Stars come out for Gold Cup at Oliver’s Mount

Bruce Anstey is the world’s fastest road racer, holding absolute lap records at Ulster Grand Prix on the Dundrod Circuit in Northern Ireland and the TT Mountain Course in the Isle of Man and this season has won the Superbike feature race at ‘The Ulster’ and followed that with victory in the Formula One Classic TT – in both races riding Padgett’s machines.

John McGuinness, the 21-times TT winner has missed most of the season through injury, although seemed back on form at the recent Classic TT, even if the machines weren’t.

It is an open secret that he would like to see his name on the coveted ‘Gold Cup Trophy’ again to add to his 1999 win.

Lee Johnston has had an excellent season with a double at the North West 200 and a win at the Ulster Grand Prix, culminating most recently in a prestigious win in the 350cc Classic TT on the legendary MV Agusta triple.

James Cowton is enjoying a stellar season, most recently taking three race wins on the famous 7.4-mile Dundrod course, two in the Dundrod 150 Road Races and one in the Ulster Grand Prix and currently is in second place in the 2014 Duke Road Race Rankings Championship just 85 points behind leader Dean Harrison.

Ivan Lintin is no stranger to the picturesque circuit, having already clocked up seven race victories over the 2.43-mile course this year alone, plus race wins at the International Southern 100 Road Races and the Ulster Grand Prix, the Lincolnshire lad will be out to add to his tally of wins so far this year at the Mount.

Daley Mathison has also enjoyed success at ‘his home circuit’ this year at the Spring National in April and most recently enjoyed his first international race win at Dundrod during the Ulster Grand Prix.

Ryan Farquhar returns to compete in the Classic Races hoping to add to his 101 race wins he has so far gained at his ‘second home’

Farquhar has taken the Duke Road Race Rankings Champion an amazing seven times, which include a ‘hat-trick’ between 2008 and 2010, going on to retain the title for a further two years in 2011 and 2012!

Ian Bell is presently the most successful sidecar racer around the North Yorkshire circuit with 61 race victories to him name, the first dating back to September 1994 and will be out to maintain his dominance at the Gold Cup meeting, which brings the curtain down on the British road racing season.

Conrad Harrison has had an exceptional season, winning his first TT race in June and topping that off, taking the Southern 100 Sidecar Championship a month later on the Billown Course. Conrad has 25 wins on his ‘home circuit’.

Manxman Dave Molyneux holds the accolade of the most successful Sidecar TT winner with 18 victories to his name including the second race this year; however he is no slouch around Oliver’s Mount with 18 wins to his credit.

2014 Sidecar World Champion Tim Reeves also makes a welcome return to Oliver’s Mount having every intention to spoil the party for the regular crews.

Practice and Qualifying commences at 9am both Saturday and Sunday, with the first race on Saturday starting at 1.30pm and on Sunday at 10.30am. Tickets are available on the main entrance each day.

Following last year’s naming of Palmer’s and Lougher’s corners at the famous Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough, the committee of Auto 66 have received numerous requests from fans suggesting names for other areas of the course.

It has been decided and agreed by the man himself to rename the corner at the “Esses” as “Grant’s”.

The reason for choosing this corner is that it follows on from Sheene’s rise, this corner was chosen because it was an infamous dicey spot for the two of them battling it out.