The number of bikes travelling to the Island for this year’s Steam Packet Southern 100 International Road Races soared by 37% on last year’s event.
The races, which took place from July 9-12, proved popular with visiting motorcyclists and the event will hopefully reach an even wider audience when the races are screened on British Eurosport 2 next month.
Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘Following on from the 4.3% increase in the number of motorcycles visiting this year’s TT – the highest for a decade, apart from the centenary TT in 2007 – this is more good news for road racing in the Isle of Man.
‘The popularity of the Southern 100 continues to grow, no doubt helped by some of the top names who take part – such as Michael Dunlop, Ryan Farquhar, Guy Martin and the Island’s own Conor Cummins, who has received Steam Packet support this year. Conor had to sit out most of the TT through injury but he enjoyed a successful comeback at the Southern 100 and was in the thick of the action throughout, taking five podiums and the fastest lap in the Radcliffes 600cc race.’
The winner of the Steam Packet Company 125/400cc race during Southern 100 was Ryan Kneen, who was followed home by Chris Palmer and Ross Johnson in second and third respectively.
As part of its support of the event, the Steam Packet Company will once again assist the winner of each Southern 100 race with their travel to next year’s meeting. In addition, the Company provided a prize of a ‘Car + 4 people’ for a raffle drawn in Castletown Square on the final day of the meeting.
Southern 100 Racing Press Liaison Officer Phil Edge said: ‘The organising Southern 100 Club is delighted that the Steam Packet Southern 100 International Road Races are continuing to be so popular with competitors, fans and enthusiasts and that the present format of the races is bringing more people to the Isle of Man for the ‘the friendly races’.
The TV coverage of the Steam Packet Southern 100 International Road Races will be broadcast on British Eurosport 2 in four parts:
Saturday, August 4
• Part one – 7.10pm
• Part two – 8.10pm
• Part three – 10.10pm
• Part four – 11.10pm
Sunday, August 5
• Part one – 8.15am
• Part two – 9.15am
• Part three – 5.30pm
• Part four – 6.30pm
Photo caption - Brian Convery, Sales Development Manager for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company makes the presentations to the 125/400cc race winner Ryan Kneen (centre), with 2nd placed Chris Palmer (left) and 3rd place Ross Johnson (right).
