Dan Kneen wins Enkalon Trophy for first time at Bishopscourt

Isle of Man rider Dan Kneen won the 40th Enkalon Trophy showpiece at Bishopscourt on Saturday for the first time.
Manx rider Dan Kneen pictured with the Enkalon Trophy at Bishopscourt on Saturday.Manx rider Dan Kneen pictured with the Enkalon Trophy at Bishopscourt on Saturday.
Manx rider Dan Kneen pictured with the Enkalon Trophy at Bishopscourt on Saturday.

Riding his BMW Superstock machine, the Manx rider added his name the famous silverware after winning the coveted trophy overall based on his results in the two Irish Superbike races.

Pole man Kneen held the advantage in the first on his DTR-backed S1000RR and won by 1.6 seconds from Northern Ireland’s Gerard Kinghan on his Kawasaki, while Alistair Kirk completed the rostrum on the AKR/McCurry Motorsport BMW, 3.6 seconds behind the winner.

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South African Hudson Kennaugh, riding the KMR/IEG Kawasaki Superbike, finished in fourth place followed by Ross Patterson on his 600cc Kawasaki, with Mark Glasgow finalising the first six.

Dan Kneen (14), Alistair Kirk (47), Hudson Kennaugh (1) and Gerard Kinghan (4) in action at the Enkalon Trophy meeting at Bishopscourt.Dan Kneen (14), Alistair Kirk (47), Hudson Kennaugh (1) and Gerard Kinghan (4) in action at the Enkalon Trophy meeting at Bishopscourt.
Dan Kneen (14), Alistair Kirk (47), Hudson Kennaugh (1) and Gerard Kinghan (4) in action at the Enkalon Trophy meeting at Bishopscourt.

Race two was restarted over four laps following a red flag incident and this time it was Kennaugh who came through to take up the running on Ryan Farquhar’s ZX-10R.

The experienced British championship rider was in determined mood and held firm at the front to keep Kneen at bay, crossing the line to take victory by 0.2 seconds. Kinghan was third once more, less than a second behind Kennaugh, while Glasgow, Patterson and Charles Stuart on his Yamaha were the top six.

Kneen, though, was crowned the Enkalon champion overall and received a cheque for £1,000 for his efforts. The 29-year-old will be aiming to continue his good form on Easter Monday at Kirkistown.

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In the Supersport class, reigning Irish champion Jason Lynn clinched the honours in the first race on the Walter Bell Suzuki by almost four seconds from Christian Elkin (Bob Wylie Kawasaki), with Korie McGreevy third.

Dan Kneen (14), Alistair Kirk (47), Hudson Kennaugh (1) and Gerard Kinghan (4) in action at the Enkalon Trophy meeting at Bishopscourt.Dan Kneen (14), Alistair Kirk (47), Hudson Kennaugh (1) and Gerard Kinghan (4) in action at the Enkalon Trophy meeting at Bishopscourt.
Dan Kneen (14), Alistair Kirk (47), Hudson Kennaugh (1) and Gerard Kinghan (4) in action at the Enkalon Trophy meeting at Bishopscourt.

In race two, Patterson turned the tables on the KP Kawasaki to take victory over Lynn by 0.3 seconds, while Aaron Armstrong made it onto the rostrum on his Triumph ahead of Elkin and McGreevy.

Mark Hanna was a double winner in the Supertwins class on the Roy Hanna Motors Kawasaki, beating KMR Kawasaki-mounted Hudson Kennaugh in the opener and Marty Lennon in race two.

Darryl Tweed also chalked up a brace in the Lightweight Supersport class on his 400cc Kawasaki, with Cahal Graham and Eunan McGlinchey winning both races in their respective 125GP and Production Twins classes.

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