Cillian Doyle Wins Season Opener - MCI Trials

Cillian Doyle, Gas Gas, in action on section 6 during the Leinster Motor Club Octember Trial. Picture: Jack Cregg.

Bray man Cillian Doyle kicked of his MCI Southern Centre Irish Motorcycle Trials Championship in style by taking victory over his brother Sean on Sunday. The Leinster Motor were the organisers of the annual Octember Trial at the beautiful Carrigeenduff Wood  in the Wicklow mountains. 

With the first round of the National Championship taking place the following week it was a good opportunity to get more bike time ahead of it. After many years on Scorpa machinery the switch to Gas Gas has yielded impressive results for Doyle this year. Non more so than the prestigious Patland Cup last April and finishing an impressive 8th place last week in Spain as part of the Irish Team at the Trial Des Nations. 

Although Scott Callaghan and Johnny Carroll were not enter he still had tough competition from his brother Sean and Adam Harris. Competing at a world level competition clearly has raised his game as after the first two laps he was 15 marks clear of his brother and a massive 29 ahead of Harris. It shone through on section six, a tricky river where he didn't drop any marks all day compared to his chasers behind. While both men improved on their 3rd and 4th laps, they couldn't get close to the leader. Doyle was a clear winner by 20 marks putting down a good marked for those behind to up their game next time out. Speaking afterwards Doyle was happy how his day went " The bike went great all day and the course was brilliant, there was a bit of everything in it. It's been a busy couple of weeks but I'm glad to get the championship started with a win. Lets hope next week ends up the same!"

Adam Harris, Vertigo, in action on section 7 during the Leinster Motor Club Octember Trial. Picture: Jack Cregg.

Sean Doyle, Scorpa, in action on section 7 during the Leinster Motor Club Octember Trial. Picture: Jack Cregg.

Alex Guthrie and Craig Doyle battled all day in the Expert class with Guthrie coming out on top by 10 marks although Doyle lost 5 on that tricky river section. Gary Wall took the honors in the closely fought Semi- Expert class by 5 marks over Brian McLoughlin. The Clubman class provided the closest finish as Eugene Harrington took the honors by 1 mark over Mark Scanlon.

Harry Schmelter, TRS, in action on section 6 during the Leinster Motor Club Octember Trial. Picture: Jack Cregg.

Alex Guthrie, Gas Gas, in action on section 6 during the Leinster Motor Club Octember Trial. Picture: Jack Cregg.

Charlie Lawless, Vertigo, in action on section 7 during the Leinster Motor Club Octember Trial. Picture: Jack Cregg.

Glen Walsh, Gas Gas, in action on section 7 during the Leinster Motor Club Octember Trial. Picture: Jack Cregg.

 Youth A was won by Harry Schmelter, Youth B by Conor Keogh where 9 marks covered the top four riders. Youth C was won by Ruadhan McGinn with Liam Killaly second and Luke Kelly third. A fantastic turnout of 25 Junior riders took to their course on their side of the wood. Charlie McNulty took Junior A, Ewan Bublis Junior B, Flynn Clarke Junior C, Ruben Manning Junior D, and Joey Billings Junior E. 

Dominant Doherty Takes The Leinster Trophy

Ronan Doherty lifts the Leinster Trophy after winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race.

If there was ever a more deserving winner of an event it would have to be county Antrim's Ronan Doherty. One year on from the heartbreak of loosing out on taking the biggest prize in Irish motor racing due to a simple mechanical failure with a lap to go, he took victory in the Selco.ie Formula Vee race for the Leinster Trophy. 

Dating back to the early 1930's the who's who of Irish drivers have won the trophy over the years the likes of John Watson, John Pollock, Tommy Reid, Patsy McGarrity, Vivian Daly, Eddie Jordan, to name a only a few. It is not only prestigious for the great drivers from this land that have won it before but the history of international drivers who went on to the very top of the sport, such as Mike Hawthorn, Mauricio Gugelmin, J.J Lehto, Mika Hakkinen, and the most famous of them all Ayrton Senna.

To add your name to those is a great honor and he did it in style. With only one race meeting in the championship this season and a couple of test days he was missed in this years championship. Come the test day on Friday his times left everyone in the championship battle glad he chose not to do a full season and also left them with some head scratching for the weekend ahead. He was just one tenth off the lap record on the new Toyo tyres brought into the class a couple of years ago which are meant to be quiet a bit slower than the Dunlop's used before. 

A tight start to the race between Ronan Doherty and Dan Polley

The forecast was mixed and the rain came Sunday morning for qualifying and race one ahead of the bigger Leinster Trophy race later in the day. Would he be as quick in the wet as the dry? He answered by taking pole by nearly a second and backing it up with a win by 1.3 seconds. A certain confidence boost not that it was ever needed, by getting the win and not getting himself into trouble.

Starting from pole position once again but this time it was dry and he knew he had the pace over the rest. His opposition would have to get ahead straight away and hope they could battle and not let him break away. A harder task on the international track at Mondello, which is much longer and if a break is made it is harder to close down. Dan Polley also making a return to the series this year joined him on the front row. As the lights went out Polley immediately moved Doherty to the right and over the white line of pitlane exit to try and gain an advantage to take the lead. Doherty held firm and was not for giving way and held the inside line into turn one to lead the field. From there he got his head down and began to build a lead. By the end of lap one he was five car lengths ahead of Polley who was falling into the clutches of Gavin Buckley and Colm Blackburn.

Gavin Buckley and Colm Blackburn battled early on aswell as Jordan Kelly and Jack Byrne

Lap on lap he increased his lead leaving those behind in his wake and barring any repeats of the year before he was not going to be caught. Blackburn retired with a mechanical problem and both Polley and Buckley scrapped it out for second and third, leaving Doherty to break away even more. He reeled off the laps and crossed to take victory by a massive 20 seconds. A margin unheard of in Formula Vee but such was his early pace and those behind battling with each other it was a done deal very early on. 

A well deserved victory and one that put the nightmare of the year before to bed. 

Speaking after the race the laid back Antrim man said; " it was a perfect weekend with pole positions and two wins. What happened last year was the main motivation to comeback again this year and to try and win it. We had the pace from the first practice session in all conditions so big thanks to my dad and all the team for making the car so good for me and all their work. I am quiet relieved to have done it and also delighted at the same time."

Dan Polley and Gavin Buckley, top, had a race long battle that provided the entertainment of the race. While Ronan Doherty was in a league of his own out front, above.

Behind the top three Jordan Kelly and Jack Byrne had their own battle but were not near the pace of the leaders, which was not like them and would have been considered winners or podium possibilities ahead of the race. Owen Kelly out in a recently bought Sheane was further behind having his own race as he gapped Kieran Hannon early on. Hannan however caught back up and they began to battle for fifth. Another great battle was for sixth behind between Eamonn Thornton back out for the second time this year and having a great run ahead of Conor Melia who everyone was delighted to see out again after his big crash at Kirkistown and Charlie Hart. Ger Byrne was also making his way up through the field and got past Paul Lewis and Andy Keogh but was too far behind to gain another place.

Further battle throughout the field

Then sadly mechanical problems for Melia and he was blacked flagged ending his race and rookie championship challenge. A shame after all the hard work done by SM racing to get the car ready for the weekend. Thornton though pulled clear in the closing laps and was comfortably ahead of heart crossing the line. His best result and for only his second race this year it was a great achievement. By the time the chequered flag came out the pack was strung out Byrne winning his battle against Kelly followed by Owen Kelly, Hannan, Thornton and Hart. It got better for Thornton gaining one more place after the race when Hannan received a 10 second penalty for a jump start. Simon Rudd and Finn Gillespie round out the podium in the rookie class.

The rookie podium, Charlie Hart, top, Simon Rudd, middle and Finn Gillespie, bottom.

With Blackburn's DNF, his championship hopes ended so it goes to the final round in two weeks time at the fast and brilliant Kirkistown Racing Circuit between Gavin Buckley and Jack Byrne. With only 3 points separating them it's a winner takes all race. Luckily for Byrne a discovered broken rocker cover didn't end his race which kept the points gap to a minimum ahead of the finale.

The race and winners spoils went to Ronan Doherty pictured after the race with his parent Damien and Yvonne and sister Eva.

Results

Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship

1st Ronan Doherty

2nd Dan Polley

3rd Gavin Buckley

Tyredoctor.ie B Championship

1st Jordan Kelly

2nd Owen Kelly

3rd Andy Keogh

Ability IT Rookie Championship

1st Charlie Hart

2nd Simon Rudd

3rd Finn Gillespie

Doyle Wins Closely Fought Patland Cup Trial

Sean Doyle celebrates after winning the Patland Cup Trial. Picture: Barry Cregg.

The Patland Cup Motorcyle Trial took place on sunday on the Sugarloaf mountain in Kilmacanogue. The most prestigious and oldest event in Irish motorcycling, dates back to 1921 and is promoted by the Leinster Motor Club. After a forced absence due to insurance issues for Motorcycling Ireland for the past 15 months. This years event was not a counting round of the Irish championship as a result of those insurance problems but still attracted a strong entry with current Irish champion Josh Hanlon from Banbridge in county Down, along with top riders from the south in Sean Doyle from Templecarrig and Michael Burton from Curtlestown who both have won the event seven times previously and were out to equal Michael's late father Derek who holds the record for most wins with eight. 

Sean Doyle, Scorpa, in action during the Patland Cup Trial. Sugarloaf Mountain, Co. Wicklow. Picture: Barry Cregg.

A motorcycle trial is a made up course of marked areas called sections, where the rider has to navigate though without putting their foot down and if they do they are given a mark against them. Each trial is made up of different grade levels from sportsman/novice to expert-elite with an overall time of 5 hours to complete the event. Riders follow a marked coloured route though each section depending on the level they are competing in. The rider with the least amount of marks against them is the winner. The expert and expert-elite classes are not for the faint hearted with climbs and drops leaving spectators with their jaws on the floor as they watch the riders negotiate them. They also have to ride between sections which adds to the event and is as much an endurance test aswell.

Sean Doyle, Scorpa, in action during the Patland Cup Trial. Sugarloaf Mountain, Co. Wicklow. Picture: Barry Cregg.

The weather was kind to the riders, although cool at times the rain held off which made conditions much easier for the riders. That said, three laps with thirteen tough, grueling sections along the Sugarloaf Mountain was far from easy. Doyle and Hanlon both competed in the final championship round the previous day in the north of Ireland which would have them match fit over Burton. Lack of bike time cost Burton, he got off to a bad start with 2 failures on his first lap leaving him out of contention but fought back well on the last lap to finish third overall with a total of 27 marks lost. The battle for the win would be an all-day affair between Doyle and Hanlon with the lead changing hands twice on the last lap. 

Sean Doyle, Scorpa, in action during the Patland Cup Trial, Sugarloaf Mountain, Co. Wicklow. Picture: Barry Cregg

Doyle took an early lead after Hanlon suffered a failure in the first group of sections on lap 1. A Trial can change in just one section so concentration cannot slip. With the Patland running on the Sugarloaf time is tight over the distance covered and also when you have to include the fuel stops. As they started the last lap, Doyle riding his new Scorpa 300cc machine which he only got two weeks prior to the event, held a 3 mark lead after the first two laps which included a faultless lap two. Doyle made his only failure of the day on the same section Hanlon had earlier in the first group of sections on the final lap. This gave Hanlon a slender lead of two marks before fighting back to finish level with him on 11 marks each by the end of the final section. The dreaded tie break was avoided when Josh misjudged the time limit picking up two extra marks for finishing 2 minutes outside the 5-hour time limit.

Michael Burton, Vertigo, in action during the Patland Cup Trial. Sugarloaf Mountain, Co. Wicklow. Picture: Barry Cregg.

As he took the win Doyle, a Jeweller form O’Kelly’s Jewellers on the Main Street Bray, equaled Derek’s Burton’s overall tally of 8 wins in the Patland. An impressive return to form for a rider who has struggled with injuries over the last 4 years.

Speaking afterwards the Templecarrig man said: 

" I am absolutely delighted to take the win here today. The Patland is the one event every year that means so much to me, growing up with it as a kid and it's home territory for me, I can see the Sugarloaf from my house!It was a tough battle, Josh is in flying form and is the man to beat at the moment. I started off pretty steady but had a cracking second lap going clean (no marks dropped). I started to run out of steam near the end and had to dig deep and gave it everything to get to the end. Thankfully it was just enough to come out on top. It great to have the sport back and be back out riding again. Thanks to all the observers and the officals for running the event and all my family for their support and I dedicate the win to them.

Josh Hanlon, Gas Gas, in action during the Patland Cup Trial. Sugarloaf Mountain, Co. Wicklow. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Josh Hanlon, Gas Gas, in action during the Patland Cup Trial. Sugarloaf Mountain, Co. Wicklow, Picture: Barry Cregg.

Other local riders to finish on the podium in their grade included Andrew Molloy from the red lane who finished 3rd in Expert Grade.   Alex McCann from Delgany was 3rd in sportsman and Cian Redden from Kilpedder was 2nd in Youth A

Blackburn Takes the 2023 Leinster Trophy

 

Colm Blackburn takes the chequered flag to win the 2023 Leinster Trophy. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

For motor racing fans, Mondello Park in September can only mean one thing. The Leinster Trophy Races. The biggest race meeting of the season which is celebrating its 80^th running this year, is the one that everyone wants to win, as the annual prestigious silverware is brought out by the Leinster Motor Club. All competitors want to add their name to those trophies and have them alongside the famous ones already on them. For this year the Formula Vee class was awarded the honour to compete for the Leinster Trophy. Last awarded to the class back in 2011 and won by Ray Moore, a strong grid of 27 drivers took to the grid for this year’s event.

Sadly, the heatwave the country was experiencing all week decided to end on Saturday and the mixed Irish climate returned for race day. Drivers were having to pick a setup to work over both wet and dry areas on the track after a couple of heavy downpours. Most of the track was dry but a couple of areas off the racing line were still damp which would play a role in the outcome.

Family and friends of the later Mick Merrigan ahead of the Leinster Trophy race.  Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

As the lights went out it was pole sitter Gavin Buckley who got the best start albeit after a bit of movement on the line to lead Lee Newsome into turn one from Ronan Doherty. Using the full international track for this race there would be ample opportunities for passing manoeuvres throughout the race. Doherty was on the move and got back into second by turn three and former champion Colm Blackburn made a strong pass on current champion Anthony cross to move into fourth. An ambitious move into Birranes Bends by Doherty on the lead didn’t come off and the young rookie was lucky not to take both men out, but he did drop back to fourth. The long track tends to spread the cars out but by the end of lap one there was a train of cars together, nobody wanting to be left behind.

Blackburn looked the quickest however and was into second ending the first lap and looked to close right up to the leader Buckley. The damp conditions at turn three caught him out and he was beached in the gravel trap unable to get out and  being in an unsafe position brought out the red flags.

10-09-2023: Gavin Buckley, Sheane, leads Ronan Doherty, Sheane, Lee Newsome, Sheane, and Anthony Cross, Sheane, on his way to winning  the Leinster trophy race. ICCCR, Leinster Trophy races, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

The Mondello Park track team pulled Blackburn from the gravel and he rejoined to grid for the restart from his original position of 5^th place. Some questioned this and felt he should have restarted at the back of the field. For now, it was lights out and a race to turn one again lead by Buckley. Doherty, Newsome and Blackburn were all behind and tucked in but by halfway round an unfortunate Eamonn Thornton got clipped by a spinning Kieran Hannon while trying to avoid him and got put into the bank and then rolled his car over a couple of times. Thankfully no injuries were sustained. He got out of the car straight away.  This brought out the red flags once again understandably.

10-09-2023: Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads Colm Blackburn, Leastone, during  the Leinster trophy race. ICCCR, Leinster Trophy races, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

On the third restart it was Doherty who lead into turn one with Buckley, Blackburn and Newsome behind. The young man from Antrim in his first year of racing, who already taking the Loh Motorsport Rookie class Championship earlier in the day was out to take the biggest prize. His pace was strong and his mechanical problems from Friday testing seemed to be behind him. On the run down to turn 7 Buckley used a good exit from the previous corner to get alongside Doherty. Doherty defended on the inside but an over ambitious move by Blackburn to get by Buckley resulted in him hitting his rear wheel and spinning him around and luckily not into more people coming past.

This gave Doherty a healthy lead to build on. If those behind started to battle amongst themselves, he could become uncatchable. Blackburn still stayed in second after his collision with Buckley and set to catch Doherty. The gaps between the first three stayed the same over the next several laps until disaster struck Doherty who’s mechanical gremlins came back to force him into retirement. Such a shame for the young man who looked in complete control of the race. This let Blackburn off the hook to take the lead and barring the same misfortune the race was his as he was lapping quicker than Newsome.

Colm Blackburn leads Lee Newsome, Ronan Doherty and Anthony Cross on his way to winning the 2023 Leinster Trophy. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

The battle of the race for third place between Mark Reade, Tim Murray and Trevor Delaney. Reade who only lives down road from Mondello, sowing great pace after not being in the car for over a year. In the end it was Blackburn who reeled off the final laps comfortably to take the win ahead of Newsome and Reade who got the third in the end.

Colm Blackburn celebrates winning the 2023 Leinster Trophy. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Punching the air as he crossed the line the man from Ballyfermot wasn’t holding back his joy at winning the Leinster Trophy.

Speaking after the race the winner was in a sate of shock at adding his name to the famous trophy. “ When I seen the message on the phone a few months back that the class was going to race for the Leinster trophy I got a shiver down my spine. Then my friend Stephen Kershaw who helps me with the car texted to say you will win that. Now I have its just mad, I’m so delighted to win it.”

Colm Blackburn celebrates with his son Jamie after winning the 2023 Leinster Trophy. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Colm Blackburn reflects on his own after winning the 2023 Leinster Trophy. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

They joy was put on hold for over two hours as protests against him after being allowed to restart from his original position and his coming together with Gavin Buckley. The officials had to decided if these had enough grounds for action. In the end they declared the results stood and victory to Blackburn. It’s a shame for the spectators and other class members as well as Colm’s big win that the podium celebrations did not happen.

The final Formula Vee outing is in Kirkistown Racing Circuit on the last Saturday of the month. It also has another prestigious race for the Emmerson Fittipaldi trophy.

 

 Results:

Selco.ie National Championship

1st Colm Blackburn

2nd Lee Newsome

3rd Mark Reade

VW Spares B Championship

1st Mark Reade

2nd Ger Byrne

3rd Andy Keogh

LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship

1st Stephen Roche

2nd Brian Hall

Leinster Trophy - Images