BTC: Lyons and O’Gorman rule British GP meeting at Silverstone

Jamie Lyons (C&M Motors Ltd/Tooltec Racing) and Casey O’Gorman (Microlise Cresswell Racing) shared the wins at Silverstone between themselves. Both races quickly turned into a straight shootout between the pair who were miles ahead of the field. A neat sweep through Stowe secured Lyons victory in Race 1 before O’Gorman retaliated with a move down the Wellington Straight into Brooklands to triumph in Race 2.

Championship protagonists Carter Brown (VSB Motorsport) and Evan Belford (City Lifting by RS Racing) bagged the remaining podium spots. James Cook (Wilson Racing), Cormac Buchanan (Microlise Cresswell Racing) and Sullivan Mounsey (iForce Lloyd & Jones) were all within rostrum contention but just missed out. Johnny Garness (City Lifting by RS Racing) meanwhile had a weekend to forget with a crash and a technical issue.

RACE 1

Garness led into Copse from pole followed by O’Gorman  and Lyons. The #57 stretched out an advantage already while the riders behind exchanged positions. Belford had work to do from way down the grid and swiftly moved into the top 20.

The gap at the front was up to more than six tenths when Garness approached the end of the opening lap. His race was ended abruptly though by a crash at Luffield took him out of contention. That left the battle between O’Gorman and Lyons as the fight for P1. The pair kept swapping fairings and were closely shadowed by Bailey Stuart-Campbell (151S Racing).

O’Gorman established himself in the lead and stepped up the pace. Lyons was able to go with him, but the duo quickly broke away from the field. Stuart-Campbell fell into the clutches of Harrison Crosby (Banks Racing) and Brown for a fierce scrap for positions.

Halfway through the race, O’Gorman had started to gradually gain breathing space over Lyons. The group behind had expanded and now also featured Buchanan, Cook, Mounsey and Corey Tinker (CT Racing). Things got too close when Crosby could not hold a tight line and sent himself and Cook into the gravel.

Lyons closed O’Gorman back in and the pair went into the final two laps locked together. In a final lap showdown, Lyons made the first move at Stowe and swept into the lead. O’Gorman had a look going into Brooklands, but no clean move was on the cards. He went tight through Woodcote to try out-accelerate his opponent, but Lyons held on to claim victory.

Five riders went into the final lap in contention for the final podium spot. Brown punched his way ahead and edged out a marginal advantage that was enough to secure P3.

RACE 2

O’Gorman led at the lights ahead of Garness and Lyons who had a mediocre start from pole. Garness stole P1 on the opening lap and Lyons followed suit. The Northern Irishman surprised Garness and claimed top with a hard but clean dive that also allowed O’Gorman through.

Wasting no time, O’Gorman moved in front with Lyons behind challenged by Garness, Brown and Belford. The riders ruffled each other’s feathers and kept exchanging positions but still managed to break the field. Cook and Buchanan were the only ones able to somewhat hang on to the group, but a gap opened behind.

At half-race distance, Lyons and O’Gorman had gained some breathing space and again made proceedings a two-horse race. The main title contenders battled for the remaining podium spot but could not quite shake off Cook and Buchanan. The pair sat in place to capitalise on any mistake made in the fight ahead.

Garness was in trouble with four laps to go and kept dropping positions with an evident technical issue. Cook meanwhile was right in the rostrum mix, but his race ended prematurely when Brown briefly lost control of his bike through Abbey and sent his opponent into the gravel.

Lyons led into the final lap with O’Gorman glued to his rear wheel. Looks at Stowe and Vale came to nothing but an opportunity materialised down the Wellington Straight into Brooklands and O’Gorman took the lead. Lyons held on but was not close enough for a move at Woodcote. Belford prevailed in the battle for third.