RACE PREVIEW: MGP SUPPORTERS' CLUB JUNIOR MGP
Supertwin rules introduced last year for the Junior class saw fantastic racing, with a four-way battle for victory. Two of those protagonists have returned this year, but it’s local man Marc Colvin who starts from number 1 in the Manx Grand Prix Supporters’ Club Junior Race.
The Peel rider finished third last year and is expected to line up on the Dafabet Racing Kawasaki which Josh Brookes rode at the TT earlier this year.
Ten seconds later, it’s the turn of Andrea Majola, who rides the Manici Racing Team by VAS Engine Paton team, the Italian just missing out on the podium twelve months ago in fourth.
He’s followed by Jamie Williams on the NCE Racing Kawasaki, with Victor Lopez following at number 4 on Ian Lougher’s Team ILR Paton. With the Italian manufacturer having ruled the roost of late, both here and at the TT, the Spaniard arguably has the slight edge as pre-race favourite.
Next to go at number 5 is Daniel Ingham on the Castings Technology Aprilia, the Melton Mowbray rider having finished sixth last year. Jack Fowler goes at number 7 on the Jackson & Copeland Lettings Kawasaki, and he’ll be followed down Glencrutchery Road by Michael Rees, the Welshman riding the Rapidgrid Paton on this occasion.
David McConnachy (DJT Racing) is another rider to be Aprilia-mounted, at number 9, subject to being fit after his Southern 100 spill. Italian Maurizio Bottalico starts at 10, followed by eight-time Sidecar TT winner and three-time Manx GP victor Dan Sayle (VRS, Kawasaki).
Jason Corcoran (JRC Groundworks) and Mark Herbertson (Herbertson/GBS Racing) add strength to Kawasaki’s challenge at numbers 12 and 13, with Ireland’s Eoin O’Siochru (Reactive Property Maintenance) doing likewise for Aprilia at number 14.
Samuel Mousley (Heattech Racing) starts at number 15 on the only Yamaha amongst the seeded riders with the top 20 completed by Alex Sinclair (Morph Motorsport, Aprilia), Alun Brooks (Team BBR/Heattach Racing, Suzuki), Lewis Arrowsmith (RAM, Aprilia), Daniel Forbes (FB Racing, Kawasaki) and Andy Lovett (AWL Engineering, Kawasaki).
Outside of the top 20, keep an eye too on Manxmen Marcus Simpson and Joe Yeardsley, Ireland’s Anthony O’Carroll and Italy’s Salvatore Sallustro who, although newcomers, arrive at the Manx with strong reputations having already impressed elsewhere on the roads.
The top 20 for the Manx Grand Prix Supporters’ Club Junior Race – scheduled to take place over 4-laps on Saturday 26th August at 16:00 – is as follows:
- Marc Colvin: RC Racing - 650 Kawasaki
- Andrea Majola: Manici Racing Team by VAS Engine - 650 Paton
- Jamie Williams: NCE Racing - 650 Kawasaki
- Victor Lopez: Team ILR - 650 Paton
- Daniel Ingham: Castings Technology - 660 Aprilia
- Jack Fowler: Jackson & Copeland Lettings - 650 Kawasaki
- Michael Rees: Rapidgrid - 650 Paton
- David McConnachy: DJT Racing - 660 Aprilia
- Maurizio Bottalico: Younix/Virus Power/Iumoto - 650 Paton
- Dan Sayle: VRS - 650 Kawasaki
- Jason Cocoran: JRC Groundworks - 650 Kawasaki
- Mark Herbertson: Herbertson Racing &GBS Racing - 650 Kawasaki
- Eoin O Siochru: Reactive Property Management - 660 Aprilia
- Samuel Mousley: Heattech Racing - 690 Yamaha
- Alex Sinclair: Morph Motorsport - 660 Aprilia
- Alun Brooks: Team BBR/Heattech Racing - 650 Suzuki
- Lewis Arrowsmith: RAM - 660 Aprilia
- Daniel Forbes: FB Racing - 650 Kawaaski
- Andy Lovett: AWL Engineering Ltd - 650 Kawasaki
