The record changed hands no fewer than three times in a thrilling Supermoto 351 to 500cc class, though ultimately it ended up in the clutches of Russ Goubert after his final run.
Aided by a handy tailwind and warm tarmac in this year’s only Vazon Sprint, he powered his KTM SMR 450 to a 12.35sec. time to jump from third to first in class.
The Supermoto time to beat in the Guernsey Kart and Motor Club event had been Leigh Digard’s 12.51 from last year, when the class was newly split from the main motorcycles pack.
Brother Ben took the record on the opening run with a 12.44, only for 20-year-old Casey Mackrell to slash it to 12.40 on the fourth.
‘It’s the first record I’ve ever had, so I’m very happy with that,’ said relative newcomer Mackrell, who has only been competing for about three years.
‘It’s only my second year on this bike and it’s going well.’
However, as the afternoon was coming to a close and many already packing up, Goubert managed to go 0.05sec. quicker on the sixth and steal his thunder.
‘It’s really good, and it makes it a lot more fun when there’s a few of you going for the fastest time of the day,’ he said of the close class competition.
Becoming a record-holder is also a new experience for Goubert, who recalls starting in the Run What You Brung class five years ago.
‘I don’t think any of us had a record, so it made it so the pressure’s on.’
The other record on the day came from Dave Bichard, who lowered his own mark in the Modified Specialist Production Cars 1,401 to 1,800cc class from 12.42 to 12.38 on the very first run.
Outside of the record-breakers, but having so nearly joined them, Adam Girard produced the most eye-catching performances of the day.
Girard is the fastest motorcyclist in the event’s history, with his 751cc and over record standing at 9.43 from nearly two years ago, and did not take long to get within touching distance of that.
But after posting 9.50, 9.52, 9.49 and then that tantalising FTD of 9.44 in his middle four runs, he had to come to terms with falling just short.
‘Thanks to the marshals and those that run the event,’ he said.
‘Without them, this would not happen.
‘I’ll have another go next year.’
The only other competitor to crack 10sec. also came in that class, and only just, with Anthony Poynder clocking 9.99 on the second run.
This day of the finest margins also included Empire Evo driver Tim Tulie finishing with a 10.52, a mere hundredth short of Jersey competitor Barry Eloie’s record in the Racing Cars 1,101 to 1,600cc.
Tulie nevertheless graduated with the fastest car time of the day.
Mike Bourgaize only went marginally slower, with his 10.54 on his Suzuki GSXR leaving him just 0.05sec. shy of Louis Norman’s class record in the Motor Cycles 601cc to 750cc.
Craig Robert came out top of the popular Run What You Brung with a sub-11 clocking, 10.86, of his own.
Other winners included Steven de Jersey leading the overall Production Cars charge with an 11.44 and Luke Saunders, in posting 13.38, missing the Motor Cycles 251 to 350cc record by 0.04sec.
Supermoto rider Harry Mann was one notable casualty in an overall successful day, injuring his shoulder.
