Reigning champion Carl Phillips makes winning debut on new BMW in red-flagged Ulster Superbike race at Kirkistown
Ulster Superbike champion Carl Phillips made a winning start to the defence of his title with an impressive victory in the opening race of the season at Kirkistown in Co Down on Easter Monday.
The race was red-flagged with two laps of the scheduled 10-lap distance remaining due to a crash, with the rider involved able to walk away from the incident.
Phillips was making his race debut on his new Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing BMW and quickly grabbed the lead from former champion Jonny Campbell (155 Racing BMW).
Phillips was able to pull a gap at the front and put daylight between himself and the chasing pack in the first instalment of Kirkistown’s ‘Big 3 Series’.
The Lisburn man was declared the winner based on positions after eight laps, with Phillips 3.230s clear of Campbell. Aaron Spence completed the top three on his Honda.
McAdoo Racing Kawasaki rider Korie McGreevy slipped off at the hairpin earlier in the race as he battled with Campbell for second place.
Ross Irwin (Honda), Ryan Gibson (BMW) and Mike Browne on the BPE by Russell Racing Honda were the top six.
Paul Jordan finished seventh on the Jackson Racing by Prosper2 Honda ahead of Jamie Lyons (JLR by Ability Energy Ltd Honda) and Michael Sweeney (BMW).
Ulster Superbike debutant Luke Jones was on the fringes of the top six on the SBT Racing Ducati but abruptly dropped down the order, eventually finishing 14th in his maiden race in the series. Team-mate Mark Conlin was 16th as he makes the transition to Superbike racing after many years in the Supersport class.
McGreevy won the Supersport opener as the reigning champion pocketed 25 points on the McAdoo Kawasaki.
The Ballynahinch man had almost eight seconds in hand over Darryl Tweed (Stanley Stewart by Novogen Triumph) with pole man Jordan taking third on the Jackson Racing by Prosper2 Ducati V2.
Jeremy McWilliams, also riding a Ducati under the J McC Racing banner, finished fourth ahead of Christian Elkin (Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing Ducati) and Mike Browne (BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha).
A 10-second penalty was applied to Browne for ‘crossing pitlane in qualifying’, placing him sixth on corrected time.
The first Supertwin race was won by Kevin Lavery on his Kawasaki after Peter Willis, who led on the penultimate lap, failed to finish.
Ulster champion Elkin was also a non-finisher on his new RB Engineering/Bell Bikesport B&W Racing Aprilia.
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