Newcomer Mitchell-Thomas stuns Mid-Antrim 150

Newcomer Malachi Mitchell-Thomas has stunned the roadracing world with an incredible debut performance at Saturday’s Mid-Antrim 150 races, taking a hat trick of wins as a rookie to the track and to his Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing machinery.

The Bolton racer managed to take both supersport wins as well as the opening superbike victory, backing up his day with second places in the supertwin and Grand Final races as well as four fastest laps.

“I did some laps in a the car with John Burrows before the meeting looking at tip-in points and the like, but as I always do, I worked it out for myself. I’m not one for following others and did my own thing, which is how I prefer it. It was a great weekend and I even impressed myself, re-passing both Derek Shiels and Ryan Farquhar to take the win in the first Superbike race.

“It was a great weekend all round and gives us something to build on for the season ahead. I’ll be back next week to look at the Tandragee 100 circuit, but we will not get carried away.”

Completing a perfect weekend for the team, Mitchell-Thomas’ teammate Derek Shiels took the victory in the final Grand Final superbike race of the day, to make team boss and former racer John Burrows a happy man.

“The Mid Antrim 150 was a fantastic day for Burrows Engineering Racing. It’s been said we have the dream team, and in my own opinion – I believe we have made a great choice in having one of the most experienced national road racer in Derek Sheils, plus adding Malachi as a talented newcomer.

“The goal is to have a safe and successful year, and to start it with a one-two in both Superbike races – well the job is a dream right now. In saying that we will not get carried away as success does not come easy. What it does prove is the

GSX-R1000 Suzuki is still a very competitive package in the Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing machinery.”

Veteran racer Ryan Farquhar was also victorious on the day, beating Mitchell-Thomas to supertwin victory and taking a win in the Lightweight 450 class to boost his total of Irish road racing wins to 208.

The race was heralded as a massive success by both organisers and competitors, after few doubted it would even go ahead after treacherous conditions left the paddock a swamp and the track in dangerous condition for Friday’s qualifying sessions.