Manxman Dan Kneen was again the star of the show in this second Irish National Road Race of the season, winning both ?big-bike? events in a meeting overshadowed by tragedy as Noel Murphy succumbed to injuries sustained in a heavy crash in the Junior support race (click here).
Kneen took victory in the Friday evening Superbike race that was red flagged after two laps when Yorkshire?s Jamie Coward, on his track debut, crashed heavily and was transferred to hospital with multiple injuries although non-life threatning.
Kneen finished just less than a second ahead of Derek McGee and Jamie Hamilton in gathering gloom with William Dunlop fourth on the supersport Tyco Suzuki, Keith Amor fifth also supersport mounted and Shaun Anderson sixth
Then on Saturday in the shortened three-lap Tandragee 100 race Kneen led from flag to flag on the Cookstown BE Suzuki seeing off the early challenge of second place finisher Shaun Anderson by almost three seconds with Davy Morgan getting the better of Michael Sweeney on the last lap for the final podium place.
Veteran Paul Cranston finished fourth ahead of Stephen McKnight and Dave Hewson.
Kneen said after his success: "It'?s a pity I had to win the big race under the circumstances and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to the Murphy family circle. John Burrows and the Cookstown BE Team gave me a strong machine and expert tuition around this circuit, which is more complicated and difficult than Cookstown was the week previous. This has all been tremendous track time to get to know the bikes and the team prior to the up and coming international race meetings, the North West and TT.?"
