Former Irish Superbike Champion Michael Pearson got his 2009 road racing season off to the perfect start at the Ian Watson Spring Cup meeting at Scarborough on Sunday when the GSMCC Honda-mounted rider scored a brace of wins in the two Supersport 600 races, and then topped of the day with second and third-place finishes in the the Spring Cup on the Carryduff Forklifts R1 Yamaha.
In perfect conditions at the Oliver's Mount circuit, Pearson was also credited with the fastest lap in the second Supersport 600 race, with a lap time of 1m 50.373s.
Pearson becomes the 11th Irish rider to claim victory around the North Yorkshire circuit, and his weekends five races saw the 31 year old take podium finishes in all five outings.
"That has got be my most successful weekend's racing ever. At last everything came right for me, the weather, the bikes, and myself inwardly. I knew from the first heat in the Superbike class on Sunday morning that I had the speed and the determination to stay with the likes of Ryan Farquhar and Ian Lougher, and to be honest, my outing last year at this circuit when I rode behind Ian Lougher for the most of the weekend at the Cock of the North, proved invaluable to me as I have learnt so much from him," said Pearson.
"I suppose some will say that my first 600 race win was a bit shallow, after Ian and Ryan crashed out in front of me, and the race declared a result at the end of lap three. It was quite a big off, and I was glad that both came away unscathed. Race two was a good race for me as I had a great battle with Daniel Frear, with whom I batted out the podium places last year with, but to get another win was just brilliant.
"To finish just 0.7 seconds behind Ryan Farquhar in the Spring Cup leg one race was quite enjoyable and to have the likes of Guy Martin behind me felt really good, but I guess he had problems with his bike as he would not have been in that position normally.
"The second leg saw Guy show his hand and I took a good third place behind Ryan in that one to give me second place overall in the Spring Cup Race. I am now really fired up for the Cookstown 100 this weekend, and to know that your machinery is working well fills me full of confidence."
