Race Report - Formula 5

Mondello Park 20-7-8

Mark Reade came straight off the back of his double Anglesey win to secure yet another class win at Mondello Park last weekend. Both John Downey and Kevin Gillespie pushed the teenager hard in the early stages only for their chances to be scuppered by electrical problems.

Reade suffered a sticking throttle in qualifying which saw him sidelined for part of the session but not before he set the class pole, ahead of John Downey, who was making his class return after missing the away rounds. Gillespie’s attempts were hampered by a slipping clutch which saw him complete only a handful of laps.

Reade made a good getaway and pulled away from Downey on the opening lap as Downey was busy tripping over some of the bigger cars that had lost their way. Gillespie’s woes seemed far from resolved as he began losing touch with the two leaders but he put in some spirited driving in an effort to keep pace and stay ahead of some other 1 litre runners.

Once Downey had found some clear air, he immediately began to peg back Reade’s lead. By mid distance he was looming larger and larger in the local boys mirrors when a suspected coil pack failure saw his Suzuki RF900 running on 2 cylinders. This, coupled with Gillespie’s continuing troubles, saw Reade untroubled for Formula 5 honours but he was left to battle for the Formula Libre 1 litre win in the closing stages.


Reade’s inexperience hindered his defence and he succumbed to the increasing pressure on the penultimate lap, leaving him to settle for second place in the 1 litre class. Despite this slip up, Reade is still well poised to defend his 1 litre title but will need some good results in the remaining races of the season.

Formula 5 makes its next appearance at Kirkistown on the 30th for August, the class’s second appearance at the Northern Irish Venue.