Davey Todd threw down the gauntlet with a dominant double at Oliver’s Mount in Scarborough.
The 27-year-old has arguably been road racing’s top name in 2022 and Todd lived up to the pre-race hype with two wide-margin victories in the Supersport class on the Milenco by Padgett’s Honda.
He won the opener by over nine seconds from Tobermore’s Adam McLean (McLean Racing Yamaha), who eventually saw off Jim Hind (Yamaha) to claim the runner-up spot, with Joey Thompson in fourth.
Todd again led all the way in the second eight-lap Supersport race, wrapping up a stylish brace in convincing fashion by 7.6 seconds from McLean, with Hind again having to settle for the final podium place.
Todd will now have his sights set on adding his name to the famous Gold Cup trophy, which has been won in the past by greats including Geoff Duke, Barry Sheene, David Jefferies, Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop and Ryan Farquhar.
“It’s hats off to the Milenco by Padgett’s team because they have done an awesome job and have given me a bunch of awesome bikes to ride,” said Todd. “I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve been doing and I’ve never been more comfortable with a team.
“I’m really happy week in, week out. We’re always there or thereabouts, which is always good, without really looking for something big or pushing for times. I’m having fun and riding with a big smile on my face.”
Fermanagh’s Lee Johnston, who won the showpiece race in 2019 and 2020, is absent as he participates in the Goodwood Revival, while fellow winner Dean Harrison is also a non-starter.
Ulsterman McLean sealed a double of his own in the Supertwin races. McLean, who is riding a KMR Kawasaki for Dungannon man Ryan Farquhar, beat Rob Hodson (Dafabet Kawasaki) in each race, with Republic of Ireland rider Michael Sweeney twice finishing on the podium in third.
Derek Sheils was a winner in the second Classic Superbike from his Greenall Kawasaki team-mate and Manx Grand Prix Classic Superbike winner Hodson, who won the first race from Sheils by only 0.3s.
Exciting prospect Hind triumphed in both 250cc races on his Yamaha, with Todd second on Clive Padgett’s RS250 Honda.
Twelve-time Isle of Man TT winners Ben and Tom Birchall were second in both Sidecar races behind Lee Crawford and Jake Lowther.
Gold Cup Race and Summary
McLean becomes the fourth rider from Northern Ireland to win the prestigious trophy along with Michael Dunlop, Ryan Farquhar and Lee Johnston.
Wet weather in the afternoon resulted in the race being held back until shortly before 5.15pm and it was Ulsterman McLean who overcame the tricky conditions on his way to victory on his Yamaha R6.
Davey Todd, who had dominated all four Supersport races on his Milenco by Padgett’s Honda prior to the Gold Cup showpiece, led from pole on the opening lap before McLean took over.
The Tobermore man had pulled a gap of 2.5s over Todd after three laps, with Jim Hind third on his Yamaha ahead of Derek Sheils on the Greenhall Racing Kawasaki ZXR750.
After four laps McLean’s lead was up to 4.9s from Todd, who now had Hind snapping at his heels, while Sheils was on his own in fourth ahead of Tom Weeden.
He went on to close out victory by 8.4s from Hind, with Todd having to settle for the final spot on the rostrum, seven seconds further back. Sheils came home in fourth followed by Weeden and Lewis Arrowsmith.
McLean also bagged a hat-trick in the Supertwin class on a Ryan Farquhar-prepared Kawasaki.
odd had been a red-hot favourite for Gold Cup honours after winning all four Supersport races comfortably on Clive Padgett’s CBR6000RR Honda, continuing his stellar form this year.
“Everywhere we have been this year, like the North West 200, Isle of Man TT, Southern 100 and Armoy, it’s been going well,” Todd said.
“Honestly, it’s hats off to the Milenco by Padgett’s team because they have done an awesome job and have given me a bunch of awesome bikes to ride on the roads and short circuits.
“We’ve had the North West, the TT, Southern 100 and Armoy, so it’s all building and learning for me – riding the same bikes for the same team – and on top of that, doing the BSB championship.”
In race two, Todd’s winning margin was 7.6s over McLean, with Hind again securing the final place on the podium ahead of Rob Hodson.
On Sunday, he sealed a hat-trick, beating McLean by six seconds with Hind 4.7s further back in third and Hodson fourth.
In a wet fourth race, Todd again had the upper hand, taking the win by four seconds from McLean, while Arrowsmith slotted into third.
Greenall Kawasaki riders Derek Sheils and Rob Hodson clinched a win apiece in Saturday’s Classic Superbike races, with Sheils sealing a treble after winning both races on Sunday.
Rising prospect Hind (Yamaha) was a triple winner in the Lightweight 250cc class.
In the Sidecars, Lee Crawford and Jake Lowther (LCR Suzuki) won all four races, while 12-time Isle of Man TT winners Ben and Tom Birchall (LCR Honda) finishing as the runners-up three times.
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