Courtsey of Ray Kerr
The second week of September 2009 began with the Loughshinny Motorcycle club specialist teams making final preparations to the Killalane circuit for the 2009 Country Crest Killalane Road Races. Safety is the highest priority of the Clerk of the Course who working closely with the Clerk of Works and specialist teams guarantee that the highest possible standards are met and surpassed ensuring that competitors and spectators can enjoy a weekend of exciting, safe racing.
The wet weather which had been frustrating local farmers all year suddenly took a turn for the better and the Killalane course builders put the finishing touches to the circuit under glorious blue skies and a Sun so hot it was splitting the rocks! An unexpected outcome of the change in the unseasonal weather was that the local farmers who had been waiting for weeks for a dry day suddenly hit the roads around Fingal County in droves in a mad dash to get their precious crops in whilst the fantastic weather lasted. This meant that Combine Harvesters and huge Tractors hauling their valuable cargos back to the yards were rumbling along the Killalane circuit sometimes only inches from the teams who were erecting the crowd barriers and safety equipment, there was no conflict of interests though as many of the farmers are avid supporters of the Killalane Road Races and they were hurrying to get as much work done as they could before changing their working shirts for their Pure Road Racing T-shirts and settling down to watch the racing.
The last of the usual occupants of the Killalane paddock were herded out and moved to new pastures whilst the paddock management team moved in to layout the designated areas for competitors, retailers, camping spectators and the all important Scrutiny Tent and Officials areas.
So it was then that we headed into Friday the 11th of September 2009 the circuit fully prepared and waiting for the first riders to head out for qualifying the following day.
Many Competitors and Pure Road Racing Fans from further afield began arriving early on Friday morning to begin setting up their pitch in the paddock. That special atmosphere unique to the Skerries 100 and Killalane road races was very evident around the paddock area as people helped each other out and friends parked alongside each other encircling their camper vans and support vehicles to make cosy wee camps. As the sun went down on Friday night and the barbeques were lit we were treated to the most beautiful sunset we'd seen all year. Hundreds of competitors , their friends, families and supporters sat in awe of the spectacular light show as the sky turned from brilliant blue to fiery orange then radiant red before finally fading to black and revealing the most amazing night sky filled with brilliant stars! A sign that morning would bring the great weather that everyone was hoping for.
The sun rose early on Saturday morning and the paddock began to stir with activity as everyone woke to find a sky without a single cloud above them. Riders were queuing at the Scrutiny tent early eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first officials. Scrutiny went like clockwork and most riders were through with plenty of time to spare before the first practice/qualifying session was called. The road management teams closed the roads at precisely 1pm allowing David Murtagh and his assistants to head out and check the circuit before calling the first riders to assemble in the waiting area.
Spectators began arriving around the circuit before 10am on Saturday and by the time the first riders were out on the circuit for the first practice/qualifying session the gates had already seen more fans than they'd normally see even for race day at Killalane, the signs were already there that this was going to be a great weekend.
All practice/qualifying session were run to full length and the gathered crowds were treated to some fantastic scraps between riders as they pushed themselves and their machinery to the limit to achieve that fast lap which would secure them a good grid position. In amongst the newcomers who were the first group out was reigning Irish SuperBike Champion Brian McCormack who was making his National Road Racing debut at Killalane. Brian had arrived in the paddock early on Friday afternoon and set about laying out his pitch on his own! Paul Bathe one of the Loughshinny Club race officials was kind enough to loan his Honda FireBlade to Brian on Friday evening and Brian headed out for a wee run around the circuit. Returning the keys to Paul, Brian had a smile on his face which reached from ear to ear, he'd had a great time and couldn't wait to get out there on his race bike. Later in the evening local rider Andy Farrell took Brian for a spin around the circuit in his van to show him some of the racing lines, breaking points and spots to avoid, now you wouldn't get Rossi helping Lorenzo out like that would you? It could only happen at a Pure Road Racing event.
Two races were run on Saturday night after practice/qualifying was done. The first race of the 25th anniversary weekend was the Darren Lindsay 600cc Memorial and it was #77 Ryan Farquhar's first chance to equal Joey Dunlop's long standing national record. Unfortunately it was not to be as the starters flag dropped and Michael Dunlop got the hole shot taking the lead from the word go and showing Farquhar the rear of his Street Sweep Yamaha. Ryan was all over the back of the talented 20 year old from Ballymoney but he just couldn't find that gap to get by. On the last corner of the last lap it seemed like fate may favour Ryan Farquhar as Michael's Yamaha did its best to unseat its rider but he held fast and crossed the line to take the glory with Ryan just one hundredth of a second behind him. Hot on Ryan's heels was William Dunlop who took a well deserved third.
The Classic 250cc - 350cc was the second and final race on Saturday night and it was to prove to be an emotional race for one young Ashbourne rider Edward Manly who was riding for the first time since his father's untimely and tragic death. Ed rode a fantastic race and flew across the line 16 seconds ahead of second place man Mark Mcgaw with Tim Stephenson taking third. Ed who was watched by his mother as he collected his trophy dedicated his win to the memory of his father Dave Manly.
The paddock had a real festival atmosphere about it on Saturday night as once again the barbeques were lit. The sound of riders discussing their afternoons work with their support teams, family and friends drifted across the fields as every minute of every lap was recalled in minute detail.
A heavy dew covered the paddock on Sunday morning and there was a definite nip in the still air but there were blue skies above again and a glorious golden Sun rising above Lambay Island in the distance. The peaceful silence of the paddock was broken by the first generator to be fired up as the aroma of fried bacon and sausages wafted between the tents and camper vans. A radio could be heard in the distance playing Irish music then the PA burst into life announcing 'good morning paddock the scrutiny tent is now open for business'. It was going to be a great day.
Roads were closed at 10am on Sunday but the road management team made allowances for a few stragglers on their way home from early morning Mass at the local churches allowing them a few extra minutes to pass through safely. The roving Marshals made their final sweep of the circuit just before 10.30am and the circuit was declared safe, clear and ready to go.
The first race in the programme was the 250cc and the fans were eagerly anticipating a rerun of the closely fought duel between the Dunlop brothers at the Ulster GP and they weren't disappointed. Sitting behind the 250cc's on the grid were the 650cc super twins with Ryan Farquhar on pole in that group. The race was red flagged on the first lap when #9 Wayne Kirwan parted company with his bike and took a wee tumble down the Killalane tarmac. After the restart the Dunlop brothers left the other 250's standing as they headed off for a bit of sibling rivalry. William took the flag ahead of Michael by 1.8 seconds with Davy Morgan trailing William by just over 10 seconds to take third. Local man Damien Howard took a very respectable fourth.
Ryan Farquhar got on the pace quickly and as we've become accustomed to he began picking off the 250's one by one as he left the other 650's in his wake. By the time he had crossed the line to take the chequered flag he had passed no fewer than 4 of the 250's. John Burrows had made a brave attempt to keep with Farquhar but trailed him across the line by a massive 20 seconds to take second. Ryan's victory meant he had equalled Joey's National wins record and if the pressure was on the untouchable rider from Dungannon wasn't showing any sign of it at all.
Next up on the grid were the riders for the Irish Championship 401cc - 750cc support race sponsored by the Martin Finnegan Supporters Club. Loughshinny Club rider David 'Yomo' Yeomans delighted the local fans as he romped home in second after a scintillating performance on his Yamaha 600 whilst William Davidson of Kilrea took his first ever road race win bringing home his Neeson Honda 600 ahead of the pack. The race had been started by local politician Michael Kennedy TD who admitted to being just a little nervous as he set the riders off in three groups.
The anticipation was at fever pitch as the riders took their place on the grid for the third race in Sundays programme the Irish Championship Open. The Loughshinny Club Officials had a heart stopping moment as this race was also red flagged on the first lap as local man #96 Andy Farrell was high-sided by his Suzuki GSXR 750 thankfully it was only his pride that took a knock! The restart saw Farquhar make no secret of his intentions he was out for revenge after being pipped to the line by Michael Dunlop in Saturday's 600cc race. Ryan led from start to finish as Michael tried every trick he had in his wee book of road racing craft to overtake him but to no avail. Ryan Farquhar was in the zone and the crowd knew it, you could have put a chalk mark on the road and he would have hit it every time he lapped the circuit, it was man and machine in perfect harmony. Crossing the line to take the chequered flag just over 3 seconds ahead of Michael Dunlop he had also just recorded the fastest lap of the day and retained his crown as the fastest man around the Killalane circuit. Just behind the first group there was another fantastic battle taking place which had the crowd enthralled #13 Adrian Archibald, #16 John Burrows and #65 Michael Sweeny were so close you could have covered them with a blanket! They were handle bar to handle bar as they jostled each other for 5th. Adrian just had the edge on the other two as he entered the penultimate lap and he held the lead on them to the flag, John Burrows took 6th and Michael Sweeny had to settle for 7th after a valiant attempt.
As Ryan Farquhar came to the bottom of Schoolhouse road on his lap of honour a group of his supporters ushered him over and presented him with a bottle of Champagne it was all very reminiscent of one of Valentino Rossi's victory celebrations which he has become so famous for. Unknown to Ryan the Loughshinny Motorcycle Supporters Club had commissioned a special crystal trophy for him and as he approached the start and finish line he was marshalled to a spot in front of a bank of photographers and adoring fans. An emotional Ryan Farquhar was joined by his wife as he was presented the trophy by Clerk of the Course David Murtagh with Club President Ultan Ryan in support.
Well how to follow that? Bring out the Classics! John Burrows roared home on Gerry O'Sullivan's machine an incredible 37 seconds ahead of #51 Mark Morgan to take the top step on the podium and the David Manly Memorial Trophy with #122 Richard Ford filling the third spot.
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Killalane the Club had arranged for a parade lap of riders who had taken part in the very first event back in 1984. The competitors enjoyed a short break in the race programme as these veteran riders donned their leathers and threw a leg over some of the classic machines they'd ridden 25 years ago. To the delight of the gathered crowd they did two laps of the circuit and they didn't hold back! To anyone who had just turned up at the event they would have been forgiven for thinking this was a full on race that was taking place. The group were halted on the start and finish line after their second lap and presented with specially commissioned medals commemorating this historic day amongst them were Denis Todd who appeared on the front cover of the first Killalane programme and Tony Carton the Loughshinny Club Chairman who rode a Norton carrying the #45 in memory of local hero Martin Finnegan.
And so back to the main business of the day as riders for the Kennedys Motorcycles 600cc Irish Championship event rolled onto the grid for what was to prove to be one of the most exciting duels of the day. #77 Ryan Farquhar and #3 Michael Dunlop were once again pitched together in a scrap for the front which would leave spectators on the edge of their seat, well those that had seats!
The racing was close so, closer than a close shave! but the blindingly fast rider from Dungannon kept the talented youngster from Ballymoney at bay and crossed the line just 5 hundredths of a second ahead to take his third win of the day. Michael Pearson took a well deserved third after a tremendous ride.
Race number six the 201cc - 401cc Support was a pure delight for the local Skerries fans as #33 David Howard and #34 Sean Leonard both local riders scrapped it out for second behind first place man #17 Gerry Daniel's. David just inched his bike across the line ahead of Sean to take second with Sean taking third amid the applause of the appreciative crowd.
The 125cc Irish Championship was up next. In the pack behind the 125's were seven 400cc's and amongst them were a brace of local Skerries riders.
The 125 race was dominated by the Dunlop's and to the amazement of the crowds Killalane witnessed its first ever Dunlop 1-2-3 with William taking his second win of the day followed closely by brother Michael in second and cousin Sam in third. Sean Leonard took a very respectable 6th on his Evan's Honda 125.
There was great excitement caused by the duel in the 400's as our local boys fought hard for the win. Andy Farrell fully recovered from his earlier tumble crossed the line first ahead of Derek Costello with brother Gareth Costello who was making a rare road racing appearance picking up fourth.
The penultimate race of the day was the 401cc - 750cc Non Championship Support sponsored by that favourite watering hole of the road racing fraternity in Skerries, the Malting House.
William Davison made it a double crossing the line ahead of local rider David 'Yomo' Yeomans AKA Superman! who was having his best event of the year notching up his second podium of the day whilst Neol Carroll took home the trophy for third. David Howard had a close shave when his 600 Yamaha decided it was time for him to get off at Shoolhouse Corner luckily David was able to walk away after having a few unrepeatable words with his bike!
Highlight of the day was the Country Crest Grand Final and the last race of the season. Money was on for another epic clash between Ryan Farquhar and Michael Dunlop. As the clutches were dropped it was Michael Dunlop just a bike length ahead of Adrian Archibald with Ryan Farquhar hot in pursuit in third. As they rounded Schoolhouse corner for the first time Farquhar was nipping at Michaels heels and Adrian slipped into third. A brave out braking manoeuvre by Ryan Farquhar into Kennedy's corner saw him come together with Michael and both ran off down the safety run off area. As #13 Adrian Archibald did his best to avoid being included in this paint swopping clash #36 Michael Pearson saw his chance and grabbed the lead. Heading out it was now Pearson from Archibald from William Dunlop with Michael Sweeny tailing them in fourth. Dunlop and Archibald were too hot into the Man O'War corner on lap five which gave Sweeney the chance he was looking for and he powered through to take second. At the line it was Michael Pearson who took the flag to claim his first scalp in a major Michael Sweeney was close behind at 1.5 seconds whilst the ever popular Adrian Archibald claimed third what drama, what entertainment, what excitement, what racing!
Neil Nugents who was having a really bad run of luck with breakdown woes got a lovely surprise which lifted his spirits a little as he went home with the Gary Martin Memorial 'hard luck' Trophy presented for the first time at Killalane.
As the legions of pure road racing fans around the Killalane circuit reflected on the day's events and as they joined the throng of others heading for home many looked around and realised that they were part of the largest turnout ever for the event. Marshals around the circuit reported the biggest crowds they'd ever seen and the Loughshinny Club was dumfounded when the programme sellers reported that they had sold out of programmes by early afternoon.
What a fitting end to the Irish Road Racing season, great weather, huge crowds, fantastic close exciting racing, Pure Road Racing at its very best.
