Farquhar continues to dominate Duke Rankings

Ryan Farquhar continued to dominate Road Racing on the Irish roads, as he claimed another treble at the Athea National Road Races, the first of seven in Southern Ireland this year and the tenth round in the  2009 Duke Rankings Series.

Riding his KMR Kawasaki he opened his ‘Athea’ account with a class win in the combined Junior 250cc and 650cc Twins race, bringing his Kawasaki home fourth overall.

The Dungannon rider then took a 16 second victory in the 600cc  Supersport race over Michael Dunlop, who had headed him home inthe previous race on his 250cc Honda, with Keith Amor third.

Farquhar’s next outing was in the Open Championship Race where he
finished runner-up to Amor a mere one-tenth of a second  behind, as Michael Dunlop claimed third spot. However in thePaul Greaney Motorcycles Grand Final, Farquhar

crossed the line 0.687s ahead of Amor with  Michael Dunlop once again taking the final podium position.

The elder of the racing Dunlop brothers, William took the laurel wreath in the 125cc Championship Race, 10s ahead of Michael, with Barry Davidson third.

While Farquhar, the defending Duke Rankings champion, progresses towards retaining his title for 2009, the Dunlop brothers continue their ‘personal’ duel for second and third positions in the Duke Rankings, with Michael maintaining his hold on runner-up spot with a 159 points lead over William.

Keith Amor climbs three places to fourth, just six points ahead of John Burrows, as Senior TT victor Steve Plater  drops to sixth position.

Barry Davidson advances nine places to slot into 16th, with Andrew Neill moves up three to 22nd.

The action remains in the South of Ireland for round 11 with the long-established Skerries National Road Races this Saturday,  July 4

The following weekend two rounds take place, with a two-day meeting at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough for the  Cock o’the North National Road Races, and the third Irish road race of the season at Walderstown.

Competitors from both venues then make a ‘quick’ sea-trip to the Isle of Man for the Steam Packet International Southern ‘100’ Road Races on the Billown circuit near Casteltwon, on Monday to Thursday July 13-16, before heading back to  Southern Ireland for yet another international road race at Kells on July 18-19.

2009 Duke Rankings
1st   Ryan Farquhar 2306 points
2nd  Ian Lougher 2058
3rd  Michael Dunlop 1632
4th  William Dunlop 1379
5th  Chris Palmer 1037
6th  Keith Amor 1034
7th  Guy Martin 709
8th  John McGuinness 662
9th  Damien Howard 563
10th Mick Goodings 547

2009 Schedule
1    Spring National – Oliver’s Mount
2    Cookstown ‘100’ Road Races
3    Tandragee ‘100’ Road Races
4    North West ‘200’ Road Races
5    Barry Sheene Classic – Oliver’s Mount
6    Pre-TT Classic Road Races – Billown
7    Isle of Man TT Races
8    Billown TT Races
9    Bush Road Races
10   Athea Road Races
11  Skerries Road Races
12  Cock o’the North – Oliver’s Mount
12a Walderstown Road Races
14  Southern ‘100’ Road Races
15  Jurby ‘South’ Road Races
16  Kells Road Races
17  Faugheen Road Races
18  Mid Antrim ‘150’ Road Races
19  Armoy Road Races
20  Dundrod ‘150’ Road Races
21  Ulster Grand Prix
22  Manx Grand Prix
23  Killalane Road Races
24  Gold Cup International – Oliver’s Mount
25  Boyne ‘100’ Road Races

Previous Champions
2008  Ryan Farquhar
2007  Conor Cummins
2006  Ian Lougher
2005  Ian Lougher
2004  Ryan Farquhar
2003  Ryan Farquhar
2002  Ian Lougher