Martin takes Superbike hat-trick

Guy Martin's dominance of the International Gold Cup meeting at Oliver's Mount continued on Sunday when he won the feature race, the 8th time he's won the Trophy but his first since 2009. 

Guy Martin's dominance of the International Gold Cup meeting at Oliver's Mount continued on Sunday when he won the feature race, the 8th time he's won the Trophy but his first since 2009. 

The Suzuki rider came through from a first lap and saw off the strong challenge of Dean Harrison to eventually win by 1.8s. John McGuinness took third on the Padgetts Honda.

With the clouds increasing and the threat of rain not far away, it was McGuinness who made the perfect getaway and he led by 0.3s at the end of the first 2.43 miles with Martin in second, Harrison third and Michael Dunlop fourth. Michael Pearson was already out though, the Northern Irishman having highsided on the exit of the Memorial for the second time this weekend.

McGuinness continued to lead at the end of the second lap but the surprise was that Harrison had pushed Martin back to third and as they climbed Quarry Hill for the third time, he moved into the lead at the expense of McGuinness. Meanwhile, Dunlop was still in fourth whilst Jamie Hamilton was in fifth although he was continuing to experience the brake problems that had earlier plagued him in the Superbike race.

With Harrison edging away, Martin moved by McGuinness on the top part of the circuit on lap three and a lap later, half race distance, he led for the first time. 23-year old Harrison did all he could to stick with Martin but the Kirmington rider wasn't to be denied and with a lap of 1m45.207s, just three tenths of a second outside the lap record, he built up a margin of 2.5s. He was able to ease back in the final lap and eventually crossed the line 1.8s clear of Harrison with McGuinness in a good third.

Dunlop and Hamilton were secure in fourth and fifth as was Mick Goodings in sixth and, after a race long dice, Ian Lougher got the better of Jules Croft for seventh with Dave Hewson and Gary Graves rounding out the top ten.

By Phil Wain at Oliver's Mount

Image by Tony Goldsmith