Stars back at Mount for Cock O’ The North

Motorbikes return to Scarborough this weekend after one of the highlights of the racing calendar was thrown into doubt.
James CowtonJames Cowton
James Cowton

The Cock O’ The North series is usually run over two days but for legal reasons will only see racing action this Sunday.

The full racing programme will be packed into one day with other events planned for the Saturday instead.

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Changes to the schedule have come about because of a legal problem concerning road closures around the Oliver’s Mount circuit which is a normal public road.

The Scarborough News understands that only a certain number of road closures can be put in place per year for road racing and last month’s Barry Sheene Festival was extended to take place over two days instead of one.

It means in return a day’s racing had to be lost from the rest of the year and a decision had to made whether it was from the Cock O’ The North or the Gold Cup round which takes place in September.

A 12-race programme is in place for Sunday with practice starting at 9am and the first race at noon.

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It will mix it up for riders who are used to practice and qualifying sessions being held on the Saturday with some controversy over two-day entry fees and ticket prices that have already been paid.

The Auto 66 club has been quick to confirm the event is still going ahead and fans favourites Dean Harrison, Ivan Lintin and Ireland’s Lee Johnston will be on the starting line-up.

Bradford’s Harrison will be looking to retain his Cock O’ The North title with new team Mar-Train Yamaha, while Lintin who took his ride at RC Express Racing will be looking to add it to his Gold Cup trophy.

Sidecar veterans Conrad Harrison, Ian Bell, and Greg Lambert are also making a welcome return to the action.

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Local riders who are building up their own following will also be racing.

James Cowton, from Driffield, returns from the Southern 100 in Ireland with two podiums on his 650 Kawasaki plus a fourth, fifth and sixth finish.

Hunmanby’s James Neesom will be looking to capitalise on his success at his last outing at the Mount - one of his most successful to date.

Fans will get the chance to meet the riders on Saturday in a paddock walkabout available to those who had bought Saturday tickets already.

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The bikers village camp site is open as normal from Friday with a late bar and disco. On Saturday there is a live band. The trade village will be open as normal on both days.

This new schedule has given the Auto 66 the opportunity to hold a marshals training day on Saturday.

Anyone interested in marshalling arrive at the main spectator gate to sign on from 9am.

There are other volunteer roles available too such as time keeper and sound test.