Carl Phillips puts one hand on Enkalon Trophy after dominant victory in opening Ulster Superbike race at Bishopscourt
Carl Phillips was a runaway winner of the opening 50th anniversary Enkalon Trophy Ulster Superbike race at Bishopscourt in Co Down on Saturday.
The Motor Cycle Road Racing Club of Ireland’s meeting was taking place after being postponed from April because of a weather warning for strong winds.
Reigning USBK champion Phillips won by over 12 seconds from chief title rival Jonny Campbell, who was clear of Ryan Gibson in third.
In blustery conditions, Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing rider Phillips took the lead on the opening lap of 12 from second place on the front row and immediately began to assert his authority, opening a gap of 1.7s over Campbell (155 Racing BMW) after the first lap.
Mark Hewitt, who qualified on pole on a damp track in the morning on his DentBoy BMW, was holding third ahead of 2024 Enkalon Trophy winner Ryan Gibson (Gibson Motors/Firewood Supplies BMW).
Phillips increased his lead on each lap and had established a cushion of 5.5s after five laps, with Campbell on his own in second.
Gibson moved up to third place ahead of Hewitt and gradually edged away to consolidate third.
In a largely processional race, Phillips was in complete control on his BMW and continued to stretch his advantage.
The Lisburn man was 11 seconds ahead on the ninth lap and Phillips – who won the Enkalon Trophy for the first time in 2019 – closed out his 12th USBK victory of the season by 11.464s over Campbell.
Phillips recorded the fastest lap of the race on the fifth lap in 1m 05.933s (99.592mph).
Gibson wrapped up third place ahead of Hewitt, with Dean McMaster (Air NI Kawasaki) and Aaron Armstrong (Yamaha) the top six.
Ahead the second Enkalon Trophy race on Saturday afternoon, Phillips has increased his lead in the championship to 37 points over Campbell.
Earlier, Christian Elkin (RB Engineering/Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing Aprilia) won the first Supertwin race by 6.670s from Kyle Cross (TH Racing Aprilia), with McMaster third on his Kawasaki.
Teenager Lewis Mullen won the Production Twins opener on his Yamaha R7 from Alexander Rowan (Kawasaki).