After a difficult qualifying session Eugene McManus Junior battled his way from 20th to tenth in the Superstock 600 race. Younger brother James’s weekend was compromised in race one of the Junior Supersport category when he was knocked off in the first corner but he fought hard to get a point in race two.
Randalstown brothers Eugene McManus Junior and James finally got their respective motorcycle racing seasons underway at Donington park last weekend. Racing on the 2-mile National circuit.
Both race in support series of the British Superbike Championship. Eugene is racing in the Pirelli National Superstock 600 championship whilst James competes in the Hel Performance Junior Supersport class.
In free practice Eugene was hindered by some technical issues but his technicians worked hard and got them sorted . He was 15th and 14th during the two sessions but he couldn’t build on that and struggled in qualifying. In the end he had to settle for 20th on the grid for the race on Sunday.
In the Junior Supersport Class James qualified 19th improving by four-tenths on his time during free practice.
Superstock 600 Race
After the disappointment of qualifying Eugene McManus Junior was determined to make progress in the race itself. He launched from the line making up four places on the opening lap. Not content he took another step forward on lap two moving up to 15th. He found himself pulling along a train of five riders as he lapped in 13th position and looked to close the 2.6 second gap to Joe Talbot in 12th.
Irish rider Rhys Irwin then managed to overtake McManus before a big crash for Hartgrove saw three riders fall and brought out the safety car.
With just seven laps remaining as racing resumed McManus managed to gap Luke Verwey behind him and went on to cross the line in a solid tenth position. He set his fastest lap of the weekend a 1:11.07 more than a second quicker than his qualifying time.
Junior Supersport Race One
Unfortunately for James McManus his race one didn’t last beyond the first corner. An error by another rider meant he was skittled into the gravel at turn one.
Junior Supersport Race Two
Having not registered a lap time, albeit through no fault of his own, James McManus started almost at the back of the grid for race two. However, he wasn’t going to let that stop him making the best of his track time. He launched from the start line and climbed three places on lap one to go 21st. James then continued to lap well, making up more ground moving up to 16th by the end of lap ten.
He then battled with Kal Dickinson for long spells during the race. Late on he found himself behind Lewis Jones but the gap was too big to close. Having given it everything McManus recovered to take the final point scoring place crossing the line 15th.
Eugene McManus Junior and James McManus would like to thank Kawasaki Team Green and the Affinity Sports Academy for all their efforts and support this weekend.
The next round of British Superbikes is at Snetterton on the weekend of 21st to 23rd August.