Sheils Shines In Leinster 200 Downpour

Derek Sheils, BMWS1000RR, in action on his way to winning the Leinster 200. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Blessington’s Derek Sheils took home the prestigious Leinster 200 trophy for a third time after clinching victory at a very wet Mondello Park on Sunday. With the dark clouds looming around the county Kildare track all day, it was looking ominous that they would open at some stage. Then with pitlane about to open for riders a monsoon like shower of rain came down. It lasted only 10 minutes, but it was enough to leave large amounts of water lying on track in various parts and to threaten the race entirely. Some riders jokingly suggested swapping their bikes for canoes! However, the Mondello track staff worked wonders and managed to clear enough of the water to let racing go ahead.

Derek Sheils, BMWS1000RR, leads Alan Kenny, Yamaha R1, on his way to winning the Leinster 200. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Even with a lot of the water removed it was still far from ideal conditions as wet weather racing even goes. With the two other superbike races held over the weekend in dry conditions it wasn’t the only wet weather experience riders had at this meeting. Qualifying was also wet so some comfort could be taken for the riders in setting their bikes up for the wet. Qualifying didn’t go to plan for the Road House Macau backed Sheils, stating from an unusual 14^th hampered his progress in the earlier two superbike races round the 3.5km International layout which was being used for this meeting. He battled his way through a competitive pack which consisted of Kerry’s Emmet O’Grady on his Honda Fireblade, Waterford’s Brian McCormack on his BMW S1000RR, Alan Kenny on his Yamaha R1 and series leader Thomas O’Grady also on a Yamaha R1 to take a second and third place. It was good points for his championship hopes though, after missing the previous round while competing at the Isle of Man TT.

Thomas O'Grady, Yamaha R1, leads Derek Sheils, BMWS1000RR, during the Leinster 200. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

The last superbike race was the one they all wanted to win though as it was for the prestigious Leinster 200 trophy. First presented in 1923 to N.P. Metcalfe it has passed through such famous motorcycle racing hands through the years such as Graham Walker (father of the late Murray Walker), Reg Armstrong, Ralph Byrans, Joey Dunlop, Eddie Laycock, Jeremy McWilliams to name but a few. With two wins under his belt already Dubliner Thomas O’Grady was favourite but with the weather change it was anyone’s as the lined up on the grid for the 7-lap dash. It was Brian McCormack who would start from Pole with Sheils second and Alan Kenny third. Then just before the lights went out McCormack BMW cut out and was unable to get it restarted in time and had to wheel it off the grid. A real shame for the Waterford man who would have been one of the favourites.

Alan Kenny, Yamaha R1, leads Derek Sheils, BMWS1000RR, and Thomas O'Grady, Yamaha R1, during the Leinster 200. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

When the race did get underway it was Sheils who got the best start and lead the field into turn 1, but Thomas O’Grady who was in confident form went past on the outside as they exited the turn and took the lead. Riders not only have to contend with the slippery surface in the wet but the spray of water coming up from the bikes ahead is just as bad if not worse. The visibility is cut right down and as the evening sun was coming down it was the ultimate test for the riders this time out. Sheils dropped further back to third as Alan Kenny came by on the run to turn 3. It was early stages though but by the end of the lap Sheils was back up to second passing Kenny into the right hander at turn 7 and closed in on O’Grady. Unfortunately, Cork rider Ray Casey fell on the penultimate corner, thankfully unharmed but it showed how easy it was to get caught out. Halfway through the second lap the front two had pulled away and were making it a battle between them as Kenny struggled to keep up the fast pace of O’Grady and Sheils in the worsening conditions as rain began to fall again. With two riders further down the field coming off the race was red flagged. Thankfully all were ok but unable to take to the grid again. The restarted race would be over four laps so there would be no time for settling into this one and cross the line first at the end of the laps would be important in case anymore red flags came out. On the second time of asking it was again Sheils got the best start but again he let the second-place man round the outside to take the lead. This time it was Alan Kenny who took over at the front and looked to have more pace than in the first part of the race. However in a copy of the move he made earlier Sheils got by Kenny into turn 7. Thomas O’Grady was also closing in on the front two with Daniel Matheson and Emmet O’Grady(no relation) also shortening the gap in fourth and fifth. This was shaping up to be a close fought race despite the terrible conditions. A lap later as Sheils lead, behind him Kenny ran wide at Birrane’s Bends dropping back to both O’Gradys. 

Derek Sheils, BMWS1000RR, leads Alan Kenny, Yamaha R1, on his way to winning the Leinster 200. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

It was Emmet O’Grady on his Honda Fireblade who looked to have the better pace as he passed Thomas O’Grady into the final corner and then set about catching the front two. The rain was getting harder with a lap to go but Sheils stayed steady and controlled his lead, but at the long right Parabolica the back end stepped out on him. He saved it but dropped some valuable time to Kenny and the flying O’Grady. Four corners later O’Grady got down the inside of Kenny going into Devaney’s to move into second. Now the front three were together and with only one lap to go it could be anyone of the top three.

Alan Kenny, Yamaha R1, leads Derek Sheils, BMWS1000RR, and Thomas O'Grady, Yamaha R1, during the Leinster 200. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Then as they came out of the final corner to start the final lap O’Grady got on the power a fraction early and the rear wheel stepped out and down, he went. Thankfully not seriously hurt, slightly winded maybe, but he got up and off the track but his bike was in a much to dangerous place for on coming riders and the red flags were brought out once again. The race was declared with Derek Sheils taking the win ahead of Alan Kenny with Thomas O’Grady in third.

Speaking after the race the winner was happy but relieved to take the win. “I’m delighted to take the win and the Leinster 200 trophy again, but the conditions were awful. It was like riding on marbles out there. I didn’t qualify well but was doing quicker times in the races, but it just took time to get through the pack, but it was still good close racing and fair play to Tom he rode very well all weekend too.”

Derek Sheils, with the Leinster 200 trophy and his BMWS1000RR. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

That win and other two podiums have put him right back into contention for the title where the next round takes place on the 27^th and 28^th of August.

Lee Newsome Wins Round 8 of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship

Lee Newsome celebrates with his trophy after winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg

Ashford man Lee Newsome took an impressive win at round eight of the Selco.ie Formula Vee championship at Mondello Park. Just like the July meeting last year driver had to contend with sweltering weather conditions. While it was nice for the large crowd at the county Kildare circuit, the drivers had to deal with a slick track. Due to the heat, the rubber being laid down really was only sitting on top of the tarmac and not going deep into the surface and thus creating greasing track conditions.

A fantastic entry of 25 cars took to the track for qualifying, which as with all Formula Vee races was going to be important, but on the tight National circuit used this weekend made it even more so. It was series leader and reigning champion Anthony Cross who took pole position from Newsome by a mir 0.075 of a second! In fact, the top nine drivers were covered by the same second showing how competitive the class has become this year.

Lee Newsome, Sheane, leads Jordan Kelly, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg

As the lights went out it was Newsome who got the best start and led the field into turn one. Championship leader Anthony Cross got swallowed up by the pack of the line but held on to just stay in second behind Newsome. Donegal man and one of the main contenders in this year’s championship, Jordan Kelly, slotted into third place by holding the outside line around turn one to move ahead of his brother Owen.

The other Newsome this time Sean the baby of the family also showed good pace starting from fifth on the grid and remained ahead of another Wicklow man Jack Byrne from Annacurragh who held sixth on the opening lap but was setting quicker times than those ahead and began to move up as the laps went by.

Anthony Cross, Sheane, took pole position but dropped points after colliding with Jordan Kelly, Sheane. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg. 

The pace was hot and as ever and the tight confines of Mondello Park meant every overtake or even an attempt of one must be executed with precision. If it was then a driver could easily loose more than one or two places if not successful. Newsome was happy in the lead absorbing the pressure put on him by Cross and co behind. As he should as he won race one here at the last round and his car looked to be handling well. Sean Newsome made a move on Kelly allowing Byrne to follow through.

Jack Byrne, Sheane, drove superbly from 6th on the grid to finish second by only 0.078 of a second. Mondello Park, Donore, Co.Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

It was now three Wicklow drivers in the top 5! Cross tried all he knew to get by Newsome, inside lines, outside lines, late braking, anything to even force the leader into a mistake and all the while trying to defend from Kelly who never likes to hang around too long before making his own move on the person in front. He duly did at turn 3 making a nice move down the inside of Cross to move into second. This move cost Cross time and Sean Newsome made ground and attacked at turns 4 and 5 before making an excellent switch back from the outside line to the inside line at the final corner to move ahead of Cross take third place. This was not in the plan for the series leader who is more accustomed to being the one doing the overtaking. He made a better exit and gained the momentum down the straight to repass Newsome and hold his third place for now. This played into the hands of Byrne who jumped ahead of Newsome to moved into fourth place.

Owen Kelly, Sheane, had a better day over his brother by winning the VW Spares 'B' race as Jordan Kelly, Sheane, dropped points after colliding with Trevor Delaney. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg. 

Cross having to defend from Byrne got another great exit from the final corner a lap later which allowed him to get alongside Kelly and out braked him on the outside and rounding turn one in a brilliant move to go back into second place. This allowed Byrne to follow through at turn two. By turn four Owen Kelly got by his brother to move into fourth. In one lap Kelly moved from second to fourth! It was all happening now, but it let Newsome the leader open a gap at the front. As Byrne and Cross went into the double apex right hander out “the county” as they say in Mondello. Byrne got up the inside of Cross at the second part and moved into second place.

As the second and third men battled it out over the next couple of laps, fourth place Kelly closed in on them and as Cross cut back from the outside line at turn one Kelly clipped his back wheel spinning Cross round and into the grass. Disaster for Cross who dropped right back to eight place as he re-joined the track. This gave Byrne a lot of breathing room to concentrate on catching leader Lee Newsome. Kelly after his collision dropped back to Sean Newsome who tried everything to get by. It was shaping up to be a Wicklow white wash if he could get into third.

Lee Newsome celebrates after winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg

Time was running out however and with only a couple of laps to go it looked as if it was going to be too much for Byrne to close in and get by. There were back markers ahead though who could slow the leader and give him a chance. As Byrne whittled down the lead of Newsome to close right on his gearbox they caught the back markers on the final lap. With the chequered flag being prepared there was only three corners left in this thriller. Newsome stuck to the defensive line, making Byrne try the long way round each corner. Now by the slower men the final corner remained. Byrne went high and wide to get a better exit and as he drew alongside Newsome heading for the flag he ran out of road as Newsome held on to take the chequered flag to win by 0.078 of a second. A brilliantly entertaining race and one where everyone watching wanted to go on for another couple of laps. Kelly came home in third to complete the podium.

Wicklow men Lee Newsome, left, and Jack Byrne celebrate with his trophies after the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg

Speaking with the winner after the race he could not hide his delight in taking the win. “ I got a good start and got the jump on Anthony, and got into the lead. I had my mirrors full for a while and weathered the storm and they battled with each other which played into my hands for a while. Then Jack got into second and was full in my mirrors and I had to hold him off there on the last lap through backmarkers too, but I did, and I’m delighted to get the win. Hopefully we will get good racing like that in Kirkistown next time out, I Can’t wait”

In a hard-fought race Byrne was also delighted with his driver up through the field and to get into second. “ I had to work hard to get up through the field and then to catch Lee with backmarkers and yellow flags everywhere it was hard but great fun too. I’m delighted to get second though as it was also getting a bit toasty out there with the heat today.”

Aaron Murray, Sheane, winner of the LOH Motorsport championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg. 

In the VW spares 'B' championship Owen Kelly had a comfortable win in the end over Sean Newsome but at one stage the two were a cigarette papers width apart. In the LOH Motorsport championship Aaron Murray got the better of Kieran Hannon and Sylvie Bartlett after a long battle with Jonathan Hollywood. 

The drivers head north of the border and to Kirkistown Racing Circuit in county Down for round 9 of the Championship on the 27^th of August.

Results:

Selco.ie Formula Vee National Championship

1^st Lee Newsome

2^nd Jack Byrne

3^rd Owen Kelly

VW Spares ‘B’ Championship

1^st Owen Kelly

2^nd Sean Newsome

3^rd Donal Downey

LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship

1^st Aaron Murray

2^nd Kieran Hannon

3^rd Sylvie Bartlett