Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing once again emphasised their position as one of the leading privateer teams in International road racing with a very successful trip to the Dundrod 150/Ulster Grand Prix meeting.
John Burrows' team took five top ten finishes with the highlight being Derek Sheils' runner- up position in the Supertwins race that gave the popular Dubliner a first visit to an International road race podium.
At last Thursday's Dundrod 150 meeting, Sheils was on pole position for the Superbike race after impressively qualifying faster than Conor Cummins and Michael Dunlop, but his progress in the short, red-flagged race was somewhat hindered by a rear suspension problem and he had to settle for a seventh place finish on the Cookstown Burrows Engineering Suzuki 1000.
Thursday's Supertwins race was cancelled due to a lack of time which was very disappointing for the Tyrone based team as Derek McGee and Sheils had both put their Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing Kawasaki machines on the front row thanks to splendid qualifying performances.
Thankfully, conditions were much better for Saturday's Ulster GP meeting and the Supertwins race was a thriller. McGee started from pole but had to settle for fifth, amazingly just one second behind winner Dan Cooper, after five pulsating laps. Sheils was in the mix too and thanks to passes on James Cowton and Paul Jordan on the last lap, he claimed second place and his first International top three finish.
Sheils finished ninth and tenth on his Cookstown Burrows Engineering Suzuki in the two Superbike races and claimed seventh in the Superstock race when he was equipped with a Shirlaw's Motorcycles Kawasaki.
John Burrows was more than satisfied with the team's work at the famous Dundrod circuit. He said: "The Supertwins race was obviously the highlight of the meeting for us. It was great to see Derek Sheils on an International podium for the first time and Derek McGee was very unlucky not to be up there with him.
"After this meeting, in my opinion, Derek Sheils has to be considered a rider of International quality. Aside from the Supertwins achievement, the Irish and Ulster Superbike Champion finished top ten in the three Superbike races and broke into the group of elite riders who have lapped the 7.4 miles circuit at over 130 mph. His best lap on Saturday was a more than nifty 131.40 mph."
Photo by Baylon McCaughey
