Bishopscourt the next stop for Masters Superbike Championship
The 2016 Masters Superbike Championship heads to Bishopscourt Co. Down for rounds two and three on Saturday April 16th. The second event of the season will be the first of two visits this year to the former airfield circuit by Ireland’s biggest Short Circuit Motorcycle Racing championship.
Superbike championship leader Robert English will head to Bishopscourt on a high following a sensational opening weekend as a Superbike competitor at Mondello Park in March. English took an unexpected double win, as well as being awarded the Young Rider of the Day accolade which means he has now secured his place in the end of season Young Rider Award final.
English, the reigning Supersport Masters champion, heads the points from Gerard Kinghan and IFS Yamaha team mate Ryan Rainey, who filled the podium positions at rounds one and two. Missing from the results at the opening event of the season was Brian McCormack, who was eliminated by an engine blow up in qualifying, but the former champion is expected to be back challenging at Bishopscourt. Charles Stuart took both Superbike ‘Cup’ wins at the season opener to lead the championship ahead of Barry Sheehan and Paul Swords.
In the ever competitive Supersport Championship Richie Ryan leads the way following his pair of narrow victories over Robert Kennedy at rounds 1 & 2. Kennedy sits second with Luke Johnston and Nikki Coates joint third having taken a single podium finish each. Aaron Clifford leads the Supersport ‘Cup’ after two impressive sixth place finishes on only his second Masters Supersport appearance.
Along with the feature Superbike and Supersport classes the Bishopscourt event will also be a double header for the Principal Insurance Pre-Injection class, where another double winner Stephen Doyle heads the points standings. 2015 champion Paul McCrea and Kevin Dempsey are tied on points behind Doyle having shared second and third place finishes in rounds one and two. The combined grid of Supertwins and Production Twins, Sidecars and the Superbike and Supersport ‘B’ Race will make up the rest of the ten race schedule.
Admission to Bishopscourt’s Masters Superbike Championship event is £10 for adults with Under 16’s admitted free of charge.
