Inside View: Ryan Does The Double at Mondello Masters Rounds 11 and 12

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, leads Brian McCormack, BMWS1000RR, on his way to winning Superbike race 3. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ray Casey, ZX6R, in action during morning warm-up at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

For rounds 10, 11 and 12 of the Mondello Masters, riders got the chance to use the full international layout at Mondello Park. The fine summer weather of late continued to the weekend to make conditions for riders the best they could ask for. Waterford man and round 10 winner Brian McCormack on his BMW S1000RR, qualified on pole and was out to make it two out of two this weekend in the opening superbike race today. Although he is not registered or competing in all the rounds this year he is unbeaten so far anytime that he has competed. 2018 Supersport champion Emmett O'Grady got his best result of the year with a fifth place but was given a time penalty for speeding in pit-lane in qualifying which put him down to seventh in the result of race one.

Emmett O'Grady, Honda FIreblade, in action during morning warm-up at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Current champion Richie Ryan on his Yamaha R1, pushed McCormack all the way though in yesterday's race, wanted to stop McCormack's dominance as they lined up for race two of the weekend. Ryan starting race two from pole made the best start and lead the field into turn one with BMW riders McCormack and Johnston tucked in behind. The top thre easily pulled away on their own with Ryan heading the trio on his Yamaha R1. It looked like McCormack was eyeing up his options for the later in the race and sat behind Ryan. Johnston began to drop back at the half way stage as he didn't seem to be able to keep up the same pace as the front two ahead of him. Then as they crossed the line to start the last last McCormack sat up and eased off. Only when he looked up and to see Ryan powering out of turn one as normal he realized his mistake and that there was in fact another lap left. By this time any hope of a win was gone and Ryan cruised home to win by 1.3 seconds. Johnston came home in third. In the Cup race Joe Grant won on his Kawasaki from Frank Doherty and Dean O'Grady.

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, leads Brian McCormack, BMW S1000RR, on his way to winning Superbike race 2 at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

In the Supersport class it was again Brian McCormack who qualified on pole and took the first race win of the weekend yesterday and was out to do the same again today. In May he took a clean sweep in the Supersport class taking three wins, so he was out to do the same this weekend.
However it was Ray Casey on his Kawasaki ZX6R who got off the line the best and lead into turn one with McCormack right behind and Andrew Murphy on his Yamaha R6 in third. It wasn't long until the first two broke clear of the rest and made the battle for the win their own. Casey lead each lap but McCormack was happy to sit behind and wait for the right time to make his move. Behind them it was a similar story between the two Yamaha riders Andrew Murphy and Mark Conlin for third. Conlin though got by on lap four and held it to the line. Up front however the battle was heading for the wire as Casey held firm on the last lap and looked to have it in the bag. Until a terrific late move at the final corner saw McCormack out-brake Casey and go around the outside of the Corkman and bring it home to take his second win of the weekend.

Ray Casey, Kawasaki ZX6R, leads Brian McCormack, Yamaha R6, during Supersport race two at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Brian McCormack, Yamaha R6,, leads Ray Casey, Kawasaki ZX6R, towards the finishline on his way to winning Supersport race two at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Brian McCormack with his Yamaha R6 after winning Supersport race two at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg

For the third Supersport race the top six swap their starting positions so pole man McCormack would have to start from sixth on the grid. Casey was out to undo the result of race two and would start from fifth. It was Andrew Murphy on his Yamaha R6 who started from pole and lead into turn one followed by Followed by McCormack who tried to get by around the outside on the exit but Murphy held on. While the front two battled away the following two Kawasaki mounted riders of Ray Casey and Dave Butler fought it out for the final podium spot. A mistake by Butler on the exit of the final corner on la 5 let Casey gain the extra few yards. By lap six Casey began to catch the front two. McCormack made his move on the exit of the final corner on lap five and got passed Murphy as the crossed the line. He held the lead but was pushed all the way and only winning by 0.90 of a second. Ray Casey brought his Kawasaki home in third.

Andrew Murphy, Yamaha R6, leads Brian McCormack, Yamaha R6, during Supersport race 3 at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Brian McCormack, Yamaha R6, leads Andrew Murphy, Kawasaki ZX6R, towards the finish-line on his way to winning Supersport race 3 at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ray Casey, Kawasaki ZX6R, leads Dave Butler, Kawasaki ZX6R, during Supersport race 3 at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ray Casey, Kawasaki ZX6R, on his way to third place in Supersport race 3. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Andrew Murphy, Yamaha R6, on his way to second place during Supersport race 3 at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Brian McCormack, Yamaha R6, leads Andrew Murphy, Kawasaki ZX6R, towards the finish-line on his way to winning Supersport race 3 at the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

For the final Superbike race of the weekend the grids were reversed just as the final Supersport race. It was Thomas O'Grady on his Yamaha R1 who started from pole. O'Grady lead into turn one from Richie Ryan on his Yamaha R1, but by the end of the lap Ryan lead from McCormack. Like the earlier race Ryan was pushed hard by McCormack with Luke Johnston close by in third. Ryan's Yamaha had a slight advantage on McCormack's BMW out of the tight turns which made it hard for the Waterford man to get close enough to get by. Ryan reeled off the laps and controled the race from the front to win by 0.467 with Johnston dropping back in the end but still comfortable held his third position. In the Superbike Cup race Joe Grant won from Frank Doherty and Even O'Grady.