Photo: David Watson
The McManus brothers Eugene and James make their way over to Donington Park next weekend for the next round of the British Superbikes Championship. Eugene McManus Junior is competing in the British Supersport category for E15 Racing and younger brother James is racing in the Dickies Junior Supersport class for Team #109 Kawasaki.
The riders will be competing on the National circuit at Donington. This 2 mile (3.2 km) circuit doesn’t include the Melbourne loop. The riders will take a sharp right then left at turn nine and on to the start-finish straight rather than turning left and down to the Esses.
Eugene McManus Junior has already collected 15 points in his first full season in British Supersport from the four races contested so far. That includes a top ten finish at Oulton Park, last time out.
He has good memories of Donington Park. In the Moto3 class, that he rode in last year, they didn’t compete at Donington Park. As a result, he did a wildcard entry on a Moto2 and took victory in the second race.
James’ category have only had two races so far. In the first another rider collided with him whilst he was in 16th position sending them both crashing out. In the second James reached the flag coming home 19th. Since then he has competed at Mondello, where he took a morale boosting win, two second places and a lap record.
Eugene McManus said,” Last year we went out on a Moto2 machine and we came away with a win! This year in the Supersport class I’m not expecting that yet, but the team did a great job to get me inside the top ten at Oulton Park, so we go to Donington in a very positive frame of mind.”
James added,” I’m gaining confidence on the Kawasaki all the time. I was really happy with the results at Mondello and although I have never been to Donington I am hoping for a good weekend.”