seconds behind Amor now but almost 50 seconds clear of fourth placed rider Bruce Anstey. However, there was more drama in store when Amor coasted to a halt in the identical spot to McGuinness so Ryan was now in a superb second with three quarters of the final lap left to complete. A final lap of 128.970mph saw Ryan duly cross the line in second place behind 5-times winner Ian Hutchinson and the celebrations could begin.

Speaking afterwards, a delighted Ryan said; "This is absolutely brilliant and after sitting on the grass bank at the end of the Cronk y Voddy in the first part, to be sitting here now is unbelievable. The fuel pump had broken in the first race but the marshals let me ride the bike back and the boys in the team did a great job in fitting a new fuel pump and we were ready to go again. The changes we made to the bike in terms of slotting the Superbike engine into the Superstock chassis worked really well so I just rode as hard as I could throughout the race and I'm over the moon to finish 2nd."

"I got gifted a couple of places but I've led races and broke down in the past so with second in the Superstock race and second again today, I've had a good TT and I've got to say a big thank you to Nick Morgan, Kawasaki, Dunlop and everyone who helps and supports me as I wouldn't be sitting here today if it wasn't for them. It was great to stand on the Senior TT podium and meet Moto GP star Jorge Lorenzo's whilst it's a good job I didn't get stuck into a beer when I retired in the first start!"

Ryan now has a week break before his next race, the Bush Road Races, which take place on Saturday 19th June.

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Farquhar takes brilliant second in Superstock TT

Using Maxton's GP30 fork cartridges and GP10 rear shock, Ryan Farquhar took a brilliant second place in today's 4-lap Superstock race at the Isle of Man TT Races and only just missed out on the victory by 1.32 seconds - after over 150 miles of racing! The KMR Kawasaki rider was also inside the old class lap record with a lap of 129.883mph, his best ever around the Mountain Course, and it now means he has taken 8 podiums in 8 years of racing around the Mountain Course.

Ryan got off to a flying start in the race and a superb opening lap of 129.848mph, just a whisker outside the lap record, saw him take 6.78s lead over fellow countryman Michael Dunlop, and he extended this gap on the second lap. An even better speed of 129.816mph saw him forge further clear, his advantage now up to 8.8s over new second placed man Ian Hutchinson. However, Hutchinson had a quicker pit stop and took over the lead but by the time they got to Glen Helen on the third lap, Ryan was back in the lead by 1.4s, a gap that he'd increased to 5.54s at the end of the lap.

Hutchinson, who had already won the opening two races of race week, was determined to complete his hat-trick and slowly, but surely, he began to eat into Ryan's lead. By Ramsey Hairpin, two thirds of the way around the lap, Ryan found himself in second and now almost two seconds adrift. He rode harder, and faster, than ever before over the Mountain and although he reduced the deficit by half a second he fell agonisingly short by just 1.32s. A final lap of 129.883mph was his best ever around the 37 and 3/4 mile circuit and again inside the old lap record but Hutchinson's lap of 130.741mph was enough to see him get the verdict.

Earlier in the day, Ryan had finished in 9th place in the first Supersport race, to make it three top ten finishes from three starts and he still has two more chances this week to add to his impressive TT record.

Speaking afterwards, a pleased Ryan said: "I'm happy with second and I gave it 110% all the way, that's as good as I've ever ridden around here. I knew the Superstock race would give me my best chance this week but also knew that there would be 4-5 other riders who'd be in with a chance so I just rode as hard as I possibly could. I'm obviously a bit disappointed not to have won, having led for so long, but I caught a few backmarkers around the Cronk y Voddy section on the final lap and it cost me a bit of time. Take nothing away from Hutchy though, he's been on the top of his game all week, so to be within 1.3seconds after 150miles of racing is no bad thing and I've got to say a big thank you to everyone who's helped me especially Nick Morgan and Kawasaki UK and all my sponsors. Nick lent me an engine and we were up until 11.30pm last night but she never missed a beat and was absolutely flying. I'm well pleased with my lap times and with the runner up spot so it's been a good day."

"In the 600cc race, I rode as hard as I could and whilst we had the top end speed, it was just taking us slightly longer to get there but I had a good dice on the roads with Dan Kneen and enjoyed the last two laps. He was quicker than me in some places and vice versa and we got held up by yellow flags from Ballaugh until Kerromoar so I just brought the bike home for another top ten finish. Hopefully, we'll be a bit higher up in Wednesday's race."

Ryan now has a day off before the second Supersport race takes place on Wednesday at 10.45am.

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TT Podium for Cummins

Using Maxton's GP30 forks and GP10 rear shock absorber, McAdoo Kawasaki Racing’s Conor Cummins scored his first podium of TT 2010 today, finishing third in the Superstock 1000cc race.

The Ramsey Rocket began the day with an eighth place finish in the Superstock 600cc race. Conrod had made a decent start lying sixth at Glen Helen just fractions of a second off the pace, but the practice problems with quickshifters returned which cost valuable time throughout the race and ending any hopes of a podium finish.

The Superstock race was a blinder with a four man scrap at the front between Conrod, Hutchy, Farquhar and Michael Dunlop. Sector times were being matched and lap records fell on a number of occasions but when the dust settled, Conrod grabbed third spot on the podium. He managed to lap at over 129mph on the ZX-10R stocker to add to his 131+mph lap on the Superbike. Hutchinson won again with fellow ZX-10R rider Farquhar in second. Conrod’s run of international podiums started at TT 2009 and he has now continued that achievement right though the 2009 UGP, 2009 Macau GP, 2010 NW200, and now TT2010 – the only rider to do so showing remarkable consistency from someone so young.

Many thanks to all the team’s sponsors for their support, especially Metzeler tyres and Maxton suspension for all their help.

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Reeves and Chauhan take superb third in opening Sidecar TT

Using Maxton's GP10 rear shock, Tim Reeves took a superb third position in Saturday evening's opening Sidecar TT race for his second podium around the Mountain Course. The Kent driver overcame what can only be described as a nightmare practice week around the 37 and 3/4-mile circuit to secure third place on the final lap of the 3-lap race and there was double celebration as passenger Dipash Chauhan was able to step on to the TT podium for the very first time.

Practice week had been a disaster for Reeves with engine problem after engine problem meaning he spent most of the week parked up by the roadside and, when he did get to complete a lap, it usually occurred after stopping somewhere on the course to make adjustments. However, a lap in excess of 109mph, whilst not at the speed he would have liked, at least meant he was heading in the right direction come race day and he came into Saturday in a more optimistic mood.

Weather problems, with sea mist in the Douglas area, meant the start of the race was put back from it's original 3.00pm start to 6.15pm but when it did get underway it was clear that Reeves and Chauhan were back on the pace. An opening lap of 112.717mph put them in fourth place, less than four seconds adrift of 14-times TT winner, and sidecar legend, Dave Molyneux, and over ten seconds clear of fifth placed Simon Neary/Paul Knapton.

On the second lap, Reeves increased his pace to 113.276mph, a new personal best, to cement his fourth place and when second placed John Holden/Andy Winkle went out at Sulby on the final lap, he was promoted up to third with just half a lap left to complete. A final lap of 112.044mph saw him duly bring the Double M/Haith Racing Suzuki home in third place for his second podium in three years of TT competition.

Speaking afterwards, a delighted Tim said: "I'm absolutely over the moon with that result! Practice week was probably the worst week of my life and we had problem after problem - I think we only completed five laps - so to be standing here with third place and another TT podium is fantastic. The bike's 'on it' now and I'm still learning the place so although I was a little bit disappointed when Klaus came by on the first lap, he's got four years more experience than me, so I held on to him for a bit and I now know where I'm slow and where I can improve. I've got to say a big thank you to Mark Middleton of Double M and the Haith's for everything they've put in to the team and I can't wait until Wednesday now!"

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Maxton 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in Sidecar TT Race 1

After a thrilling race drivers using Maxton Suspension came first, second, third and fourth in Saturdays first sidecar race. Klaus Klaffenbock and his passenger Dan Sayle claimed the victory by just 3 seconds from Dave Molyneux and Patrick Farrance. In third place were Tim Reeves and Dipash Chauhan and fourth spot was taken by Simon Neary and Paul Knapton.

Congratulations to everyone!





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Strong seventh place finish for Lougher in Superbike TT

Blackhorse Kawasaki team boss Ian Lougher got his 2010 Isle of Man TT campaign off to a solid start as he took the Kawasaki ZX-10R to a fine seventh place finish in the six-lap Superbike race, the traditional opener to race week.

Ian had experienced a few handling issues with the bike during practice, which the whole team worked hard to resolve and as the week drew to a close he put in a lap of 127.024mph to finish twelfth overall. Race day morning arrived with parts of the island bathed in warm sunshine, however heavy sea mist in the Douglas area meant the organisers had to postpone the scheduled 12 noon start with the race eventually getting underway at 3.30pm. Ian has been in this situation many times and undeterred, he blasted the Kawasaki off the line at Number 3. At Glen Helen he was in tenth position, and by Ballaugh Bridge he was ninth, at Ramsey Hairpin he was up to eighth behind Michael Dunlop and Dan Stewart. Through the Bungalow, Ian then got ahead of Dunlop to move into seventh. He hurtled past the grandstand at the end of the opening lap in sixth place with a lap of 128.221mph, a great effort from a standing start.

At Ramsey Hairpin on the second lap Ian was still sixth, this time with Adrian Archibald in fifth and at the end of the lap (128.012mph) he had maintained his sixth place, eleven seconds behind Archibald as they came in for the first of two scheduled pit-stops. On to the third lap and at Glen Helen Ian was relegated to seventh by Cameron Donald and at the end of the lap he was in eighth, just under four seconds behind Keith Amor. There was drama on the fifth lap as race leader Conor Cummins retired at Laurel Bank, this meant Ian was now seventh and it was a position he was to safely maintain to the end of the race. He went through the Sulby speed trap on the last lap fourth quickest at 183.40mph, just short of his race best speed of 183.90mph. The Blackhorse Kawasaki ZX-10R was the highest placed Kawasaki in the race.

Speaking afterwards Ian said: "I was pleased with seventh and with the bike, considering the issues we encountered during practice week. I reckon I can now achieve a 130mph lap after discovering we had no rebound damping left after the race. In light of this, I can't believe I managed 128.221mph which is my fastest lap ever like this. I'm really looking forward to the Superstock race as I feel the ZX-10 could be the machine to be on in this class. We are a bit down on speed on the Supersport 600 but the great handling could just make up for it."

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