Veteran Lougher notches up 129th Oliver's win
Another three victories during the Gold Cup meeting at Scarborough's Oliver's Mount circuit has taken Ian Lougher's tally of victories at the woodland track to an amazing 129 - and he says he will be lining up for more next year.
Blackhorse Kawasaki team boss was in superb form throughout the weekend. As well as his three wins he also recorded three second place finishes, a third, a fourth and a seventh to complete every race he started, in what was his first outing since the Ulster Grand Prix in August.
His wins came in both 125cc races for the Stu Reed Trophy and in the second heat of the 600cc David Jefferies Cup.
Saturday dawned with blue skies, albeit with a typically autumnal chill in the air. Races one and two were the opening heats of the Darran Lindsay Trophy for Superbikes, both over four laps. Ian was in the second heat, opting to use his Superstock Ninja ZX-10R for the 'big bike' classes. And at the conclusion of his first outing of the day he finished fourth behind third placed John McGuinness and just in front of Derek Shiels.
The Welshman was soon out again for the first leg of the 125cc Stu Reed Trophy race, riding the Repli-Cast UK Racing 125GP machine of Nigel Percy's. He last rode the bike in 2009 with a wildcard entry at Silverstone, where his technical input was invaluable to the team.
At the end of the first lap it was Ryan Farquhar on a KXF450 by half a second from William Dunlop with Lougher coming through from fourth to third. Farquhar increased the lead to three-quarters of a second a lap later, as the positions remained the same, with Chris Palmer fourth.
But at the halfway stage Lougher, who had only just stepped on to the bike for practice earlier in the day, had moved ominously into second and reduced the gap dramatically between himself and Farquhar to 0.343 of a second.
Lougher took the lead at Drury's and led by 0.361 seconds as they went into the penultimate lap. He held on brilliantly to take the win at the flag from Farquhar by 0.25 seconds, with William Dunlop third.
Lougher was straight into action again on the Ninja ZX-10R in the first leg of the Darran Lindsay Trophy races. At the end of the opening lap of eight it was Farquhar from Guy Martin, McGuinness, Michael Pearson, and Ian Hutchinson with Lougher completing the top six. Farquhar still led at the three-quarter race mark with Hutchinson third ahead of Pearson. At the chequered flag Lougher brought the Ninja ZX-10R home in a safe seventh just behind Derek Shiels.
There was time to catch his breath before Lougher lined up for the second heat of the David Jefferies 600cc Cup over four laps. In this one he had a trouble free run as he coasted to first place, just over five seconds ahead of Michal Dokoupil.
After the heats of the David Jefferies Cup came the first 8-lap leg, the penultimate race of Saturday's programme.
Hutchinson was in pole position and held the hole-shot into Mere Hairpin and up Sheene's Rise. Two miles later it was still Hutchy in the lead by 1.38 seconds from Martin with Lougher third, then Dokoupil and Michael Dunlop with Stephen Oates in sixth. Lap two and the lead was up to 2.42 seconds as Hutchinson broke the lap record at 81.96mph with positions the same.
On to the fifth lap of eight and the lead had extended to 4.56 seconds with Michael Dunlop now fourth, and Lougher safe in third on the ZX-6R. At the chequered flag he maintained his position to finish a fine third.
Unfortunately Sunday's weather wasn't so kind with rain persisting for most of the day.
Lougher's first event was the second leg of the Darran Lindsay Trophy, and Farquhar once again took the win with Lougher second, almost 2.5 seconds ahead of Hutchinson.
Next up was a run on the ZX-6R as Lougher took part in the second leg of the David Jefferies Cup. This time though Hutchy was pushed all the way by Lougher who was just over a second behind at the finish. The two were well clear of third place man Martin who was a further 10 seconds back.
In the feature Gold Cup race, it was again Hutchinson who set the pace with Lougher the only one able to forge a challenge. Despite Lougher's best efforts on the Superstock Ninja ZX-10R, Hutchinson again took the honours. Lougher was the first Kawasaki rider home and took a fastest lap of the race at 77.01mph.
Lougher was straight back on track again as he jumped from the big bike onto the smaller Repli-Cast UK Racing 125GP machine for the second leg of the Stu Reed Trophy. The result was never in doubt as Lougher took victory by 13.5 seconds from the KXF450 of Farquhar who in turn was well clear of Palmer in third. Again the fastest lap went to Lougher, at 69.86mph.
After the meeting, Lougher confirmed he will return to Oliver's Mount in the 2011 season, So, coukd he make it 130 wins next year? It would take a brave person to bet against it.
