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Burrows expected to do well 10 July 2003 A dark horse for the 750 newcomers' will be 31-year-old John Burrows from
Dungannon. He took a double Irish Clubman's Short Circuit Championship at his
first attempt on his way to 30 wins in his first season! His road racing
credentials also stack up with a second place at last year's Cookstown 100 - his
first outing on public roads. He has the ex-Ryan Farquhar 750cc Winston McAdoo
Kawasaki and a 600 Kelso Car Sales Yamaha. He is due to come up against Guy
Martin (750 Sam Finlay Suzuki) from Lincolnshire, who performed well at
Scarborough recently and set alight this past week's Southern 100 until crashing
at Iron Gate in the Championship. He received ankle and leg injuries which may
keep him out of the Manx.
Laurencekirk's Mick Skene is not only the fastest rider of the Manx Grand Prix,
but still retains the status of being the quickest newcomer. That came in 2000
when he lapped his 600cc Honda in 19 minutes 29.9 seconds, an average speed of
115.11mph.
Reference in an earlier bulletin to Arthur Browning and Paddy Reid intending
riding this year was correct, but both have subsequently been declared
non-starters. Also out are fancied winners John Barton and Darren Burns.
A number of welcome sponsorships have been identified for this year's meeting.
The Newcomers' and Senior Classic races will be
sponsored by the Suites Hotel Group, the Junior-Lightweight Classic and Junior
races by Tower Insurance, and the Lightweight-Ultra
Lightweight and Senior races by the Steam packet
Company. In addition, the timebox will be sponsored by XKO (Isle of Man) Ltd.,
and the marshals' caravans by Travis Perkins.
David Bell (27) from Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham, is hoping to go well this
year. Last year he finished third in the Newcomers' and 10th in the Senior. He
has rides in the Junior and Senior on a 600 CBR Honda sponsored by Merlin
Sidecars.
Last year's Ultra Lightweight winner Alan Bennie has been unable to resist the
chance of a further gallop in the Manx. Having moved up to the TT under the
"gentlemen's agreement" that past winners do not take part in future main races,
Alan has entered the 500cc Classic on a Seeley G50 Matchless run by Ron Todd.
Another past winner, Eddie Byers, will also turn out in the Classic. The Essex
man will ride a Hiscox Racing Manx Norton in the Junior and a Wield Racing
Seeley G50 in the Senior. Eddie won the Newcomers, in 1984.
Chris Bray from London has a self-imposed task to accomplish. He wants to lap in
under 20 minutes. In practice in 1999 he did 20 minutes 00.1 seconds, so there
shouldn't be much problem adding to his eight replicas and finding that
one-tenth of a second.
Mark Castle from Cheshire has put last year's disappointment behind him and goes
for a "sensible, steady ride" this time. He slid off at the Bungalow when
leading the Newcomers' last year and admitted he was trying too hard. He has a
Barton Bikesport 400 RVF Honda for the Ultra Lightweight.
Notwithstanding the tragedy which befell his nephew at the TT, 1983 Senior MGP
winner Nick Jefferies is down to ride in the Classic Manx. He has entered a
Morris Molnar Manx Norton in the 500cc class. Last year Andy Molnar's bike won
with Richard Quayle aboard.
Onchan's Paul Corrin will try to overcome last year's
narrow defeat in the 400cc race. He has a Martin Bullock ZXR Kawasaki to try to
claim the victory denied him by Alan Bennie. More stories >>>
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