Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments got their 2024 season underway with the annual trip to the Bob Smith Spring Cup at Oliver's Mount at the weekend, and in action were Joe Yeardsley, team debutant Jacque Foley, and Ian Lougher who took the opportunity for some development work on the team's 2024 CBR600RR Honda ahead of the forthcoming Oulton Park BSB round.
The completion of Saturday's Supertwins qualifying saw Yeardsley just over a second off the pace in third with Foley seventh, a further two seconds back, and in the weekend's first race Joe finished a strong fourth with Jacque unfortunately a retirement.
Lougher meanwhile had qualified the Honda in 8th for the opening Supersport encounter and was on for an excellent sixth place finish only to be rammed off the track, losing three places in the process, as Yeardsley registered another fourth place on his own R6 Yamaha
On Sunday, Ian again took the Honda out for a further quick check on the bike's settings, and to gain another Mountain Course signature, and still managing a Top 10 finish.
Despite a niggling problem on the Paton, Yeardsley had another fourth place in Sunday's Supertwins race with Jacque having a good ride to finish sixth, but both riders would miss out on a start in the third race.
Foley was struggling with an old shoulder injury, whilst Yeardsley crashed out on his 600, and whilst thankfully not seriously hurt he was however forced to sit out the rest of the day's action.
Team ILR principal Ian Lougher:
"On the whole the Spring Cup was good.
I used the latest CBR600RR just as James Chawke rode it during testing at Bishopscourt recently, I just tweaked it a bit through the weekend to get it somewhat ready for Hikari Okubo at Oulton Park, but it was good and I quite enjoyed it.
I was heading for a 6th on Saturday which would have been ok for an old man who hadn’t raced a 600 there for 11 years, only to get rammed off the track and I lost three places with only a lap to go, but hey-ho.
So happy enough, then on Sunday I just went out for my second signature race which I need for the Mountain Course licence, and the race was red flagged twice so they declared the result when I was in 9th, but ok and at least the bike and myself are in one piece.
Joe had a good ride on Saturday and Sunday to finish 4th, but the bike had an annoying quick shifter problem, so he did well really.
Then Sunday he crashed his own 600 so was unfit to ride the Paton afterwards.
Jacque loved riding the other Paton but had an old shoulder injury which was niggling him, but still had a couple of good rides before he couldn’t ride in the final twins race due to the shoulder problem."
Ian
Bishopscourt Test: 24/03/2024
