Ryan Farquhar marked his return to Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough on Sunday with a brace of podiums on the SGS International/KMR Kawasaki in the two Supertwin races. Competing at the Yorkshire venue for the first time since July 2012, and having his first real road race of the season, Farquhar took the runners-up spot behind Ivan Lintin in each of the two eight lap races.
The 2.43-mile woodland circuit saw good, dry weather throughout the day and although a strong wind developed as the day wore on conditions were ideal when the first 8-lap Supertwin race came under starters orders. Indeed, a perfect start saw Ryan grab the lead going into the first corner and he led the field round at the completion of the opening lap.
Second time around, Lintin found his way past Ryan and soon opened up a lead on his Tigcraft-framed Kawasaki, eventually taking a 2.3s win, and for the remainder of the race, Ryan had his hands full keeping James Cowton at bay. There was little to choose between the duo around the tree-lined circuit but, setting his fastest lap on the eighth and final lap, Ryan was able to keep Cowton behind him thus opening his account for the day with a strong second place.
The second race later in the day was almost a carbon copy of the first with Ryan again taking the lead going into Mere Hairpin, staying ahead of the pack for the opening lap. Lintin again moved to the front second time around with Ryan settling into second and Cowton third. On this occasion, the gaps between the three riders was similar and whilst Ryan couldn’t put the pressure on Lintin as he would have liked, he had a nice cushion over Cowton and duly took his second runner-up spot of the day to open his 2014 road racing season in solid fashion.
“Things couldn't have gone any better this weekend and if someone had said on Sunday morning I'd walk away with two second places, I'd have snapped their hand off. I always knew Ivan was going to be the man to beat as he's got his Tigcraft-framed bike dialled in really well so I just wanted to try and be the first TT-spec bike to finish,” said Farquhar.
“He has a bit of an advantage on the brakes going into the corners and accelerating away from them but that's taking nothing away from him as he's riding really well and has really established himself now."
"Even if I'd have got a third and a fourth, I'd have been over the moon so to be on the pace like I was, with lap times as quick as what I've ever done, bodes really well. This year's focused around the TT and these early season meetings are all about getting back up to speed, getting race fit and getting all the signatures required for the Mountain Course licence so it's definitely been a case of 'job done' this weekend.
“We've a new engine-spec on its way which should give us more power so a big thank you to everyone that's chipped in to get us back on the grid this year and also to everyone who helped out this weekend. It was also great to see such a large crowd at Oliver's Mount, it's a great place and this can only help the circuit in the long-term."
