Rain caused difficult conditions for the British Supersport riders at the Knockhill Circuit this weekend. Amid the adversity, Eugene McManus picked up a fourth and eighth place finish whilst younger brother James had a real confidence-boosting finish in the Feature Race only narrowly missing out on the points.
Free Practice
The opening Free Practice session on Friday at Knockhill in Fife was met with persistent drizzle, setting a challenging scene for riders. The McManus brothers navigated the slippery conditions cautiously, aware that Saturday’s qualifying sessions promised better weather.
The second Free Practice session remained wet, yet Eugene McManus found his rhythm, gradually climbing the classification ladder to finish with the 8th fastest time. Meanwhile, James McManus, piloting the number 14 bike, concluded the session in 17th position within the Supersport category. Despite the tricky conditions, both brothers laid down solid foundations for the weekend ahead.
Qualification
James McManus delivered a strong performance in Q1, securing his place in Q2 with an impressive third-fastest time. This comfortably placed him among the top nine, who get to go though to Q2.
In Q2, James joined forces with his older brother Eugene, and continued to showcase his speed and skill. Eugene clocked the fifth-fastest lap time, just over three-tenths of a second shy of the pole position. Meanwhile, James secured a very respectable 15th on the grid, setting the stage for an exciting race ahead for the McManus brothers.
Sprint Race (18 laps)
As the anticipation for the first British Supersport race of the weekend was building, the skies opened up, unleashing a deluge that forced delays across several categories, including the Supersport. Torrential rain drenched the circuit, compelling marshals into a frantic effort to clear the standing water. Their hard work, combined with a timely return of the sun, managed to dry the track significantly. The drying track left the Supersport riders with only one viable tyre choice: slicks. Navigating the still-damp patches off the racing line and on the painted kerbs would demand precision and caution.
From the fifth spot on the grid, Eugene McManus aboard the Rokit Haslam Racing Ducati made a commendable start. Despite slipping one position on the opening lap, McManus quickly established himself in the leading group. By the conclusion of the fourth lap, the front two riders had carved out a one-second lead, with McManus and the riders in third to sixth forming a tight pack, similarly distanced from those behind.
On the ninth lap, McManus, piloting the number 15 Ducati, executed a clean manoeuvre to claim fifth position. His continued persistence paid off two laps later, as he clinched fourth place, demonstrating both skill and tenacity in challenging conditions.
In contrast, James McManus endured a disappointing Sprint Race, crashing out early on at turn nine, marking an abrupt and unfortunate end to a positive start to the weekend.
Feature Race (22 laps)
Sunday’s relentless rain made for challenging track conditions at Knockhill. Following a crash during the warm-up lap, the Feature race was reduced from 26 to 22 laps.
Eugene McManus started from fourth on the grid, while James McManus began in 21st. As the riders faced their second delayed start of the weekend, Eugene made a cautious beginning, dropping to seventh by the end of the first lap.
James also lost positions early on but managed to claw back to 22nd by lap seven on the track and 18th in the British Supersport class.
Despite the difficult conditions, with spray and rain obscuring visibility, Eugene fought hard to secure an 8th-place finish. James also had a great result as he brought his Ducati home in 16th, narrowly missing out on his first championship points of 2024.
Eugene said, “It was a challenging weekend. The track conditions were difficult but we all had to ride the same circuit. In the Sprint Race we managed a good fourth place. In the Feature Race I had some visibility problems and as a result I couldn’t match the lap times of the front runners. Having said that, we have had two good results and brought home more championship points.”
James said, “This was another tough weekend. The conditions were the same for everybody but even when I came off in the Sprint Race I knew our bad luck couldn’t continue. While we were out of the points in the Feature Race we only missed by one position and it was good to finally see the chequered flag. This just builds confidence and I am really looking forward to the next round from 5th to 7th July at Snetterton.”
