JORDAN TAKES FIRST MOUNTAIN COURSE WIN IN HISTORIC JUNIOR CLASSIC TT

Paul Jordan claimed victory in Friday afternoon’s single lap Historic Junior Classic TT race, the Davies Motorsport Honda rider getting the better of Dean Harrison (Craven Classic Racing/Ted Woof Honda) by nine seconds. Harrison’s team-mate Jamie Coward completed the podium in third.

Cut to one lap due rain showers around the course after the preceding Historic Senior Classic TT race. Joe Yeardsley (Ken Rutter Racing Honda) was the first to reach Glen Helen having already overhauled John McGuinness MBE, who started at number one on the Steadplan Racing Honda, on the road.

However, Harrison had caught both although he was only third quickest to the first timing point. It was qualifying pace setter Michael Evans on the second Ken Rutter Racing machine who led, his advantage over Jordan 7.5s with Harrison a further 1.5s back.

Harrison was quick to catch those in front of him on the road.

Coward, Yeardsley and Dan Sayle (John Chapman Racing Honda)completed the early top six and they were followed by Maurizio Bottalico (Atherstone Accident Repair/Team Venditti Honda), Adam McLean (Flitwick Motorcycles by Melbray London Honda), Davey Todd on the second Steadplan Racing machine and Harley Rushton (Chris Hughes Racing Honda).

At Ballaugh Bridge, Jordan hit the front and turned his deficit into a 0.8s advantage lapping some eight seconds quicker than Evans on the run from Glen Helen. Evans’ four-minute sector suggested he was in trouble and, indeed, he was given as a retirement soon afterwards.

Mountain Course win number 1 for Paul Jordan

That promoted everyone up the order and at Ramsey, Jordan now led Harrison by 3.2s with Coward 9.8s back in third. Fourth to sixth was now Yeardsley, Todd and Sayle, just 2.4s separating Yeardsley and Todd but Shaun Anderson was another retirement, coming to a halt on the DKW at Handley’s.

Jordan extended his lead by more than five seconds between Ramsey and the Bungalow and with just over six miles to go, he led Harrison by 8.494s. Coward looked secure in third, but it remained close between Yeardsley, Sayle, McLean and Todd.

Harrison was first to take the chequered flag with a speed of 103.179mph, but it was Jordan who took the win, his first around the Mountain Course, a lap of 103.890mph giving him victory by 9.012s.

Coward has made a triumphant return to the Mountain Course after missing the TT

Coward claimed the final podium position in third and it was Sayle who grabbed fourth from Yeardsley and McLean, just 4.4s covering the three riders after 37 and ¾ miles. The top six all lapped at more than 100mph with the top ten completed by Todd, Rushton, Bottalico and Alan Oversby (Ruthless Racing Honda).

Michael Sweeney (CSC Racing/IMSLTD Honda) finished just outside in 11th, a second ahead of Will Loder (Greeves) as McGuinness took 13th.