Maria Costello - Fastest Women ever around the TT Course and the only ever women to achieve a Rostrum on the circuit.
Mondays Races - 27th August 2007
Lightweight A
Andrew Brady won the Newcomers A race on a
750 Suzuki by 56 seconds from Noel Patterson and 3rd was Justin Croft.
Conditions started off good for the first race of the 2007 Manx GP to get under
way in, the weather remained good for the first 2 laps, on the 3rd lap
conditions began to close in and warning flags were displayed across the
Mountain.
Lightweight C
The Lightweight C race was dominated from start to finish by Oliver Linsdell.
Oliver is the Son of Steve Linsdell who has had a very successful career in
Motorcycle racing over the years. Oliver is 19 years old and looked extremely
comfortable on the FZR400, he also looked extremely smooth and it was obvious to
all that he has style and a very bright future ahead of him on the roads. Oli
broker the record for the biggest ever winning margin at the Manx as he won by
over 13 minutes.
Senior Classic
Ryan Farquhar took the Senior Classic from Start to Finish at record breaking
pace on a Paton, Chris Palmer was second on a Matchless GD50 with Steve Linsdell
in 3rd on a Squadra Corse CMMM Paton 500. Linsdell claimed 3rd by just 1.9
seconds from successful TT rider Mark Parrett. Ian Lougher had a nightmare race
failing to finish.
Wednesday Races - 29th August 2007
Junior Classic\Leightweight Classic
Roy Richardson took his fifth Manx Grand
Prix Victory by winning this years Junior Classic 350 Manx GP. Richardson broke
the lap record on the first and second laps and went on to win the Race from
Ryan Farquhar by 41 seconds, Farquhar finished 27 seconds ahead of Chris McGaham
in 3rd. John Goodall finished 4th and Steve Elliott completed the top 5.
Richardson amazingly did the four laps on one tank of petrol. Ian Lougher
again retired.
In the second class in the race the Lightweight Classic Ewan Hamilton took the
glory followed by Roy Richardson's father Peter Richardson and he was followed
by David Smith and Peter Symes. Last years winner Pete Wakefield was up to
second before breaking down during the final lap.
Junior
Due to the massive let down that the Senior Manx GP didn't go ahead the Junior
was probably the highlight of the week for most. On Lap one Mats Nilsson headed
the field closely followed by Derek Brien and Shaun Conner.
Nilsson lead the first 2 laps. Brien set
off as number 1, Conner 2 and Nilson 9. In the Manx the riders set off in pair
at 10 second intervals so Brien and Conner set off together on the road. At the
end of Lap 2 the riders pitted and Brien was first in, he had Conner right on
his heals and Conner was in real contention on Lap 3. The disaster stuck as
Conner crashed reportedly at about 150mph on the approach to the fast left
hander at Alpine Cottage, this inturn had a big effect on the race as Nilsson
was first on the scene of the accident and had to slow down significantly
allowing Derek Brien to extend his lead. Nilsson said in his interview after the
race that seeing the accident slowed him down for the final one and a half laps
as he thought he wouldn't be able to catch Brien so he would take it steady.
Shaun Conner won the 2006 Newcomers A race at record pace and set a new race and
lap record for the class, he also topped his week off with a fantastic
performance in the Senior Manx GP to finish 4th. Our best wishes go out to
Conner and his family and we hope he makes a full recovery, the last news we had
was that he was flown to a hospital in Liverpool his condition serious but
stable. Derek Brien who lost the Senior Manx GP by
0.1 that's one onehundreth of a second in 2006 to Craig Atkinson won the Junior
Manx GP by 65 seconds from Mats Nilsson who produced a fantastic performance to
take 2nd in only his second year. In 3rd place 37 seconds behind Andrew Neill.
Friday Races - 31st August 2007
Lightweight\Ultra
Lightweight
Lightweight was a close battle at first between Brian Spooner and Samuel Dunlop.
Samuel eventually went on to take the lead and Brian Spooner broke down of the
final lap. Samuel is the 5th member of the Dunlop family to appear on the Podium
at the Manx GP. Sam won the race by 72 seconds from Neil Kent and in 3rd place
was Brien Mateer.
The Ultra Lightweight was renamed the Oliver Linsdell show as he became the
first ever rider to do a Newcomers lightweight Class C\Ultra Leightweight double
in the Manx. Linsdell won in style and I am sure we will see him at next years
TT. Tim Sayers came home in second place. The biggest controversy of the week
came during this race as after most of the Ultra Lightweight had crossed the
line the result was then taken back a lap due to deteriating conditions on the
mountain. This left Keith Costello who finished 3rd after 4 laps relegated back
to fourth as at the start of the 3rd lap he was lying in 4th position. Keith
took 3rd at around Ballalaugh and headed Joe Phillips by 1.4 second over the
line to claim what he thought was his first Manx GP podium. His bike was wheeled
upto the Podium and then he was told about the decision and was asked to wheel
his bike away.
All other competitor were flabber gasted at the decision and thought a major
injustice had been done. However, following an appeal by Costello, the
organisers have reviewed that decision and he has been reinstated in third
place, with Phillips taking fourth.
Steve Ferguson, 38 from Prenton was serious injured in a crash at Cruickshank's
Corner in Ramsey during the race. We are Bike-Racing.net wish Steve and his
family all the best and hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.
Senior
Hugh disappointment rang out around the Island on Friday the 31st August as the
2007 Manx GP was cancelled. With no option to run the race on the Saturday due
to the lack of Marshall situation we all went home feeling like something had
been forgotten or missed. I am sure there were also many completely p***ed off
riders around as well who had been building upto the event for 2 weeks. However
while we express disappointment nothing should come before the safety of the
riders so the decision had to be made due to the deteriating conditions on the
Mountain.