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Weather Delayed Newcomers Race
Issued 25th August 2008
 Six and a quarter hours after its original start time the 2008 Manx Grand Prix races finally saw the opening race of the meeting get underway as numbers 1 & 2, Ivan Lintin and James Redpath, both of whom were on GSXR 750cc Suzuki machines set off down Glencrutchery Road in the MMCC Newcomers Race.
Originally reduced to three laps from four, the extra delay forced the organisers to reduce the race distance to just two laps, 75 miles.
Ivan Lintin was first on the roads at Glen Helen, but it was Ryan Kneen who led on time, by 4.32 seconds, with Kevin Fitzpatrick third 8.69 seconds behind the leader.
In the ‘C’ class, it was Michael Sweeney who led Ryan’s brother, Daniel.
At Ramsey on the opening lap of two, Ryan Kneen had increased to 16.23 seconds from Lintin, with James Redpath now in third place a further 5 seconds behind on time.
Roy Moore, the commentator reported that it had started raining at the Hairpin.
By the Bungalow Ivan Lintin had pulled four seconds back on Kneen, with Redpath still third.
Meanwhile Sweeney was still leading Dan Kneen in the smaller class.
Ryan Kneen was only 10.6 seconds ahead as he and Ivan Lintin went through the Grandstand to complete their first lap, with James Redpath still holding third spot, 18 seconds adrift of second place man.
Daniel Kneen had taken the lead at the Bungalow in class C from Derek Costello and positions were still the same at the conclusion of the first lap.
Lap two at Glen Helen, 19-year-old Ryan Kneen and Ivan Lintin were still together on the roads, with Redpath still holding on to third. The gap between the leaders was now 11.52 Seconds.
Class ‘C’ saw positions remaining the same, with the elder of the Kneen brothers Daniel in front of Ian Whitlow second by well over a minute, with Colin Martin third.
Ryan Kneen held an 11 second lead at Ramsey on the second and last lap from Lintin, with Redpath third.
The lead had increased by a further nine seconds at the Bungalow as positions remained the same.
Daniel Kneen was also safely through Ramsey on the final lap, mixing it with the class ‘A’ Newcomers.
Ryan Kneen took the chequered flag to win class ‘A’ with Ivan Lintin taking second and James Redpath third.
History was made as the elder Kneen, Daniel took victory in class ‘C’ becoming the first brothers to win a MMCC Newcomers race in the same year.
Ian Whitlow finished second with Colin Martin third.
Ryan Kneen also set the fastest lap in Class A in 21 minutes 45.97 seconds a speed of 104.005mph, whilst brother Daniel set the quickest lap in Class C with a lap of 23m 22.76s a speed of 96.829mph.
A brave effort by all concerned as conditions were varying all round the course during the two lap race.
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