Some 41 years on from his third-place debut finish in the Manx Grand Prix Junior Newcomers Race, Ian Lougher won the 2024 Lightweight Manx Grand Prix on the Laycock Racing TZ 250 Yamaha.
It was a remarkable performance by the gifted and still competitive Welshman, who continues to rip up record books at a stage of his career where many riders would have long since hung up their leathers.
In a race affected by a new Monday race schedule and reduced to one lap, it was Lougher who led the field away first, a far from ideal position in the mixed conditions.
An early retirement at Quarter Bridge was his Laycock Racing team-mate and the winner for the last two years, Mike Browne.
However, it was a strong field in the race, and at Glen Helen it became clear that Michael Dunlop was riding strongly as he led Ian by just 0.932s with Lee Johnston five seconds back in third.
Lougher and the Laycock Racing Yamaha went through the Sulby Speed Trap quickest at 152.935mph but at Ballaugh Dunlop had added almost a further three seconds to his lead with Ian nearly 11 seconds clear of Johnston.
Dunlop's lead at Ramsey Hairpin was now 6.3 seconds with Lougher's favourite section over the Mountain to come.
Ian had reduced the gap to Dunlop to only 3.2 seconds at the Bungalow and it was going to be close at the line, and by Cronk ny Mona he had moved into the lead.
Dunlop was beginning to experience trouble on these fickle two strokes, and it was Lougher who took the chequered flag with a lap of 114.10mph for a 22.2 seconds win from Johnston with Stuart Hall third.
In the winner's enclosure, Ian wasn't entirely sure he had won as he had only one signal around the course, and he was greeted by his delighted wife Asa, and team owner Eddie Laycock who confirmed the news to him..... a popular race win around the island.
The 2024 Manx GP will be remembered as one plagued by bad weather, with the qualifying week decimated by the unseasonable conditions.
However some sessions did take place and the signs were good for the team as Ian topped the Lightweight class and Julien Cregniot took to the Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments Paton from the off, finishing 5th quickest in the Junior Manx GP class, and ably backed up by Jacque Foley on another of our Patons in 7th.
Cregniot also went well on the team's R6 Yamaha to post the 7th quickest time for the Senior race.
Race weekend also fell victim to the weather with all races hit on Friday, and the Junior race the only one to be run on Saturday afternoon.
A burst water main at Union Mills delayed the race start by just over an hour, however following an incident at Ballacrye the red flag was shown bringing the race to an early conclusion with Andrea Majola leading at Ramsey on the second of three laps by over 25 seconds, and Cregniot and Foley riding strongly in 4th and 8th.
Monday saw the scheduled re-start fall victim to a further revised schedule, and a result was declared from positions at the red flag introduction on Saturday.
The Senior race was reduced to two laps, and Cregniot moved into fourth on the opening lap, but at Ramsey Hairpin it was Foley, on his privately entered bike, who had relegated Julien to fifth.
The Frenchman had regained fourth after the opening lap, and by Glen Helen he had his eyes on a podium finish, however despite his best efforts he lost out on third by just over four seconds, but this in no way detracted from what was a fine ride by the Frenchman.
So, a 2024 Manx GP concluded at the end of nine challenging days for everyone involved, and we send our condolences to the family and friends of Louis O'Regan.
In closing, our team awning had a space this year.
Anthony (O'Carroll) was a valued member of our line-up for the Manx Grand Prix which sadly wasn't to be, and both he and his family continue to be in our thoughts and prayers as they continue to navigate a long and challenging road ahead.
Team ILR principal Ian Lougher:
"It’s fair to say it’s been the most challenging Manx GP for everyone this year, for the organisers, riders, teams, marshals, and medics, in living memory, the weather always plays such a huge part in racing on the island, but this year was exceptionally awful.
At the end of the day, we were lucky to come away with some great results to talk about, with Julien getting two 4th places in the Senior and Junior Manx GP’s and Jacque getting an 8th in the Junior race even if they were very short races.
It was an honour to work with two really good talented riders who take the job seriously and are keen to learn and progress.
As for me on the beautiful Laycock Racing TZ250, I was at a bit of a disadvantage going off first on the road in a one-lap race on damp roads, and despite the bike being a bit over-geared in the headwinds we managed to bring the little Yamaha home on the top step.
It was a shame Michael Dunlop ran into trouble coming over the mountain with some sort of mechanical problem, as it was just shaping up to be a close finish, I got my first signal at the start of the mountain and got the hammer down and had cut his lead to just 3 seconds, and the run down from the bungalow is my favourite part of the circuit, but we’ll never find out what might have happened will we…as they say 'the winners are always amongst the finishers'.
I’d like to say a big thank-you to the organisers, medical staff, and marshals for doing such a sterling job.
And finally, thank-you to everyone in Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments and Laycock Racing for all their hard work."
Laycock Racing:
"With very little track time, it made it very difficult to get the bikes set up for race day.
First, it was Friday, then changed to Sunday, to Saturday, to Monday!
3 laps, 2 laps, 1 lap!
At the end of it all, Ian Lougher took home the prize and came across the line in first place!
41 years after his debut at the Isle of Man, he stands on top of the podium!
We're delighted to see Ian on the top step and get the recognition he deserves after all the years spent on the island, and still getting amazing results on the TZ."
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