Mondello Masters RDs 14 & 15

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, on his way to winning Superbike race one at the Mondello Masters. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Going into this weekends meeting only one point separated Richie Ryan and Luke Johnston in the Superbike class, so both men could not afford to have any slip ups. Ryan drew first blood by putting his Yamaha R1 on pole ahead of Johnston and Thomas O'Grady. While Ryan won two races last time out he had to give way to Brian McCormack in the first race. Although this did not affect the championship for the Kilkenny man, he still want a clean sweep. With McCormack sitting out this round to compete in the Classic TT, it eased the pressure on Ryan for this weekend.

Luke Johnston, BMW S1000RR, in action on his way to second place during Superbike race one at the Mondello Masters. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Everyone wants to have a good race but when a championship is at steak it can easily go all wrong while battling for the top step of the podium especially when your opponent has nothing to lose. That said you have to still do the job and bring it home. Without causing any disrespect to the rest of the Superbike grid there just isn't anyone else in the same league at the moment as Richie Ryan and his Yamaha R1 in the series.

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, on his way to winning Superbike race two and the Leinster 200 at the Mondello Masters. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Sadly due to incidents and oil on the track the first race of the three planned was cancelled so it just left the two on Sunday. From the off in race one Ryan made the jump on the field and by putting in quick laps early on. in fact he set his quickest lap of the race on the third lap with a 53.950 second lap. By now he had gapped Johnston to just over a second who himself wasn't that far off Ryan with his own lap times. He just could not go quicker than ryan and if he did it wasn't by enough to close the gap. Behind the front two Thomas O'Grady, James Kelly and Jamie O'Keeffe had a good battle early on to claim third spot. O' Grady got into third from the start but was under pressure from O'Keeffe for the early laps. Kelly made his way up to fourth on lap four but like the front two wasn't able to match O'Grady on every lap but held him to a second by the finish.

Joe Grant, Kawasaki ZX10R, on his way to doing a Superbike Cup double at the Mondello Masters. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Race two which was also for the coveted Leinster 200 trophy, a prize many would like to have. It is a shame it does not have a meeting of its own like years gone by where all the top names and even some from across the water came to do. As circuit commentator James Halligan said " I would sacrifice a championship to have my name on that trophy"

Once again Richie Ryan got the start over everyone else and opened up a 0,413 second ga by the end of lap one. He again set his fastest time on lap three with a 53.934 and by that stage it was already over for the rest. All he had to do was bring it home, which he did comfortably by setting very consistent time ending in victory by 3.318 seconds. Like the first race Johnston got into second and easily held it again setting consistent lap times but not enough to bring him nearer to Ryan. Behind them it was again Thomas O'Grady who held third for the whole race but had to keep an eye of James Kelly again behind who was edging closer all the time. With one round left it is still all to play for but with one hand on the trophy Ryan doesn't have to stick his neck out to win the prize. Although nothing is ever guaranteed until the chequered flag has been waved.

Richie Ryan, hold up the Leinster 200 trophy after winning Superbike race two at the Mondello Masters. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Joe Connolly.

The Supersport class did get three races in and in the first race Raymond Casey lead until he crashed his Kawasaki ZX6R out early on leaving Andrew Murphy in the lead with Daryl Sharkey in second and Oisin Maher in third. Maher had battled with Graham Whitmore early on but got passed on lap seven.

Raymond Casey, left, Kawasaki ZX6R, leads Andrew Murphy, Yamaha R6, during Supersport race two at the Mondello Masters. Mondello Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg. 

Raymond Casey, left, Kawasaki ZX6R, leads Andrew Murphy, Yamaha R6, during Supersport race two at the Mondello Masters. Mondello Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg. 

In race two Casey was out to make up for his mishap in race one and to regain some points for the championship. Andrew Murphy on his Yamaha R6 was out to make it two from two though and lead from the start. Casey on his Kawasaki ZX6R followed him and made his move two laps from home but only held on by 0.297 seconds as the crossed the line. Sharkey had to settle for third this time on his Yamaha R6 but was 19.437 seconds further behind.

Graham Whitmore, left, Kawasaki ZX6R, leads Michael Owens, Yamaha R6, during Supersport race two at the Mondello Masters. Mondello Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg. 

Andrew Murphy, Yamaha R6, leads Graham Whitmore, left, Kawasaki ZX6R, during Supersport race three at the Mondello Masters. Mondello Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

In the final race of the weekend it was again the Casey and Murphy show, with a brief appearance from Graham Whitmore who lead initially for the first two laps also on a Kawasaki. Once Casey and Murphy got by they again pulled away from Whitemore and the rest of the field. This time however the lead did not change at a late stage but again Murphy lost out by 0.294 of a second as they crossed the line. Whitmore held third and wasn't challenged and ran a lonely race on his own once he dropped to third.

Raymond Casey, left, Kawasaki ZX6R, on his way to winning Supersport race three at the Mondello Masters. Mondello Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.