Sport

Derek Shiels and Malachi Mitchell-Thomas impress

The Burrows Engineering racing team of Derek Shiels and Malachi Mitchell-Thomas (No 4) dominated the Cookstown 100 Road Races at the weekend 
The Burrows Engineering racing team of Derek Shiels and Malachi Mitchell-Thomas (No 4) dominated the Cookstown 100 Road Races at the weekend  The Burrows Engineering racing team of Derek Shiels and Malachi Mitchell-Thomas (No 4) dominated the Cookstown 100 Road Races at the weekend 

THE Burrows Engineering (BE) racing team of Derek Shiels and Malachi Mitchell-Thomas dominated the sun-drenched Cookstown 100 Road Races around the Orritior Circuit in county Tyrone.

Dubliner Shiels took a brace of wins in the Open and Feature Superbike races on his BE Racing Suzuki while Mitchell-Thomas took his first Supertwins race win of the year for the team along with podium finishes in both Superbike races.

In front of a huge crowd at the event, Shiels was in outstanding form in the Open race. He took the win from Mullingar rider Derek McGee (BMW) and stable companion Mitchell-Thomas on the second BE Racing machine.

Shiels produced more of the same in the feature race for the Cookstown 100. He again shone at the front in a masterful display with the Dubliner taking the chequered flag in front of Mitchell-Thomas, giving the Cookstown-based BE racing team a one-two with Mar-Train Racing rider, Manxman Dan Kneen on his R1 Yamaha, taking the final place on the podium.

Just like Shiels, Ballymoney rider Willis Dunlop also took a brace of wins in the Supersport 600 races on Chris Dowd's R6 Yamaha. As expected, Dunlop took both wins in the end with ease but he had to fight hard for the second race win where he just squeezed out Derek McGee and Dan Kneen.

The first Supersport 600race, which was carried over from the postponed Friday night race, was stopped after Mitchell-Thomas crashed out, thankfully unhurt. The result was taken from the end of lap five with Dunlop declared the winner from Mitchell-Thomas and Manxman Dan Kneen.

To crown an unbelievable day for Mitchell-Thomas, he took the Supertwins race win, the Bolton rider tasting everything from winning, runner-up, third place and crashing out. 

This was a well run event with full praise going again to the Cookstown club for another packed programme.  All eyes are now firmly focused on the International North West 200, which takes place in two weeks time.

Meanwhile, round two of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championships continue today at Oulton Park. Toomebridge rider Michael Laverty is among a group of Irish riders vying for wins.

Laverty will be hoping to continue in his rich vein of form on the Tyco BMW where he and team-mate Christian Iddon are expected to be right up there fighting for race laurels.