Adam Barclay roared to an impressive victory to recently become the 2008 Manx Grand Prix senior champion.

The self-employed carpenter from Pembroke has cemented his place in history after a long line of distinguished road racers like Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle, Bob Heath and Jason Griffiths, by winning this most prestigious event on the road race calendar.

This was Adam’s seventh year of racing on the island and despite having a good week’s practice things didn’t go quite to plan.

In the junior race on Wednesday, August 27th, Adam’s Hallett Aviation Suzuki GSXR 600 developed a technical problem, which caused him to retire early from the race and ending any hope of completing the double like the 2006 champion, Yorkshireman Craig Atkinson. When the race got under way the early pace setters were Adam Barclay, Simon Fulton and Philip McGurk, followed by James McCullagh and Alan Jackson.

At the ten-mile marker at Glen Helen on lap one, McGurk was ahead of Fulton on the roads, but initially it was McCullagh on time by two seconds, until Adam arrived on the scene and took the lead by the merest of margins, 0.34 of a second. By the time the riders reached Ballaugh Bridge, McCullagh was ahead on time by 2.99 seconds from Barclay followed by McGurk in third.

As they entered Ramsey for the first time, McCullagh was ahead on the roads as well as time, opening up 5.19-seconds gap.

Reaching The Bungalow the positions were the same, with McCullagh having added half a second advantage, as Philip McGurk maintained third place 11 seconds down on Adam in second. Crossing the line at the end of the first 37.73 miles it was Adam who had gone into the lead and was ahead on time, by 1.87 second and James McCullagh was ten seconds ahead of third spot Philip McGurk.

As the riders entered the second lap James McCullagh returned to the front from Barclay, with Mickey Fitzpatrick now in third, McGurk retired at the Black Dub. By Ballaugh, Adam was ahead on time by 0.14 of a second, which increased to 1.18 seconds at Ramsey, which further increased to 3.23 seconds at the Bungalow. Adam extended his lead over McCullagh on the traitorous mountain section and raced it like a true champion.

After the two riders diced and exchanged the lead throughout the race it was Barclay who crossed the line in emphatic style by 11.13 seconds ahead of James McCullagh with Mickey Fitzpatrick finishing third.

Adam dedicated his win to fellow racer, Haverfordwest’s John Goodall who tragically died after an accident in the classic senior race on the opening day of racing. Adam said: “John was a legend of road racing and will be missed by the racing fraternity.”

Adam is looking forward to next season and competing in the big three on the road race calendar, The North west 200, The Isle of Man TT next year and The Ulster Grand Prix.

This was Adam’s last year with the Hallettt Aviation Racing Team as it has withdrawn from motorcycle racing.

Adam is seeking a new sponsorship deal in order to compete on a competitive level next season. Anyone interested in sponsoring Adam’s 2009 campaign can contact him on 01646 681884.