Tyco Suzuki's Guy Martin comfortably won the opening Superbike race of the weekend at Oliver's Mount when he took the first leg of the Darran Lindsay Trophy. Starting from pole position, Martin overhauled fast-starting Dean Harrison on the first lap and was never headed eventually romping home some 5.5s clear of his younger rival while his task was made easier when Michael Pearson, second quickest in practice, retired on the opening lap with clutch problems.
Having grabbed the holeshot, Harrison stuck with Martin in the early stages but with the latter lapping a second lap quicker he settled into a safe second place. Further back, Jamie Hamilton held on to third throughout the 8 laps but for the second half of the race he came under extreme pressure from Michael Dunlop.
Starting from eighth on the grid, Dunlop had to fight his way through traffic but although he closed in to the back wheel of Hamilton, he couldn't find a way past and had to settle for fourth at the chequered flag.
Bruce Anstey enjoyed a solid ride on his Scarborough comeback and took a good, albeit lonely, fifth place with Mick Goodings and Jules Croft having similar rides in sixth and seventh. The battle for eighth went all the way and it was Dave Hewson who prevailed from 600cc-mounted Craig Shirlaw and Mark Goodings.
Ian Lougher was another high-profile retirement, the Welshman dropping out of sixth on the third lap.
