Top guns chase Scarborough gold Cup

This weekend’s Scarborough Gold Cup has attracted a top-class entry, features some of the sport’s leading racers on the pure road courses.

The 59th Steve Henshaw International  Gold Cup Road Races, organised by the Auto 66 Club, is the final road race meeting of the year and has brought an impressive entry for this two-day meeting on the 2.43-mile road course overlooking Scarborough.

There has never been an Irish winner of the Gold Cup but this year’s pre-race favourite is Ryan Farquhar – the man to beat on the roads all year, having claimed double, treble and even quadruple victories on his KMR Kawasaki’s on the Irish roads.

Farquhar’s biggest rival will be Guy Martin who lines up on the Hydrex Honda BSB superbike that Tommy Hill raced at Croft last week and the Supersport bike that Tom Grant rode.

Martin, is looking to take a record seventh Gold Cup victory, and recently hit top form after winning the Solo Championship race at the Southern 100 and the second Superbike race at last month’s Ulster Grand Prix.

Other top names include Padgett’s of Batley duo of Ian Hutchinson and John McGuinness (fresh from his Croft Superstock victory), Ian Lougher on his Black Horse Yamaha’s, Gary Johnson; Ian  Armstrong, Mark Buckley and Steve Mercer who is a fast-emerging talent on the roads.

Top Irish names include Supersport TT winner Michael Dunlop who finished third at Scarborough in 2008 on his R1 Yamaha and his brother William who is also on top form at present after his recent Ulster GP double victory. He’s looking to repeat his Supersport victories at the Mount last year.

There are 10 races each day, catering for 125, 250, MiniTwins, Supersport, Superbike and Sidecars, preceded by free and qualifying practice commencing 08.30am on Saturday 19th September and 09.00am on Sunday 20th September.

Adult admission is £20 each day, with children accompanied by an adult admitted free.

Camping costs £10 per night per pitch.

For further information see the official website: www.auto66.com