After seven race days and seven test days, the 2024 Andreas Racing Association championship season drew to a close on Sunday with some superb racing and exciting championship finales.
Due to loosing a set of races during ARA two-day July race meeting on the 13th and 14th of July, only seven races were held on the Saturday (one for each class). As a result, it was decided to run an extra race for each of the three main Isle of Man Centre Championships at the final round for the Swagelok Solo Centre Championship, the Northern Fuels Sidecar Centre Championship, and ARA VMCC Novice & Clubman Centre Championship.
The day started with poor weather; the track was wet, so wet tyres were the order of the day for the morning practice sessions, the sun did come out in the afternoon and the track dried quickly. Racing got underway with the Post Classic / Singles, Twins and Triples, and there was drama straight away at the first corner as championship leader Luke Blevins lost the front and went down in the middle of the pack. Thankfully, everyone managed to avoid Luke, the incident was managed by race control and the team at post 1 without the need for a red flag. Luke went on to compete later in the day, securing two ARA Championships: ARA Supertwin and ARA Singles, Twins and Triples 2024 Championships.
The second race of the day was the first of three ARA Swagelok Solo Centre Championship races. Going into the final round, only four points separated the top three riders: Ryan Cringle, Rory Parker, and Jamie Cringle. Rory made things difficult for himself by qualifying further down the grid due to the wet conditions. After a great start to the race, Ryan Cringle came home first, ahead of his brother Jamie, with Rory in third. In the second of the three races, Ryan triumphed once again, putting himself firmly in the driving seat for the championship after Jamie, who had pushed Ryan early on, ran wide at the first corner after outbreaking himself. Rory once again finished third. A fantastic performance from Grant Thomson in Race 2 saw him finish just 0.131 seconds behind Ryan, as Grant took up the mantle of challenging Ryan for the remainder of the race - one more lap, and it could have been a different story. In the third and final Swagelok Solo Centre Championship race, held in dry, sunny conditions, the crowd was treated to one of the races of the year as Ryan, Rory, and Jamie battled it out from the start. Jamie and Rory were both on a mission, so Ryan used his head, deciding to drop back and secure the championship while Jamie and Rory fought to the very end, with Jamie beating Rory by 1.458 seconds, with Ryan in third. Ryan’s achievement was remarkable, as he secured his seventh ARA Solo Centre Championship, his third in a row.
Mark Raine took two race wins and a second place in the VMCC Novice & Clubman Centre Championship races, with Alexander Galloway taking two second places and a win in the final race, beating Raine by only 0.225 seconds. Sean Crone earned three fantastic third-place finishes on his lower-cc machine in the class. The title had already been won by Francesco Faraldo at the previous meeting. Francesco also claimed the Singles title, making it two titles for him with ARA in 2024.
ARA Northern Fuels Sidecar Driver and Passenger Championships were once again won by Jim & Ben Gale, their second title in a row at Jurby with ARA on the Isle of Man. Both sidecar races on the day were won by Michael Jackson & Jonathan Aire.
Heading into the Palace Hotel & Casino Supersport Championship final races, Freddie Craine was leading the title by one point from Grant Thomson. Grant won the first race, giving him a two-point lead, but Freddie suffered a low side in race two, which brought out the red flags. Unfortunately, Freddie had to be taken to Nobles, and the race was declared, giving the title to Grant Thomson. This was another title for Grant in only his second season, adding to his 2023 Novice & Clubman title, Illiam Quayle finished in 3rd in the Championship.
Another highlight of the day was the Lightweight, Singles, and CB500 races. In Race 1, Sean Crone won the Lightweight race in tricky conditions, his first-ever race win with ARA at Jurby. Sean recently wrapped up the 2024 Pit Bike Championship and rode impressively to take his first win, becoming the youngest-ever winner of an ARA Jurby race at only 15 years, 235 days old. Sean took the accolade from another ARA young star, Aron Redmond, who won a Supertwin race in April this year while also 15 years old. Rhys Callister, another young ARA rising star, took second place in the first raced and then a win in the second Lightweight race, securing him ARA Lightweight title after trading lap records with Sean Crone throughout the 2nd race. Cameron Brown took the CB500 title after battling all day with Juan Hunter, Fraser Heginson, and 2024 MGP Newcomer Damian Crook.
The PI 600 Championship was won with a huge points lead, by Matt Corkill, while the Post Classic Championship was claimed by Jason Corcoran.
It’s fair to say it’s been another fantastic season for Andreas Racing Association at Jurby. It’s great to have so many talented local competitors on the Isle of Man successfully competing in the Pre-TT, TT, Southern 100, and MGP, all coming through our ARA ranks.
ARA Race School, run by MGP winner Gary Radcliffe & MGP winner/TM Jonny Heginbotham, has had another fantastic season helping aspiring riders obtain their ACU licence and get out on track at Jurby with ARA.
ARA Race Secretary Liz Warden, who helps to organise the race school, said the club has brought through more than 20 new riders this season, including three female riders: Lauren Exon, Zoe Bool, and Iona Glover. The future looks very bright for ARA.
The final ARA event of the season is the 4-Hour Endurance on Saturday 12th October, which will also include a Sidecar Dash for Cash event.
All Photos from Mark Corlett