Browne wins Classic Superbike Manx Grand Prix
Mike Browne took victory in the race, which was cut to one lap due to the weather
- Published
Mike Browne took victory in a curtailed Classic Superbike Manx Grand Prix race after inclement weather saw it flagged at the end of lap one.
The Irishman pushed to a 13-second victory over Rob Hodson, with another Irish rider, Derek Sheils, finishing third.
The race was initially halved in length to two laps because of disruption to the schedule caused by the weather, but was stopped at the end of the first circuit of the 37.73-mile (60km) Mountain Course, with visibility on the higher parts of the course a major issue.
Browne said it was a “good finish to a rough week” at the severely disrupted event.
Weather brings premature halt
Cork rider Browne took the lead on the opening lap on his Key Racing Ducati, pulling five seconds ahead of Hodson by Ballaugh, with Sheils a further five seconds back.
By the time the bikes reached Ramsey, Browne had extended that advantage to more than 13 seconds, with Hodson and Sheils both giving chase on their classic Kawasaki machinery.
With the weather closing in while the leaders made their way over the mountain stretch of the course, race organisers announced the race would be flagged at the end of the first lap due to reduced visibility.
Browne's lap of 123.918mph saw him take the chequered flag 13.9 seconds ahead of Wigan’s Hodson, with Sheils coming home four seconds adrift in third.
Speaking to Manx Radio after the race, Browne said he had known the race would be shortened when he “couldn’t see the nose of the bike” when making his way over Snaefell Mountain.
“It’s a good finish to a rough week,” he added.
His success was the first by a rider on Ducati machinery over the Mountain Course since New Zealander Robert Holdem's victory in the Supermono TT race in 1995.
When the riders returned to Glencrutchery Road, Craig Neve, Dominic Herbertson, Ian Hutchinson, Michael Rutter, Michael Evans, Amalric Blanc and Baz Furber made up the top 10.