Kells Road Races: Pole man Michael Sweeney seals victory in Open Superbike race from Brian McCormack
Pole man Michael Sweeney made a winning start to the CC’s Unlimited Kells Road Races with a convincing win in the Open Superbike race on Sunday in Co Meath.
The event is the first Irish national road race in the Republic of Ireland since 2022 following a challenging period for the sport in the south because of restrictive insurance costs.
Sweeney set the pace on Saturday in qualifying around the 2.2-mile course and followed up in style on the MJR BMW, taking the win by just under six seconds from Brian McCormack (Roadhouse Macau BMW) after six laps.
Ryan Whitehall from the Isle of Wight finished third on his Suzuki, 5.6s further back.
Manxman Marcus Simpson was a safe fourth on his Honda ahead of Darryl Anderson and James Chawke, who was a late entry. Daracore Racing’s Kevin Keyes took seventh.
Coleraine rider Lee Hara came home in ninth behind Andy Farrell, while Donegal’s Caomhan Canny finished 11th.
Aidan Cleary won the Senior Support race by 10.267s from Jason Whelan.