Eugene McManus Junior delivered another podium finish in the Hel Performance Motostar British Championship at Knockhill this weekend.
Eugene is fast becoming the Sunday man, making slow and steady progression through the free practice sessions followed by confident qualifying then exciting race pace and top 3 performances. There is no doubting the talent of the Randalstown youngster and with the backing of E15 Racing he is destined to step up in class over the next few years.
This weekend was no exception, determined to erase last seasons pair of DNF's The Wee Bull got straight to work at Knockhill putting in consistent lap times throughout FP1 and FP2.Saturday's qualifying was delayed due to issues with an oil spillage on track earlier in the day.
Qualifying became a six bike battle between McManus Jnr, Championship leader Tom Booth Amos, Jake Archer, TazTaylor, Elliott Lodge and the returning Ed Rendell.
Booth Amos stormed to pole position with a fastest lap time of 52.553 that smashed the Motostar lap record around the Scottish circuit. His team mate Jake Archer battled with McManus for 2nd and third on the front row and The Wee Bull narrowly pipped Archer by just 0.424 of a second to claim P2 on the grid for Race 1 on sunday.
Disaster struck for McManus in Race 1, Archer got the hole shot but Mcmanus and Kerr pulled past on lap 1. Eugene lead into lap 2 but crashed out at Duffus dip after looking confident on the opening two laps. A disappointing end to Race 1. Jake Archer snatched the lead on lap 4 and rode to his first victory of the season.
In Race 2 Storm Stacey set the early pace with Archer in second and Taz Taylor third. Stacey led until lap 4 when Archer made his move and by half distance he had pulled out a four second advantage. An interesting battle ensued behind as Eugene McManus joined Stacey, Taylor and Kerr in a dogfight for podium places. McManus moved into 2nd on lap 14 only to lose it again on lap 15 to Stacey. Archer took the chequered flag nearly six seconds ahead of Storm Stacey with The Wee Bull triumphantly home in third. A delighted Eugene jnr:
"I'm over the moon to collect another trophy, I was unlucky in the first race otherwise I could have been in with a shout of my first win... I'm determined to get that win under my belt this season. Big thanks to everyone who came along to support me and all my sponsors"
The Wee Bull is now 4th in the Championship as we move onto Snetterton in a fortnight's time.