Race of the South, Walderstown, Ireland 2016.
The Race of the South is long established, probably started in the 1970s. Now held deep in the County Westmeath countryside, the venue is known as Walderstown, a hamlet near Athlone. Located about three-quarters of an hour’s journey west of Dublin airport, this would be Round 7 of this year’s Irish Road Racing Championship, which consists of 13 national events and scheduled for July 9-10. One week later, at the Faugheen road races, Derek Sheilds became the 2016 Irish Superbike Champion.
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Green field paddocks are pleasant until rain falls. Wrapping tires with cling film is the method used to roll the bikes to the grid.
The Walderstown races give this lad new meaning to the old saying “Don’t get too bogged down by the moment.”
Pragmatically, Michael Dunlop parked away from the central paddock area in the cleaner grounds of a private home across the road.
You could easily digest the technical content in a few hours but not the human presence. These are people who have a longing to go racing.
Dum de dum de dum, wonder what goodies in store today—need to wash and wrap these tires before gridding.
Classic 250/350 Championship rider Irwin Linton with 350 Honda K4: Under these conditions pushing with two is best.
On the Emerald Isle, classics race bikes, often in period loveliness, are in regular use—July 2016 features four racing weekends.
Honda 350 with Drixton frame: When in pristine condition, never a more evocative image graced the race track.
In Ireland, these markings signify one thing: road racing. The Irish road racing association scheduled 13 events for 2016
A Marshal & a Dr. follow riders on warm-up lap & first laps of practice & race. Former checks course. Dr. provides rapid medical response.
Michael Dunlop secured victory in Race 1, the Open Championship event, holding off determined challenge from Derek Sheilds
Sheilds followed by racing rival the “Mullingar Missile” Derek McGee, who remained in close pursuit throughout Race1
Fast and consistent, Seamus Elliott claimed fourth place in the wet conditions of the first race on his 1000cc Kawasaki ZX10R
Peat burns in the fireplace as riders negotiate the Mullingar hairpin, one of the three tight turns on the triangular 2.0-mile circuit
Narrow lanes, wet white lines and numerous other considerations are all part of the Irish Road Racing Championship
Derek Sheilds, the 2013 Superbike champion and this year’s protagonist claimed second places in races 1 and 8 and won the Grand Final
Negotiating his way through traffic, Michael Dunlop held steady pace in early stages of the 7-lap Race 1 then quickened.
McGee, who earned his maiden victory on the international stage in the Super Twin class at Dundrod last August, finished a fine third.
William Dunlop (31), Michael’s brother & nephew of legendary TT racer Joey Dunlop, claims fourth place in Race 1.
‘Mullingar Missile’ Derek McGee placed third in last year’s Superbike championship behind Wm. Dunlop & Derek Sheilds
When public roads are closed, time is of the essence & spectators move swiftly to their next viewing position during warm-up laps.
To avoid congestion, six to ten machines are released at a time from the start line. Some races featured over 24 entries
Wm. Dunlop takes hole shot in the 7-lap Supersport 600cc event with winner Derek McGee (#86) challenging.
Walderstown downhill terrain promotes speeds of 1 liter Superbikes to around 180mph as they speed toward Corr Cross.
Riding Bob Jackson’s 920cc Norton, Lancastrian Richard Ford won the Classic 500-1000cc with admirable smoothness.
Isle of Man native Allan Brew claimed second–excellent result for small displacement Seeley GSO496
Competing in IOM TT races since 1978, Brew now embraces Classic bike racing
Add Ed Manly’s diminutive 350 Honda to the Classic mix and close racing ensued between the first three finishers
The appeal of the Classic bike never dims: competing on his Norton Weslake 850, talented Robert McCrum secured fourth place.
Newtownabbey’s Gary Jamison onboard his beautifully preserved 500cc Honda.
Freddie Stewart & Honda 500: Man & machine indulging in all the joys of a fine Sunday afternoon.
Robert McCrum strikes the signature pose of the long-lamented Jarno Saarinen.
Paul Jordan, 650 Super Twin race winner, leads hard-charging Michael Sweeney.
Michal Dokoupil from Czech Republic won the 400cc Championship event & finished fourth in Super Twin
Success eluded the skilled Michael Sweeney, who fell in the Super Twin race, causing the red flags to fly.
Seamus Elliott on his way to an excellent eight place in the Supertwin 650 event
The Irish motorcycling road racing itch has been a constant for a hundred years
By the second lap of the final, competition was fast and intense – could racing get any better than this?
By half-way stage, Dunlop remains in front as Sheilds’ runs a little wide at the Corr Cross apex
Michael Dunlop (27) has won 13 Isle of Man TT events to date, half as many as his legendary Uncle Joey.
Celebrating his 30th birhday, Derek McGee won the 650 Supertwin race, finished third in the Open event & fourth in the Final
William Dunlop on splendid form moves his YZF 1000 Yamaha up to third in the Grand Final
Ballymoney rider Seamus Elliott secured fifth place on his 1000cc Kawasaki ZX10R
And it seemed it would end this way: Michael Dunlop winning the Open event and the Grand Final
Except it didn’t—cleverly, Derek Sheilds hurriedly switched to an intermediate rear on the grid and triumphed
Mullingar’s other promising star James Kelly anticipates swiftness and consistency
Icing on the cake: Triumphant GSX-R 1000 Suzuki rider Sheilds grabs the 3,000 Euro purse in the Grand Final.
