Irish road racing star Mike Browne has once again dominated the Armoy road races, securing a remarkable four victories for the second year in a row. This impressive performance brings his total wins at the prestigious event to 12, solidifying his place among the circuit's legends. Browne's quartet of triumphs included the Supertwins opener on Friday, followed by successes in the Open race, the second Supersport outing, and the coveted feature 'Race of Legends' on Saturday.
Browne's victory in the 'Race of Legends' for the second consecutive year places him in an elite group. He joins Michael Dunlop, Ryan Farquhar, and Davey Todd as the only riders in Armoy history to have won the feature race more than once. These same four competitors are also the sole individuals to have achieved four or more wins at a single Armoy road race event, highlighting the significance of Browne's consistent high-level performance.
Adding to the weekend's excitement, Richard Cooper made a memorable debut at the three-mile County Antrim circuit. The seven-time North West 200 winner clinched a victory in the second Supertwins race, where he also set a new lap record with an impressive speed of 101.192mph. Cooper's strong showing wasn't limited to his win; he also secured third-place finishes in the first Supertwins race and the second Supersport event, demonstrating his adaptability and speed on a new course.
The race weekend, however, was not without its challenges. Saturday's initial attempt to run the Supersport race was interrupted by a red flag incident, though the rider involved was reported to have avoided serious injury. Further delays ensued due to a lengthy oil spillage on the track, which ultimately led to the Supersport race distance being reduced from seven to five laps. Despite these interruptions, Browne maintained his focus, comfortably winning the shortened Supersport race by a six-second margin over Paul Jordan.
In a thrilling second Supertwins race, Cooper emerged victorious from a three-way battle against Browne and Jordan. The Nottingham rider pulled ahead in the closing stages, finishing one second clear of Browne. Browne continued his dominant form in the Open race, securing a substantial 16.3-second win over Conor Cummins on still damp but drying roads. He then rounded off his exceptional weekend with an emphatic win in the six-lap 'Race of Legends', finishing half a second ahead of Jordan after an earlier running was halted due to Marcus Simpson sliding off unhurt.