Blackpool’s Roy Richardson straightaway showed he meant real business and gobbled up more than a few of those starting ahead by Glen Helen on lap one. He led by 11.8 seconds from Senior Classic winner Ryan Farquhar, with past winner Chris McGahan a further one second behind.

In the Lightweight, Ewan Hamilton set the initial pace, with Richardson’s father Peter second, then Peter Wakefield.

By Ramsey, Richardson had overtaken everyone on the road bar McGahan, leaving Farquhar and company gasping in his wake. But again no luck for Alan Oversby, who retired his Honda at Pinfold Cottage. Bud Jackson retired at Sulby, as did Ian Lougher. Last year’s winner Richardson’s lead over Farquhar was already nearly 15 seconds!

Jason Griffiths’ 2003 lap record was in danger and from a standing start Richardson beat it by five seconds at 102.72mph. Farquhar remained second 16 seconds back, with McGahan still leading on the road but astern of Farquhar by 18 seconds, with John Goodall, Tony Myers and Wattie Brown the second string of the leaderboard.

In the Lightweight the leader was still 2005 winner Hamilton, lapping at 95.68mph and 14 seconds up on Davy Morgan, with Wakefield back to third. The Ariel Arrow of Mike Hose lay eighth.

By Ramsey on lap two, Richardson led on the road as well as in the race, his advantage now 29 seconds, with Farquhar no real reply, having started ahead and seen Richardson whiz by. Richardson knocked a further second off his new lap record, making it 102.79mph and a two-lap average of 102.75mph. The top four in the Junior stayed the same, but Myers was slipping back and fifth and sixth were now Steve Elliott and Dave Madsen-Mygdal. In the Lightweight second-placed Davy Morgan went out with bike trouble at Ramsey, moving up last year’s winner Wakefield, with Peter Richardson now third.

The Lightweights took pit stops at the half-way point, with Richardson leaving 58 seconds to the good. Wakefield had problems re-starting and David Smith had an involuntary stop for adjustments at the Highlander, thereby dropping more time to fourth placeman Peter Symes. Wakefield’s woe was completed with retirement at Quarry Bends, but Smith was able to re-start, which was fortunate in view of a podium possibility.

Richardson decided against taking on extra fuel and went into the last lap 42 seconds in the lead. McGahan stayed steady making it a one-two-three for Honda, with Goodall doing wonders to stay fourth on his single cylinder AJS. Doug Snow retired his Ducati from eighth place at the Guthrie Memorial.

Richardson (Honda) duly roared home to take his second successive Junior Classic by 42 seconds and record his fifth MGP win, averaging 101.54mph, with Farquhar runner-up and McGahan third. Goodall fourth, Elliott fifth and Myers sixth.

Hamilton (Suzuki) took the Lightweight by 64 seconds at 93.94mph – his second MGP win. Second was Peter Richardson and third David Smith. Fourth Peter Symes (Suzuki).