Cookstown 100 Bikes!

Welcome to Cookstown for the start of a big summer of bikes on the BBC.

COMMENTATOR: And it's go!

Ooh! Peter Hickman!

# I can't let go I'm waiting for it

# That green light, I want it... #

Michael Dunlop.

# Could get my things and just let go

# I'm waiting for it that green light, I want it. #

There's nothing between them.

There's plenty of action to look forward to and we get underway

here at the famous Orritor Circuit.

The Cookstown 100 is Ireland's longest-running road race

and, as ever, it's attracted a top-class field.

William Dunlop needs little introduction

and is a multiple winner here.

Guy Martin is back racing on Irish soil on the new Honda.

Derek Sheils, riding for the local Cookstown Burrows Engineering team,

won both of the Superbike races here last year.

And Englishman James Cowton is aboard the Gortreagh Printing

Machine of Winston McAdoo.

William, it's been dramatic enough off the track.

You finally got some machinery sorted out.

Yeah, I know, it's been really, really bad, thankfully,

until Martin came to the rescue and lent us his bike.

It's not the ideal situation to be riding a bike this time of year,

but I'm so grateful just to at least have a bike now

so we're trying to make steps forward now.

Despite all the shenanigans in the build-up,

how good is it just to be out racing now?

It's good just to get back on a bike.

That's what I want to do and I need to be at it.

Sitting at home doesn't help us go to the Northwestern TT.

COMMENTATOR: Sheils takes the win.

Derek, what a great year you had last year. Can you follow it up?

-Can you match it?

-We will see.

You can never sort of foresee what way things are going to go but I was

on pole here yesterday.

Sure, we'll give it a shot and see where we end up.

When I get on the bike, I do my own thing. I don't race for anyone,

I race for myself, so, you know, the only one putting pressure on me is me.

Do you enjoy this circuit? It is short, it is tight, it is quick.

It is, yeah. Once you leave your brake, get down the corners,

you're going to have a good lap time. You know, yeah, I do enjoy it,

it is one of my better circuits.

John, home event, you put on a great show last year,

can you expect more of the same this?

Showing strong.

He is going to be there or thereabouts

but William is right there, also.

And McGee's there and you have Cowton, as well.

So it's going to be difficult

but Derek definitely will be in the thick of it.

They've had so much success over the years,

it's great to see these famous colours back on the roads.

But the team have some pretty stiff competition today,

not least from pole sitter, Derek Sheils.

He was fastest in practice, he's a great record round here.

Your commentators are Dave Moore and Richard Nichols.

-COMMENTATOR:

-And I would say that Derek Sheils has got to be the man

you're going to put your money on for this one.

He is absolutely on form.

This circuit suits him, suits the bike.

John Burrows prepares them immaculately.

And he has got to be the man of the moment

as the first race of the weekend gets underway, and he indeed,

streets away from pole position.

It's just like any other road circuit, really, this,

straight off the line, straight up into top gear.

They're into Gortin, hit the brake markers. It's Sheils who leads.

Nice and steady away.

And up towards McAdoo, here comes wave two, Davey Morgan on the

nearside, nearest the camera as Derek Sheils still looking

over his shoulder a little bit there, defending a lead.

He is looking fairly comfortable, fairly confident.

Oh, problem, 47, Alastair Kirk. I think it is

Alistair Kirk, some kind of issue so he's just pulled off.

No issues here for this leading duo.

Are they starting to make the break here,

Dave, as they make that right turn?

I thought they were when they came out of McAdoo, but certainly,

the front two not pulling away, not just yet anyway.

Oh, there's a rider down in the background, there is a rider down.

I'm not sure who it is, we will have to wait for confirmation.

-There it is.

-Oh, now, that's James Cowton, 52.

Well, red flag and a restart. All to do again.

Derek Sheils nearest the camera gets away best for the second

time in a row.

No James Cowton this time of course after that little spill.

Happy to say that he is up and on his feet...

Oh. Oh!

Now then, Derek McGee leads this time, so it's McGee from Sheils.

So he's made the most of the restart.

Made that work to his advantage as the second wave gets away.

Guy Martin - number eight - just ahead of Davey Morgan.

What will we see from Guy Martin in this course?

I think Guy Martin is here to be here, rather than to make a show.

We are on board with Derek Sheils.

You get a real sense of movement between the hedges with that

camera as he chases after the race leader.

Oh, here we go, Michael Sweeney going up into fourth position.

That's William Dunlop just ahead in third.

William Dunlop has caught right up on the back of these two, hasn't he?

-He was left behind at the start, wasn't he?

-Yeah.

-Wasn't really in it, but...

-We've seen before from William Dunlop.

His brother Michael who's at Oulton Park today in preparation

for the North West 200, he has always been a bit...

Oh! Whoa!

THEY LAUGH Oh, dear!

-He was nearly out of the seat of that one forever, wasn't he?

-He was.

We've seen before with William, he's been slow to get away

but once he gets away, he starts picking them off and he is not close

enough to pick him off at Gortin.

No, William Dunlop thought he had a chance there, after that little moment.

Let's see if we can watch that again,

through the Crossroads, past the Braeside and just...

-It doesn't look anything, does it, there?

-Wow.

-Here we go. As they come round...

-Whoa, from here.

Tries to high side him.

-He is lucky.

-He gets the power back on and pulls away.

So, a hint perhaps? No, I think William Dunlop is still there...

Very much still there in third place.

So, we've got three men broken away in the front.

Look behind William Dunlop, there is a bit of a gap back to fourth place.

So I think that Derek Sheils may well be setting himself up for

a move at Gortin... Oh, I'm wrong! I'm wrong, he's gone through.

Just a little bit of hedge trimming of the way through there!

Yes, so he's taken them at Craigmount. Wow.

So, McGee back the second, then.

William Dunlop watching it all unfold in front of him in third

as they cross the line and begin another lap.

Dunlop tucked in behind the bowl of this Yamaha.

Another one of the deals that are coming together,

almost as the season starts and Derek Sheils coming under

a lot of pressure, at the brakes again,

but that didn't happen this time and he stays first.

Dunlop is still behind him in third place.

So, I think Derek Sheils has got himself back under control now.

So then...

Ooh, a little bit of movement from McGee.

William Dunlop still in third and look who is coming to join

the party in fourth place.

Michael Sweeney closing in.

Michael Sweeney, of course, knows this circuit as well as most people.

Let's say this group all very well experienced around here.

Michael Sweeney has been here enough times in the past to know

where he can and where he can't, but he is, as you say,

he is reeling in William Dunlop, isn't he?

We can't forget of course that Guy Martin is in the second wave

and it's a time trial.

You can be in the second wave and win the race but I think he's

down in about fifth place on the leaderboard at the moment.

Guy Martin making a comeback to road racing and having to do

everything the hard way - get the signatures,

turn up at the racetracks and meanwhile, up front, the guys who

are bike fit and race ready because they have never stopped doing it...

William Dunlop, a mistake there.

You could see, he just came in a bit too hot, his back wheel just

spun round from him and he lost a bit of momentum into the turn.

Sweeney is right behind him now.

Is he going to get the drive out of the corner and go past him?

I think William Dunlop's got that covered.

It certainly worked better for Sweeney than it did for Dunlop, didn't it?

-Both still really...

-Dunlop still has it in him to catch the two

guys in front of him and drag Michael Sweeney along.

It could be some finish to this race. It is far from over.

Sheils, McGee, Dunlop and Sweeney.

Fantastic race action to start the day here at Cookstown

for the spectators.

You can hear the wind, you can see the track, it's damp but not wet.

It's grey but not sunny.

So then, I think Sheils has pulled the pin on this one.

He is trying to break McGee.

We are on board with Derek Sheils now. This is the rundown to Gortin.

You'll see the white lines on the road, perhaps.

That is the braking markers where they slow for this turn.

Will you see the whites of Derek McGee's eyes?

No, he's a long way back, isn't he?

McGee, I think, has just messed that up, as well.

So, Derek Sheils is looking third favourite for this one now

as they come out of McAdoo.

I thought my 50p was at risk a couple of times in this race

but it's all looking a lot safer now.

-And in fact, he has made the break, hasn't he?

-He has.

He has got this one sorted. Oh, how close can you get?

I suggested it might be a four-way fight, but Derek Sheils

has mocked that, really, hasn't he?

-Yes.

-Sweeney is looking for a podium, though.

-He is, isn't he?

He's going to get it. Running out of laps, though.

This opening race of the day. Five laps.

That's it, that's how the top four will finish for the final time,

then, through the Orritor Crossroads.

-Sheils wins, back wheel... Front wheel up.

-And so does McGee.

Second. The four bikes on the back wheel, there.

-Derek Sheils deserved that, didn't he?

-He did.

Guy Martin did indeed finish in fifth behind Michael Sweeney.

William Dunlop third, McGee second and Derek Sheils the winner.

Derek, congratulations. You are getting used to this.

Yeah, I like this track, you know, it sort of suits my style.

Yeah, got away there.

Derek led, Derek McGee, on the first lap and just got by him there,

up on road end.

And just played all the way and just kept it smooth and safe.

125, time. This is Moto3 really so it is open to other offers.

But all the fans really have come to smell the two-stroke.

-56, Adam McLean alongside Sam Wilson...

-Oh!

-..and they nearly take themselves out.

-Right alongside!

-It's a bit early for that sort of thing, isn't it?

-It is a little bit.

Sam Wilson on the 250 Moto3 machine.

The 125 just squeezed through ahead.

It's seven who leads, though, that's Justin Waring.

He is through again, Sam Wilson.

Number two bikes, Sam Wilson has had a very busy opening lap.

Well, they all have, haven't they?

That is one of the pleasures of 125 racing.

Paul Robinson

in third position. 56 just behind him. That's Adam McLean.

We were talking about Justin Waring and, of course,

that's one of the 250s in this.

Oh, Sam Wilson showing power through...past the farm.

It's seriously bumpy here and you've just got to hang on and keep

that thing pinned if you can.

Is Sam Wilson trying to make a break for it?

Paul Robinson is up into second place.

Back in third is Justin Waring. 56 is Adam McLean.

86 of course is Nigel Moore. This is that pass again, I think.

It is.

Just nice and easy on the 250 from the Joey's Bar.

-Sam Wilson now under attack.

-Yes, Adam McLean...

-Through this time.

Can he turn in time? He can.

Less elbowing and more whizz

got the job done.

Gary Dunlop of course, number three.

-Gets it turned in time.

-It is so nostalgic, isn't it?

That number plate and that yellow crash helmet.

The fans on their feet all around this circuit.

Sam Wilson again inside Adam McLean.

Who is that being led away?

That is 109, that is Neil Kernaghan.

So, then, Sam Wilson on his own out front.

All the way to the chequered flag, made it look easy.

6.9 seconds is a big enough gap for anybody,

especially on these bikes around this circuit.

Sam, a shortened race but you must be delighted to get the win.

It didn't feel that quick, really.

The winners. Better off staying...

End up running wide, or end up running me and Adam McLean that

wide in the first corner.

But he came back and did the same to myself so it was pretty even, so...

I'm not sure.

Much has been made of his return to road racing after

a year away from the sport and Guy Martin is

a welcome addition to the entry list this weekend.

Yeah, came back to Cookstown. I was at Tanabe last weekend.

Educational, you could say. And then that's what we're here for really.

We're here, we're here, but I don't really think we're racing yet.

We still have a bit of work to do. It is a new bike.

Just got a bit of tinkering to get it right.

Hopefully by the end of the day we'll be racing but as it is now,

we're just riding and learning and making notes.

You've been away for a while. The fans have missed you.

-What have you made of the reaction?

-I struggle with it a bit.

I don't know why, I always have done.

But I appreciate it, I appreciate it, yeah.

Everyone is dead polite over here, it's great. No-one is rude.

I like it.

That's where the whole racing thing for me started, in Northern Ireland,

really, it's where it all started, so I love it over here. I love it.

Well, the favourite in the Supersport class is William Dunlop.

He is sitting pretty on pole.

And alongside him, he's got some company from two local lads -

Adam McLean and Paul Jordan.

And then of course, Guy Martin, one of the great characters,

is right in the mix.

COMMENTATOR: Guy Martin, a last-minute addition

to this 600 grid. Courtesy of Wilson Craig, how will he go on the 600?

It's William Dunlop who gets his head down and gets away.

Close together on the rundown, James Cowton on this 52 machine,

right behind the leading trio.

Look at that, Rich, three abreast as they go down towards Gortin,

-but it is 86 Derek McGee, is it, who is going to make the break?

-It is.

Michael Sweeney gives us a bird's-eye view

of the action in that corner.

Three abreast going round it, Dave.

Next wave away led by 82 Derek Sheils.

We're on board with Sheils, just behind him, number five,

that's Thomas Maxwell.

Now, remember, you can win this race from the second wave.

It's unlikely, but it's possible.

Yeah, it has happened in the past. Doesn't happen too often.

We are back on board with Michael Sweeney.

He has got a bit of traffic ahead of him

if he is going to be on the podium for this one.

Strung out in a line.

William Dunlop, a little bit off his normal best, would you say?

And you can say the same with Guy Martin bringing up the rear

of the leading pack.

But again, Guy Martin...

You heard him - "We are here to ride, not to race."

So a 65, then, just ahead of Martin. But over the line they go.

-Of course, we will have to wait for Derek Sheils...

-Oh!

-Bikes down.

-Two bikes down.

-Oh, dear.

-We've lost at least two there.

-Yeah.

It is a little bit greasy up there. There's going to be red flags.

There is a red flag.

So, the restart.

Dunlop again with everything to do.

Adam McLean it is on bike 56... Oh!

Someone in the turn as they went over to the other side.

I think it might have been McGee.

So, it's Adam McLean looking good. Derek McGee behind him.

William Dunlop in third place.

-Fourth, that was Paul Jordan, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

I actually had my fingers over my eyes, then, Rich,

I couldn't tell you, it was that close going into Gortin.

So second wave again, Derek Sheils could win this.

Yeah, and also, the great thing with Derek Sheils,

he's got nothing in front of him.

So if lap times is what makes racing,

then Derek Sheils could win this from Row 2.

But normally, you'd say that it's this cut and thrust

that carries you forward.

These are the people that are making all the running

and you want the people there to dice with them.

Michael Sweeney at the back of this pack now, behind Guy Martin.

It's almost as you were except, I think, for those two.

And we're back with Sweeney. That's Guy Martin we're looking at.

That's where the front wheel lifts. Very popular with the fans.

And safely round.

And you've got to say, this is looking very good.

We gave Adam McLean a big-up on the grid

and he is definitely living up to that, isn't he?

Yeah, James Cowton also in the picture, back in fourth place

behind William Dunlop.

We start another lap, we are back on board with Michael Sweeney.

We will have to wait for Derek Sheils to cross the line

to filter him into the leaderboard.

-Slipstream!

-He has got him.

-Brakes!

Welcome back to the roads, Guy Martin!

LAUGHTER

-Yes. He knew what to expect, didn't he?

-He did.

So, Guy Martin shuffled through the back of the back.

There is Derek Sheils.

I have got him in around fifth place at the moment. That's unofficial.

This is Sheils into Gortin.

Looking nice and steady.

Certainly not leading,

that's still Adam McLean who leads on the timing screens and on the road.

Derek McGee in second place and we're back on board with Sheils.

The Irish Superbike champion, but also so good on a 600.

McLean leads it, McGee, Dunlop is now battling for third.

James Cowton...

James Cowton is closer to Dunlop than he has been in any other part

of this race but they're still all so joined together.

Out of the Orritor crossroads. Down to the chicane. It is a right-left.

They are so close. James Cowton's front wheel

almost on William Dunlop's back wheel,

-as they go over the line. Can he get a toe down here?

-Possibly.

This is close. We might even see a move into Gortin.

Someone'll use the slipstream. Oh, it's Dunlop that's going...

I don't think he is close enough.

He is on the wrong side, as well, unless

he is going to try and dive at the inside. He won't.

-He won't get in there.

-James Cowton keeping up. He has done it. On it.

-Oh.

-It's all about... It's all about the power out of the turn, as well.

-Keeping the speed up.

-James Cowton has capitalised on that, has he?

-BOTH:

-Yes, he has.

He has. So Dunlop threw the dice but they didn't work in his favour.

Oh, that was racing as it is raced, wasn't it? And here he goes again.

-James Cowton... Oh...

-That's close. That is so close.

-Oh.

It's brave stuff.

McGee is his target.

He's got William Dunlop behind him, safely dispatched,

fingers crossed, and now Derek McGee is next.

There he is... Oh!

No, no, no, no, no! LAUGHTER

98, Michael Wheldon. That was at McAdoo.

A big shake of the head there, going, "What was that about?"

Just too late on the brakes.

McLean leads it, McGee is in second place. James Cowton is third.

-William Dunlop is still fourth.

-But losing touch, you have to say.

Cowton is really looking menacing, isn't he?

He looks really threatening. We're on board with James Cowton.

The long, long run down to this right-hand turn at Gortin.

He's not close enough, is he, for a move?

He's closer than the camera makes it look, so he might do it.

It is the last lap. As you can see, Derek McGee has a go at McLean,

but that isn't going to work.

Here comes James Cowton round the outside.

Switches to the inside, gases it up.

Still in third place, going away up the hill.

That's the way that you would like to do it -

is come in wide and try and tuck up the inside and keep the speed up.

-It's between these three.

-What about this, McLean?

This is looking very good indeed, isn't it?

Halfway round the final lap.

James Cowton is using up every inch of the road, though.

My goodness, he was out into the ditch then.

James Cowton will think he's won if he gets this second place.

Derek McGee will think he's won if he keeps it.

And meanwhile, McLean is running away with it.

And as long as he doesn't make any more mistakes in these last

couple of corners, this one is going to fall to Adam McLean.

Here comes Cowton again.

The 600s yet again providing plenty of entertainment on the Irish roads.

This is why. Those hedges are packed with spectators.

William Dunlop is at the back, and Guy Martin, as he said,

"We've come here to ride, not to race."

He's got a lot to learn, he knows that.

But, oh, yes, this is going to be Adam McLean's day, isn't it?

Yeah, there's nothing...

James Cowton surely won't make a move through here.

Unless one of them gets it a bit wrong.

No, that's how they're going to be. One, two, three, Derek Sheils will not be close enough

to disrupt that podium.

See that fist pump going over the line? He worked for that.

And he's earned it.

So, Adam McLean, ahead of Derek McGee by 0.2 of a second.

James Cowton with a battling third.

William Dunlop at fourth, and Derek Sheils in fifth.

Well, Adam, massive win, what does it mean?

It hasn't really sunk in yet.

I wasn't expecting to be anywhere near the front coming here this weekend.

I've never rode a 600 here before, and I got

a good start and into a rhythm.

It all worked out well. So, over the moon.

And a great battle among some big names around you?

Aye, it's a bit surreal.

Being up there at the front with the big boys, but I'll keep at it.

A place on the podium, too, for James Cowton.

This season, he's riding for McAdoo Racing, who've made

a full return to roads competition for the first time in six years.

James is looking forward to what should be a promising season.

James, the bikes look the part, how are you feeling today?

Yeah, spot-on, we had a good run yesterday.

Just sorting my first meeting on the new bikes,

which are going really well. You know,

McAdoo have done us really proud, got us some good machinery.

Sort of just down to me now, but, you know, we have a good craic in the camp and...

we just... I like this circuit, so we just put everything together and

hopefully we can have a good day and hopefully the weather stays good, as well.

-How close is it going to be at the front?

-Very.

You know, we've just been speaking to Michael Sweeney about

the 650 race, because, I mean, we had a good race last year at Armoy,

there was about six or seven of us in a freight train.

I can see today just being something similar, so... I mean,

every race is good and tight, but that will be especially quite

exciting, so we'll see how it happens.

Next up, it's the Super Twins, which always guarantees tight racing.

And the man hoping to take the top step of the podium is

Derek McGee, who's already had two second-place finishes today.

Third time lucky for Derek McGee.

We're about to find out as the Super Twins get the light to

start this race. Front wheel off the ground,

and McGee fires it away down the racetrack.

Great start from Derek McGee.

Not such a good one, though, from Michael Sweeney.

He's struggled to get away off the line.

But here they come into Gortin.

Braking hard, up the inside for Derek Sheils,

he's up into third place.

So, Cowton back to fourth, a little hand comes out from Sheils.

Next wave goes away, bouncing around. He's 47, Alistair Kirk.

Dan Cooper carries us down this long straight,

bidding to be the first in the second wave.

We've seen them finish well, but nobody's won from there yet today.

But speaking of finishing well and winning, Adam McLean...

Yes, Adam McLean has passed Derek McGee somewhere between

Gortin and McAdoo. So, McGee back in second place.

Well, is it going to be three second places in a row for Derek McGee?

Or is he coming up the outside? Yes, he is.

Look at Adam McLean go very slowly into this corner, then.

McGee, yeah, into Mackney.

Just now slips up to the inside, so he's got the advantage.

Well, I'm not sure. Did Adam McLean miss a gear, or something?

Because McGee got past very easily,

although he was coming from a long way back.

Meanwhile, Sheils has gone from third back to fifth.

James Cowton is up to third. Or is he up to second?

Second. Second.

-Here comes James Cowton.

-A little look from behind from Derek McGee.

James Cowton is there in second. Adam McLean third.

Cowton very hard on the brakes,

McLean trying to dive down the inside there as they go

through this little flick-flack and then past

the brake side, and away down the hill.

So, we're on board there with James Cowton.

That is the number one rider in front of him.

-Is he going to be alongside him now?

-Yes.

-It's on the brakes, into Gortin.

He's on the outside.

Who's the bravest, who's going to hold their nerve the longest?

Cowton tries to dive up the inside. But McGee defends his line.

We're on board with Michael Sweeney, we're getting a grandstand

view of this battle between the two leading riders on the racetrack.

Poor Michael Sweeney, he didn't know what to do. He thought he was going to get second.

These two were scrapping, he didn't know which side to go on.

In the end, he thought, "I'll watch this and see how they get on."

-Michael Sweeney has recovered very well.

-Oh, he looked the wrong way!

And James Cowton has passed Derek McGee.

That's maybe where Adam McLean... Oh, no, he hasn't.

He may do, it's all on the brakes into Mackney.

They'll go to the right in a moment,

and it's still McGee from Cowton, what a race this is.

We suggested at the start of the Super Twins it was going to be

close and tight, and that is exactly what we have on our hands.

Very close to the hedges there.

Here comes your race leader with Cowton right behind him.

Sweeney behind that. Adam McLean. Has he got a bit of a problem?

Because he was passed very easily and he's gone right to

-the back of this group now.

-Oh!

-Valentino Rossi approach.

Well, I think because of the yellow flag, he had to really slow down.

No overtaking, remember, when the yellow flag is out.

So it's as you were as they start this next lap.

A little bit of rain on that camera lens there,

it could be an issue there. Fingers crossed for the weather.

Michael Sweeney at the tail end of this little trio, with McLean

still there.

McLean, yeah, he could easily swoop through from fourth to first

in the space of a couple of corners.

Here goes Cowton.

-Now then.

-That's done.

We said that last time, and there he goes again.

There goes Michael Sweeney again, slaps us across the face.

Right.

First, second, third, fourth, they are very close together still.

On board with Sweeney. James Cowton ahead of us.

Will we see Adam McLean in the picture? Here we are into Mackney.

Oh, Cowton, a little bit sideways.

It is wet, isn't it? Or damp, I should say.

There was a little bit of dampness in the air.

A little bit of dampness on the road.

They do have treaded tyres, of course.

So, we're on board, then, with Michael Sweeney.

-That's the battle for first place.

-So bumpy here.

-Yeah.

Well, that is arguably one of the most spectacular spots on the

Cookstown circuit.

It's a great place if you're a spectator,

but you're trapped there all the time the racing is happening.

They do let you move around. You can't get in and out

very easily, but it's worth the trip.

So, then, we begin this last lap.

-One more lap to go.

-Howton, now.

-Yes.

-Surely.

Yes, he is. But it's all about the brakes, isn't it?

Into Gortin, he's on the outside.

-McGee is very fierce on the brakes, and he's got...

-Cowton inside.

Cowton inside. Maybe. He's alongside, and he has.

He's timed it to perfection. He kept the speed up into Gortin.

And he tucked it in.

Inch perfect, managed to keep the speed on the exit. And he leads.

Derek McGee did it all on the way in, compromised his exit,

and Cowton was ready for it.

And that... This is the last time of asking,

so that's not going to happen again.

James Cowton timed that perfectly in lots of ways, didn't he?

-Still overtaking opportunities, of course.

-Slightly backing it in here.

-Underneath the hedge.

-We've lost Michael Sweeney, as well.

Adam McLean is now up into third place,

so we'll have to find out what happened to Michael Sweeney.

So, then... I think Cowton has got this.

I think James Cowton has got it.

He's had an issue, he's overshot somewhere.

So, then, coming down for the final time,

there's no way James Cowton is going to be caught,

he'd have to make a mistake to throw this one away.

Through the right-hand, then into the left-hand,

the chequered flag awaiting, greets James Cowton.

Couldn't happen to a nicer chap, could it?

James Cowton gets a great win on the McAdoo Kawasaki.

Ahead of Derek McGee,

Adam McLean. Michael Sweeney, still in fourth place.

James, after that early off, earlier this morning,

-how pleasing is it to get that win?

-Yeah, spot-on. You know,

home circuit for McAdoo Racing.

You know, it just feels absolutely mega.

I've been trying for three or four years to win round here,

because I really enjoy up here, I've got the lap record.

Just to come back and, you know, a home circuit for these,

it's just absolutely mega.

The final race of the day is the main event, the Cookstown 100.

Through the years,

the winners' roll of honour is like a who's who of road racing.

It's safe to say, this is the one they all want.

This is the headliner, of course.

Derek Sheils has had some good rides here today. Poor qualifying.

held him back. We saw him start from the second wave in a couple

of races, can he do it this time off pole position?

What a start by Derek Sheils. Fantastic, he leads.

Just overtaking, someone else.

-And...

-Oh, Derek McGee so close to his back wheel.

William Dunlop, a last-minute addition, he's on the

ex-Mar-Train Yamaha.

We're on board with James Cowton, I think it was James that got

a pole start, it's the second wave away. Led by Davy Morgan.

Alistair Kirk is there as well on 47.

Here comes your race leader, though, Derek Sheils.

Swooping between the hedges.

All he needs to do is just keep doing that and ignore the

rest of them and he'll be fine.

-Honest.

-Easier said than done, Rich.

-McGee, behind him.

Oh! Oh!

We're on board with Derek Sheils.

Yes, these are the big bikes, in case you hadn't noticed.

Tends to be super stop machinery.

And already a little gap between second and third place.

-Michael Sweeney, was it, still in third?

-Yes, it was.

With William Dunlop just behind him.

So, over the line goes Derek Sheils. Followed by Derek McGee.

I think we've got two battles here, haven't we? That's what's developing.

James Cowton, this is a third battle, of course.

James Cowton battling for fifth place alongside

-Alistair Kirk and Brian McCormack.

-But still these two at the front.

And you said two words then. It was nice to hear in Irish

road racing. And they were "Mar-Train Yamaha".

-Yes.

-Three words.

Well, Tim Martin's bikes were sitting around doing nothing.

William Dunlop didn't have a ride.

And so common sense prevailed, the two came together for this weekend.

Great stuff. Nice to see that team back in the paddock.

It would be nice to see William Dunlop get a result as well.

But at the moment, it's Sheils, from McGee, Sweeney and then William.

Yes, that bike will be available to buy after the Ulster Grand Prix.

William Dunlop's committed to the...

summer for the Mar-Train Yamaha machine.

There is a gap, isn't there, between second and third place now?

So we've got two battles of two.

We have a battle going on in the second wave,

it is Davy Morgan still leading the second trio.

Yes, we're on board with Paul Jordan.

Finding the gap away.

But here is the leading pair.

Count the seconds, it's going to be three seconds, isn't it?

William Dunlop is looking menacing.

This could be a move, a slip-shimmy move.

He's not in a slip-shimmy at the moment, as they go down to Gortin.

Sweeney keeping the inside line,

Dunlop trying to go around the outside.

Meanwhile, Sheils and McGee are already there,

-no chase between those two.

-Who comes through this one first?

-Oh!

-Well, William Dunlop is in front.

-Yes.

-Dunlop up to third.

And pulling away, I think. Didn't see them come round the corner.

Got the view on board with Sweeney. Here's the leading pair, then.

And William is definitely pulling away from Sweeney a little bit.

I think he just pounced on him in that corner and duffed him up

a little bit.

Into Mackney. Sheils from McGee, it's between those two.

Derek Sheils, the Irish Superbike champion.

Just a little bit of hedge cutting there.

Yes, those rear cameras, where you get a good look at

a rival's bum, were never much fun until they started moving around.

And now all of a sudden,

you can see what this racing between the hedges is really all about.

So, then, out of the Orritor Crossroads is Derek Sheils.

And Derek McGee.

One of the Dereks is going to win, but which one?

It's Derek one, I think, as opposed to Derek McGee.

No Guy Martin in this one,

of course - he's elected to sit this one out,

so his next action will be the North West 200,

just a couple of weeks away.

James Cowton, then, on the 600.

Losing out on straight-line speed to the big 1,000

of Brian McCormack. But closing up on the brakes into Gortin.

Sixth place for Cowton.

Round the corner, and what's that? It's a bigger bike pull away.

-This is Jordan.

-With Davy Morgan, yes.

Paul Jordan past Davy Morgan.

Or is he? No, he will turn in time. He's got it. He has it.

Great dice further back in the second wave.

We're back with the first wave. Oh!

-That was the hedge, wasn't it?

-It was. Courtesy of Michael Sweeney.

And here is Derek Sheils, well in control of this race, if you want my opinion.

Yes. He's lapping now faster than Derek McGee as well.

-Oh, mistake from McGee, that's it.

-Yes.

It's Derek Sheils' race now, isn't it?

Derek McGee trying so hard on the brakes, as we see him do everywhere.

-As Cowton nips past.

-Yes, but for how long?

Because once that 1,000 gets up to speed again, he'll surely...

McCormack will go past James Cowton.

Running down after the Braeside,

you will see the power of the bigger bike.

William Dunlop ahead of Michael Sweeney.

Third-place still to be settled, then.

I'd say Derek McGee is going to be second,

Derek Sheils should win it. This is Alistair Kirk up the inside...

-of Jordan, yeah.

-Oh, almost run him out into the hedge.

And that gets away so quickly, doesn't it?

Well, certainly Kirk does, Jordan doesn't, does the wrong gear.

Derek Sheils. Swooping past the tail-enders now.

That was Paul Cranston in his 39th year of racing, by the way.

-He's older than you.

-Yes, he is. And he's on the 600, of course.

-Here's the battle for third.

-And it is a battle, isn't it?

Michael Sweeney would like this podium,

William Dunlop would love this podium.

We have a Suzuki in the lead, Kawasaki in second, Yamaha in third,

and BMW fourth.

Oh, William Dunlop really on it, but then

so is Michael Sweeney. Slipstream away.

What's happening when they get to the end of the straight?

On the brakes. Cut to the external camera and see what happens.

Oh, he moved then. I think he's on the inside.

Or maybe not, we'll have to wait and see.

Oh, I wanted to see that from the outside.

Where was Michael Sweeney in all of that?

Derek McGee in second place. On his last lap.

It is definitely, barring mishaps, in the bag for Derek Sheils.

-And still... Oh, there's Michael Sweeney.

-Yes, oh!

He hops, skips and jumps his way past William Dunlop.

Into Mackney.

Oh, Dunlop. That was a bit of a strange line from him.

Alistair Kirk, meanwhile, with Paul Jordan. Oh, dear.

That was a strange line, as well.

Yes, he did something similar before, Paul Jordan, as well,

didn't he? So he's not quite got Gortin right on the big bike.

-Meanwhile...

-Chequered flag waits.

Derek Sheils is going to win at Cookstown yet again.

He's won the big one at the Cookstown 100.

Big cheers for Derek Sheils. Another win.

Great, great race for Derek Sheils.

And for John Burrows and the rest of the team.

McGee in second place, ahead of Michael Sweeney,

who snatched third place from William Dunlop on that final lap.

Derek, the double double. How special?

Yeah, it was good, you know,

just plugged away in that race from the start.

Just kept an eye on the bar, just round the corner.

The double here, you know, Cookstown, sponsorship with

John B Engineering,

they're only down the road, it's good for them, too.

-So close to that lap record.

-Yeah, that's it.

I'd say if I had to go a bit quicker there, I could have.

But ifs, coulds and buts, like, I done what I had to do.

So, another memorable day at Cookstown for the local

John Burrows team. And what a day's racing we've had.

Next up is the International North West 200.

Every practice session and race is live on the BBC Sport website,

and BBC Radio Ulster.

And we've got the best of the action in three television specials.

At 9:30 on Friday the 12th of May,

10:45 on Sunday the 14th, and 10:40 on Monday the 15th.

So, lots to look forward to, we will see you on the north coast,

but from all the team here at Cookstown, it's bye-bye.

# Cos, honey, I'll come get my things

# But I can't let go

# I'm waiting for it, that green light, I want it

# Oh, I wish I could get my things and just let go

# I'm waiting for it, that green light, I want it... #