Manxman Billy Redmayne and Horwich rider Malachi Mitchell-Thomas continued their Isle of Man Mountain Course rivalry from last year’s Manx Grand Prix Newcomers race in today’s Mylchreest Motors Junior Race at the IMGold Manx Grand Prix.

Redmayne again triumphed, as he did last year, but only by a winning margin of 1.8 seconds after a close battle with Silicone Engineering Racing’s Mitchell Thomas. His win came despite his accident in Monday’s practice, which saw him taken by airmed to Nobles Hospital.

After the race Redmayne shared his relief at being able to compete and dedicated his victory to last year’s Junior MGP race winner Andy Lawson, who lost his life at the recent Ulster Grand Prix, commenting:

“I didn’t think I’d be here after Monday’s practice so I’ve got to say a huge thanks to my physio for getting me fit. I’d like to dedicate this win as a tribute to Andy Lawson.”

After a frustrating delay due to rain and mist on the Isle of Man, the Mylchreest Motors Junior Manx Grand Prix finally got underway at 1pm. The delay saw Clerk of the Course Phil Taubman reduce the race to three laps.

Competitors were warned of damp patches on the course, notably just before St Ninians with roads described as wet between Ramsey Hairpin and the Gooseneck. Wigan’s Rob Hodson on the PR Racing Suzuki fired away first down Glencrutchery road.

Malachi Mitchell Thomas, the fastest qualifier, who posted an unofficial lap record in last night’s practice, was first to Glen Helen. However, he only had a lead of 0.1 seconds from Billy Redmayne on the Martin Bullock Manxsport Honda with Rob Hodson back in third.

New Zealander Michael Moulai, who finished runner-up in last year’s Senior Manx Grand Prix, was an early retirement when he slid off at Braddan. He was taken to Nobles Hospital for a precautionary check up. Ian Armstrong was another to go out on lap one when he came off at Glen Tramman. The Yorkshire rider was taken by airmed to Nobles Hospital for treatment on possible fractures.

Back at the front, and Redmayne moved into the lead by the second timing point, Ballaugh Bridge, but by less than a second from Mitchell Thomas with Hodson consolidating third place a further 2 seconds back.

The leading three riders were all into the pits at the end of the first lap with Redmayne’s opening lap of 118.255/ 19:08.607 giving him a narrow lead over Hodson (117.439/ 19:16.505) with Mitchell Thomas in third having lost time over the Mountain section after Ramsey Hairpin.

Hodson and Mitchell Thomas gained a slight advantage over Redmayne with pit stops timed at 36.180 and 37.284 to Redmayne’s 41.081 and it was Mitchell Thomas who again moved into the front at Glen Helen on the second lap from Richard Wilson who had run straight through at the Grandstand with Redmayne ahead of Hodson but only three seconds separated the top four.

However Mitchell-Thomas lost over sixteen seconds on the second lap after stopping temporarily at the Creg Ny Baa, with his bike overheating, which ultimately cost him the race.

With Wilson pitting at the end of the second lap, and Mitchell Thomas’s issues, Redmayne’s second lap 115.367/ 19:37.354 put him back in front with a commanding 12 second lead over Hodson 115.052/ 19:40.576 with Mitchell Thomas back in third almost fifteen seconds behind the race leader.

Mitchell Thomas’s last lap charge saw him pass Hodson and close the gap to only 1.8 seconds from Redmayne at the chequered flag as he ate into Redmayne’s lead but ultimately the Manx rider held on for the victory.

Mitchell Thomas had the consolation of breaking Tommy Clucas’s 2004 Junior lap record and he also became only the seventh 120mph member of ‘The Tommy Club’, set up in memory of the Manx rider, joining Tommy himself and Alan Jackson, Ian Pattinson, Davy Morgan, Seamus Greene and the last person to record a 120mph lap in an MGP race, Simon Fulton.

Darren Cooper received the Alan Hampton Trophy as the highest placed newcomer, finishing in 23rd with a time of 110.716/ 1:01:20.448.

Craig Neve was reported as OK following an accident at Sarah’s Cottage after an airmed transfer to Nobles, while Jason Brewster was also taken by airmed and reported to have sustained fractures following his accident at the Gooseneck.

The day concluded with a practice session for Lightweight and SuperTwin machines rather than the scheduled race, which will now take place on Friday along with the Full Factory Winners Wear Senior Manx Grand Prix Race, the final race of the meeting.

Andrew Dudgeon’s 110.833 was the third fastest qualifying time of the week in the SuperTwin class while Mark Purslow topped the Lightweight board with 105.795, the fastest qualifying time of the week. A number of riders also went out on their Senior machines with Rob Hodson, fresh from his Junior MGP podium, topping the board with 115.696 ahead of Friday’s Race. Donald Gilbert was reported as coming off his machine at the Creg Ny Baa but was checked by medics and reported not to have sustained injuries.

Mylchreests Junior Manx GP - conditions dry

1 4 Billy Redmayne Honda / M.B.M - F.F.R.S. 57:45.277 117.591 Replica
2 7 Malachi Mitchell-Thomas Kawasaki / Silicone Engineering Racing 57:47.170 117.526 Replica
3 1 Rob Hodson PRF Suzuki / PRF Racing 57:59.448 117.112 Replica
4 13 Andrew Dudgeon Suzuki / Ablec BarLogo 58:54.363 115.292 Replica
5 19 David Sellers Triumph / DSR Racing 59:28.521 114.188 Replica
6 17 Jamie Hodson Yamaha / JGH Racing 59:32.749 114.053 Replica
7 22 Karl Foster Kawasaki / R Gower Powered Team F 59:34.425 114.000 Replica
8 21 Tom Weeden Triumph 59:44.812 113.670 Replica
9 11 Davey Lambert Kawasaki / LAMBO RACING M&S NEWCA 59:51.058 113.472 Replica
10 2 Andrew Farrell Yamaha / NETWORK 2000 59:53.433 113.397 Replica
11 30 Richard Wilson Honda / WizNorton Racing 59:56.401 113.303 Replica
12 20 Dennis Booth Yamaha 01:00:06.735 112.979 Replica
13 6 Tom Robinson Honda / Robinson Racing 01:00:35.570 112.083 Replica
14 43 Charles Rhys Hardisty Yamaha / M & D Cycles 01:00:41.869 111.889 Replica
15 14 Jonathan Woodward Yamaha / Blackburn Construction Services 01:00:44.093 111.820 Replica
16 9 Paul Smyth Yamaha / Paul Smyth Racing 01:00:45.066 111.791 Replica
17 28 Justin Collins Yamaha / collins family racing team 01:00:50.825 111.614 Replica
18 24 Rodger Wibberley Yamaha / Team RWR 01:00:58.028 111.394 Replica
19 46 Gareth Evans Suzuki / Joe Evans Garage 01:01:11.587 110.983 Replica
20 31 Adrian Hartog Kawasaki 01:01:15.755 110.857 Replica
21 27 Tommaso Totti Kawasaki / DARYL BLAKE CONSTRUCTI 01:01:18.451 110.776 Replica
22 29 Murray McConnachie Triumph / cabot tyres 01:01:19.603 110.741 Replica
23 39 Darren Cooper* Kawasaki / MJ Davidson Groundworks 01:01:20.448 110.716 Replica
24 26 Dean Osborne Honda / Olive Bullock Scholarship 01:01:23.643 110.620 Replica
25 34 Julien Toniutti Yamaha / TEAM 2B-MORACO / DELETAN 01:01:40.690 110.110 Replica
26 47 Joe Akroyd* Triumph 01:01:43.395 110.030 Replica
27 10 David Lumsden Yamaha / Koru4u 01:01:56.105 109.654 Replica
28 15 Richard Charlton Yamaha / michelin 01:01:56.606 109.639 Replica
29 66 Allan Brodie Yamaha / ALLAN BRODIE RACING 01:01:56.743 109.635 Replica
30 18 Thomas Gottschalk Suzuki 01:02:06.632 109.344 Replica
31 40 Morgan Govignon Kawasaki 01:02:10.646 109.226 Replica
32 36 Andy Lovett Honda / awl engineering ltd 01:02:13.985 109.128 Replica
33 16 Carl Roberts Suzuki 01:02:15.636 109.080 Replica
34 54 Michael Hand Kawasaki 01:02:21.884 108.898 Replica
35 42 Shaun Evans Kawasaki / Vanguard Shopfitting 01:02:43.256 108.280 Replica
36 57 Robert Nelson Suzuki / R Nelson Roofing 01:02:45.437 108.217 Replica
37 35 Chris Cook Kawasaki 01:02:47.327 108.163 Replica
38 12 Andy Fenton Kawasaki / Fulton Vehicle Specialists 01:02:58.394 107.846 Replica
39 44 Rob Livesey Honda 01:03:06.791 107.607 Replica
40 60 Jim Barnett Suzuki / Meerkat Racing 01:03:16.800 107.323 Replica
41 49 Colin Croft Suzuki / John Redfern Racing 01:03:21.438 107.192 Replica
42 37 Scott Smyth Kawasaki / Bullets Bike Shop 01:03:22.342 107.167 Replica
43 23 Radley Hughes Yamaha / www.shawstainless.co.uk 01:03:23.123 107.145 Replica
44 75 Colin Lehmann Honda / TOP GUN RACING 01:03:38.083 106.725
45 58 Steven Beale Yamaha / Mylchreests Group 01:03:46.041 106.503
46 63 David Taylor Yamaha / CYGNIA TECHNOLOGIES 01:04:14.759 105.709
47 59 Stephen Smith Suzuki / L.E Control 01:04:27.917 105.350
48 55 Marc Colvin* Kawasaki / RC Racing 01:04:31.149 105.262
49 32 Frederic Besnard* Kawasaki / henrimoto/martimotos 01:04:53.567 104.656
50 69 Rodney Little Yamaha / Rodney little racing 01:05:02.116 104.426
51 76 Rob Mitchel-Hill Suzuki / Ranga Racing 01:05:02.560 104.415
52 68 Stephen Carmichael Kawasaki 01:05:03.831 104.381
53 53 Nigel Rea Suzuki / Rea-Racing 01:05:13.729 104.117
54 80 Lee Hembury Yamaha / LHRacing 01:05:26.159 103.787
55 78 Peter Creer Honda / MoneyShot Racing 01:05:35.352 103.544
56 70 Jason Heritage Yamaha 01:06:30.975 102.101
57 82 Jason Lamb Yamaha / ML and JL Services 01:06:37.893 101.925
58 52 Leon Murphy Suzuki / LM racing 01:06:52.975 101.542
59 51 Gavin Brown Honda / Paul Black 01:07:17.009 100.937
60 77 Richard Saville Kawasaki / SOS Racing 01:07:22.989 100.788