Anglesey, 4 July 2009
Kershaw Wins After 4 Races
Brian Kelly was the pole sitter for the Saturday race from Stephen Kershaw,
Mark Horan, and Adam Mcauley after a wet qualifying in Wales. It had dried up
between sessions but the race was started in rainy conditions that got
gradually worse leading to the race being abandoned.
Kershaw had the best start and led by the banked corner but it was rain
master Kelly who was back in front within a couple of laps. The rain at this
stage had reached monsoon level and after about five laps the race was red
flagged with visibility down to practically zero. A complete rerun was
sanctioned as the last race of the day.
The restart didn't last a lap. Kelly was fastest away again from Kershaw but
when the field reached Rocket at the top of the circuit things went a bit
crazy. This was to remain a feature for the rest of the day. Dave O Brien
came flying up the inside and clipped Lloyd Murphy. O Brian was knocked back
onto the racing line where Roy Hanlon hit him. Robert Casey then ploughed
into Hanlon while behind Ger Byrne ran into Casey. The four cars blocked the
track. Red flag number one appeared. Casey and Byrne had little damage and
the marshals got them on their way for the restart. O Brien and Hanlon were
finished for the day.
Start number two saw Kelly lead away only to be passed by Kershaw on the run up the hill. The field managed to double the length of the race before another major incident. Lloyd Murphy came
up the inside at Rocket and hit Dan Polley who was then pushed into Jimmy
Furlong. Their wheels tangled and Furlong was sent rolling away to the right.
He was fortunate the car righted itself after the roll. Jimmy started the car
and drove off but the marshals were too quick to again deploy the red flag
stopping the race. Furlong was finished for the weekend. He drove back
to the pits under his own steam but the chassis was bent beyond repair.
Start number three went a lap further. Kershaw again led from as Mcauley, Allen and Horan passed Kelly off the line but the champion made 2 places back at Rocket with a great move. Kelly and Allen traded places with each other on lap two, and the pair nearly came together at the corkscrew a lap later with Allen holding the advantage. Horan had fallen back after banging wheels with Mcauley. The race was then ended by a further crash at Rocket. Horan arrived at Rocket again up the inside as O Brian and Murphy had previously done. This time Murphy was the victim as Horan hit him. His car rolled in the air and landed on the car of John Downey before righting itself. The pair were out of the race and the red flag appeared again for the third time.
The result was declared with Kershaw the winner from Mcauley, and Allen with the official race distance declared as two laps.
