Dunlop Mondello Masters Season Finale

Ray Casey, with his Kawasaki became 2019 Supersport Champion. Photo: Barry Cregg.

For the last round of the Dunlop Mondello Masters both the Supersport and Superbike Championships came down to the final round and the final day. Thankfully the heavy overnight rain did not affect the track and conditions albeit cool were good for racing. In Superbikes Richie Ryan and Luke  Johnston were only separated by eleven points with three races left in the final weekend. Then a mistake by Johnston on the last lap of Saturday's race where he not only went down himself he also took Ryan with him. So going into the final two race on Sunday the points gap remained the same.

In Supersport Ray Casey had a twenty one point lead going into Sundays races over Andrew Murphy. So all to play for still but Casey only had to finish in the top three to bag the championship.

Ray Casey, Kawasaki ZX6R, in action during Supersport race two on his way to winning the 2019 Supersport Championship. Photo: Barry Cregg

In Sunday's first race Mike Browne on his Kawasaki got the best start and lead into turn one with Casey behind him followed by Murphy. Casey and Browne battled it out for the opening laps but Browne had a much stronger pace and began to open a gap over Casey who slipped back to Murphy and began to battle with him. Murphy got by on lap four and held his rival at bay until two laps from home when Casey got back past. Browne comfortably took the win by 7.809 seconds from Casey and Murphy.

Ray Casey, Kawasaki ZX6R, in action during Supersport race two on his way to winning the 2019 Supersport Championship. Photo: Barry Cregg

It was enough to give Casey the title as even if he does not score in the final race and Murphy wins, Casey has more wins in hand. In the Supersport Cup, Darryl Sharkey made it a championship double for 2019 as he wrapped up the title with a win and also in the pre-injection class.

Darryl Sharkey, winner of the 2019 Mondello Masters Supersport Cup. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Andrew Murphy, Yamaha R6, leads Ray Casey, Kawasaki ZX6R, in action during Supersport race two. Photo: Barry Cregg

Ray Casey, Kawasaki ZX6R, leads Andrew Murphy, Yamaha R6, in action during Supersport race two on his way to winning the 2019 Supersport Championship. Photo: Barry Cregg

Mike Browne, Kawasaki ZX6R, on his way to winning Supersport Race two during the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ray Casey, Kawasaki ZX6R, in action during Supersport race two on his way to winning the 2019 Supersport Championship. Photo: Barry Cregg

Mike Browne, Kawasaki ZX6R, on his way to winning Supersport Race two during the Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

For the first Superbike race of the day all eyes were on the top two in the championship. Both new they had to get ahead of the field at the start and not get caught up in traffic and let the other get away. That is what happened as Richie Ryan and Luke Johnston both got away cleanly together.

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, leads the field into turn two during Superbike race two at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ryan powered his Yamaha R1 into the lead with Johnston right behind on his BMWS1000RR. Nothing could separate them as they came back in from the country and Johnston had a go into the final corner. It looked like it was going to be a cracker but sadly going into turn one on the second lap Johnston lost the front of his BMW S1000RR and ended his hopes of taking the race and title.

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, on his way to winning Superbike race two and the 2019 championship at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

This left Ryan out on his own and barring mechanical trouble he was home and dry to take the title. He reeled off the laps and by the chequered flag he won by 2.5 seconds from Thomas O'Grady. Eunan McGlinchey on a break from his BSB campaign came home in third. In the Superbike Cup race it was business as usual for Joe Grant who comfortably won by 5.7 seconds from Ross Irwin to take the title for 2019.

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, on his way to winning Superbike race two and the 2019 championship at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, on his way to winning Superbike race two and the 2019 championship at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, after winning Superbike race two and the 2019 championship at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Both Ryan and Grant were deserving champions as the were the head of their classes all year.

Joe Grant, Kawasaki ZXR1000RR in action on his way to winning Superbike Cup race two and the 2019 championship at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Joe Grant, after winning Superbike Cup race two and the 2019 championship at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

For the final Supersport race of the year it was again Mike Browne on his Kawasaki ZX6R who got the best start and lead the field out of turn one. With the championship secure Casey was free to push harder in this race and he did just that not letting Browne get away as he did in the first race earlier in the day. Although being put under pressure, Browne held firm until the fifth lap when he lost the front as he entered turn one.

Darryl Sharkey, Kawasaki ZX6R in action during winning Supersport race two and the 2019 championship at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

He may have braked a bit to hard or got caught out on the cement dust covering oil put down in the race before but either way his race was run. A shame as he had been going so well. This let casey to cruise round and he took the win by a massive 13.668 seconds. The battle for third place was much closer between Darryl Sharkey and Oisin Maher as the two swapped positions more than once over the course of the race. In the end it was Sharkey who came out on top by 0.81 seconds.

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, on his way to winning Superbike race three and the 2019 championship at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

For the final Superbike race of the year and as the norm of reverse grids for the third race of the weekend it was Emmett O'Grady who lead the field out of turn one on his Honda Fireblade from Jamie O'Keeffe behind on his Kawasaki. Ryan was carving his way through the field though and by lap three he was in his familiar number one spot. 

Emmett O'Grady, Honda Fireblade, leads Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, during Superbike race three at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Emmett O'Grady, grabbed his first podium of the year during the final race of the year. Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

He quickly pulled clear of the chasing pack that battled for the last two podium spots. Thomas O'Grady was also making his way through the pack and with two laps to go got into second place ahead of O'Keeffe. Then on the final corner of the final lap O'Keeffe crashed out leaving Emmett O'Grady through to take his first podium of the year. Ryan though won by 9 seconds in the end and proved yet again that he is head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

Richie Ryan, Yamaha R1, on his way to winning Superbike race three and the 2019 championship at the Dunlop Mondello Masters. Photo: Barry Cregg.

2019 Dunlop Mondello Masters Champions from left, Joe Grant, Superbike Cup, Richie Ryan, Superbike, Ray Casey, Supersport and Darryl Sharkey, Supersport Cup. Photo: Barry Cregg.