Eugene and James McManus from Randalstown wrapped up the British Supersport season in style over the weekend, delivering a strong final performance at the iconic Brands Hatch circuit. Eugene McManus secured a fine third position in Sunday's Feature Race, marking his third podium of the year and solidifying his fourth place in the overall Championship standings. His younger brother, James, also impressed, breaking into the top ten to finish the season on a high.
Qualifying
The weekend got off to a promising start for the Rokit Haslam Racing duo during Friday's free practice. Eugene finished in 4th, while James secured 14th position. Their solid lap times in Free Practice ensured both riders direct entry into Q2 for qualifying, avoiding the tricky conditions of Q1 where the track had been declared wet.
With drying track conditions for Q2, both brothers took the gamble on slick tyres, a decision that paid off. Eugene earned a spot in the middle of row two for Saturday's Sprint Race, while James lined up in 16th.
Sprint Race
As the riders lined up for the 12-lap Sprint Race, dark clouds loomed overhead, setting the stage for potential drama. Eugene made an electric start, jumping into third place, while James climbed to 13th. However, the rain flags were soon out, and by lap two, Eugene had slipped back to fifth, with James in 12th. The race was red-flagged at the halfway point, just after James slid off at Clearways. Fortunately, he was able to remount and make it back to the pits in time for the restart.
The shortened Sprint Race became a five-lap dash. The McManus brothers opted for intermediate tyres, while others gambled on full wets or even slicks in some cases. Shortly after the restart the rain began to fall heavily. As the rain intensified, it became evident that full wets would have been the ideal choice. The race was red-flagged again on lap four, and Eugene managed to finish in a respectable sixth place, with James crossing the line in a creditable 14th.
Feature Race
Sunday morning brought a more positive weather outlook. Eugene posted the second-fastest time during the warm-up session, while James hovered just outside the top ten. Conditions for the 16-lap Feature Race were dry, though cold, easing concerns of a repeat of Saturday's tricky weather.
Eugene started the final race from 8th position, with James just behind in 13th. Both brothers launched well off the line, with Eugene quickly moving into 6th and James into 11th. By the third lap, Eugene then surged into third place, chasing two former British champions ahead of him. Eugene's persistence paid off when the rider in second ran wide at Druids, allowing him to seize the position at the halfway point. Despite holding second for several laps, his rival reclaimed it on lap 12, relegating Eugene to third by the finish line. Nevertheless, Eugene's third podium finish of the season capped off an outstanding campaign.
Meanwhile, James showed growing confidence, battling hard to secure 10th place, for the second time this season.
It was a fantastic end to the season for the McManus brothers, riding a Ducati Panigale V2 for the first season. With their strong form and growing momentum, anticipation is already building for what these two can achieve in 2025.
Eugene McManus, “I am really pleased to go out with a podium at the season's final race. We have had a good season in our first year on the Ducati. We’ve had some excellent results over the last five rounds and it's almost a shame the season is over with the momentum we have. I want to thank the Haslam family and all the mechanics and everyone else in the team who has helped me this season including all our Sponsors who help ensure we are able to race each weekend”
James McManus,” I'm glad to be inside the top ten this weekend. Pre-season we felt really positive but a string of bad luck and a few mistakes set us back. But we never stopped believing. We have shown we can get inside the top ten in this class and will aim to continue improving in 2025. Thank you to all our Sponsors, family, friends and our supporters and of course the team for all the help they have given me this year.”
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