The Adelaide Master Series heads into the second half of its season with a return to the Mondello Park National Track on August 31st and September 1st. Following the recent races at Bishopscourt the championship battles are a lot tighter at the top of both the Superbike and Supersport championships with just two events left to run.
The championship, with backing from Motorcycle insurance Specialists, Adelaide Insurance Services, enjoyed a successful trip to its sponsor's home track of Bishopscourt, with a significant increase in spectator numbers over the 2012 event.
Portadown Veteran Marshal Neill and Lisburn's rising star Carl Phillips were the big winners. Neill took his Wilson Craig Honda to two hard fought Superbike wins, to close on the series leader, Dubliner Derek Sheils, who had his worst event of the season on his CD racing Kawasaki. The Supersport championship lead changed hands with Phillips taking over from Kildare's Richie Ryan who missed the Bishopscourt event. Phillips took his Yamaha to third place in race one and then improved in race two to take his first win of the season.
The next event returns to the two day, three race format and is the last of the season on the Mondello Park National Circuit. Ryan is expected to return to try and wrest back his Supersport championship lead but he will have his work cut out. As well as Phillips, Ryan will also have to contend with a trio of other top Northern Irish riders, Jason Lynn, Nico Mawhinney and double 2013 race winner David Haire, who will all be out to add to the gains they made at Bishopscourt.
Superbike Championship leader Derek Sheils will be hoping for a return to form at Mondello Park following his disappointing run at Bishopscourt, as will second placed Damien Byrne from Kilkenny, who found himself way off his usual pace on the way to two seventh place finishes. Byrne did manage to close the gap to Sheils but not as much as third placed Alan Bonner. The Meath man equalled his best results of the season with a fourth and a sixth place, despite continuing to suffer mobility problems on his bike due to back pain.
The Superbike and Supersport cup classes for less experienced riders also saw new winners emerge at Bishopscourt. In Superbike cup the ever improving Thomas O'Grady from Lusk took his first Cup win and in doing so became only the third winner of the year. In Supersport it was series Débutante, Bangor's Daniel Annett, who added his name to the winners list.
Spectators attending the event can look forward to viewing some serious Motorcycle Stunt action alongside the top class racing, as the event will include the latest round of the Stunt Ireland organised, Irish Stunt Riding Championship. This round will feature a number of overseas competitors including popular female stunter Monny Mon and top UK rider, Harley Davidson mounted, Josh Turner. Practice for the Stunt Ireland competition will take place on Saturday with qualifying on Sunday morning and the final shoot-out on Sunday afternoon. The Stunt competition takes place behind the circuits' first turn, Ford Corner, and for the first time may also include some action in front of the Grandstand if the race programme allows.
The August 31st and September 1st Adelaide Masters event will be made up of three championship rounds for each class with the first of those taking place on Saturday and the second and third on Sunday. Admission for adults is just €10 with under sixteen’s admitted free. Admission includes an event programme while stocks last.
Further information on the Adelaide Masters Series can be found at www.adelaidemasters.ie or by searching for Adelaide Masters on facebook.