The 2013 Duke Road Race Rankings Championship commences its 12th season of competition at the Ian Watson Spring National Road Races at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough on Sunday 21st April.
For the first time since the Series came into being in 2002 a new name is almost certain to be engraved onto the prestigious 'Geoff Duke Trophy' when it is presented to the winner at an awards ceremony in early 2014.
Only three names have been engraved on the trophy, Ian Lougher who was first to hold the award aloft in 2002 and again in successive years 2005 & 2006.
Conor Cummins claimed the Duke Rankings Title in 2007, his first full season on 'the roads' and Ryan Farquhar who first took the championship in 2003, retaining it the following year, 2004, then taking a strangle hold on the series from 2008 winning for five consequtive years including last year (2012).
The 26 round series includes National and International Road Races held in Northern and Southern Ireland, the Isle of Man, England and the Czech Republic culiminating at the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix in November.
The rankings include the performances of riders in all classes: Superbike, Supersport (600cc), SuperTwins (650cc), 250/400cc,125cc/Moto3 and the Superstock (Production - where held), plus the Feature Race at each event and the opening Support Races in Ireland and Newcomers Races at the Manx Grand Prix.
Grading scores are weighted to take into account the prominence of the meeting, breadth of opposition and circuit length. Thus, a result in the North West 200 would score higher than a similar placing at, for instance, Cookstown 100. Rankings will be revised after each event.
Points are awarded to the first ten finishers in qualifying races: 20; 15; 12; 10; 8; 6; 4; 3; 2; 1.
The Feature Race at each meeting scores: 25; 20; 15; 12; 10; 8; 6; 4; 2; 1.
These points are multiplied by the course ‘weighting’. The rider who sets the fastest lap of a race receives 5 points, with 10 points awarded if a record lap is set.
The Best Newcomer of the Series also receives an Award, in 2012 it was Northern Irelands Sam Wilson, who finished 11th overall in the Championship Rankings.
Full details of the Duke Road Race Rankings came be found on Facebook: Duke Road Race Rankings.
Photo - Sam Wilson receives the 2012 Newcomers Award from Peter Duke. Courtesy of Stephen Davison.
