'First class': Carl Phillips hails 50th anniversary Enkalon Trophy success at Bishopscourt and sets sights on winning Ulster Superbike title
Imperious Carl Phillips is focused on winning the SBT Ireland Ulster Superbike Championship for the second successive year at next weekend’s Life Pass David Wood Trophy meeting after an Enkalon Trophy double at Bishopscourt on Saturday.
Phillips was in dominant form on the Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing BMW M1000RR, winning the first race at the Motor Cycle Road Racing Club of Ireland’s event by 11.464s from nearest title rival Jonny Campbell (155 Racing BMW).
The Lisburn man guaranteed the Enkalon Trophy in the 50th year of the famous old race after winning the second race, red-flagged on the 11th and penultimate lap, by 8.388s from Campbell.
The event was rescheduled from its traditional Easter Saturday date in April because of a yellow weather warning for strong winds.
Ryan Gibson was third overall after two third-place finishes on his Gibson Motors/Firewood Supplies BMW S1000RR.
Phillips, who was celebrating a second Enkalon Trophy triumph after lifting the silverware for the first time in 2019, holds a 42-point lead over Campbell with five races and 125 points available.
The two-day David Wood meeting on Saturday and Sunday is the penultimate round of the championship, which culminates with the end-of-season Sunflower Trophy races – also at Bishopscourt in Co Down – on October 24-25.
Phillips won the coveted Sunflower Trophy for the first time in 2025 after a last-lap battle with British Superbike rider Eugene McManus and is fired up to retain the trophy next month.
“It’s always nice to get a trophy and we just want to continue that and get the championship wrapped up, hopefully before the Sunflower,” Phillips said.
“The conditions aren’t perfect out there today and it’s really windy, so to do those times puts us in good stead.
“It’s good to be back on slick tyres [after competing in the National Superstock Championship 1000 rounds at Oulton Park and Thruxton] and the bike’s in such a good place – I’m really, really enjoying the BMW.
“The team, Bell Bikesport, is absolutely first class and I can’t thank the guys enough for the amount of effort and time they put in,” added Phillips, who will compete in the final National Superstock round at Brands Hatch next month before the Sunflower.
“The objective is to win the championship and then we can focus on Brands Hatch and the Sunflower.”
Mark Hewitt, who claimed pole on his DentBoy BMW in damp conditions in morning qualifying, was fourth in the opening USBK race and fifth in the second encounter behind Dean McMaster (Air NI Kawasaki).