2024 Southern 100 | 4 talking points

In contrast to the Isle of Man TT, rather than setting off one at a time, a swarm of motorcycles charge down to the first corner at Ballakegan in a mass start, which is truly one of the sights to behold in motor racing as a field of hungry bikers vie for position between the hedges and walls of a normal country road. While it may lack the glitz and glamour afforded to the TT in recent years, the Southern 100 is a staple on the road racing calendar, and here’s what went down this year…

Newcomer Accident and Hospital Capacity Forces Cancellation of Practice

If there was one thing the Southern 100 needed in 2024, it was an event with minimal drama. Twelve months prior, the 2023 edition was abandoned following a serious accident resulting in the death of a competitor and a marshal. Things didn’t get off to the best start this year, either, though, as proceedings had to be brought to a halt early on the first night of practice. An incident occurred during the newcomers’ sighting lap, resulting in two riders needing hospital treatment. This then brought about concerns over capacity problems at Douglas’ Noble’s Hospital, which delayed and then eventually cancelled all remaining sessions for Monday.

Weather impacts first races

Following a quick-fire run of qualifying sessions on Tuesday evening, racing finally got going that same night in changeable conditions. Having set impressive times throughout qualifying and taking pole across both Senior and Supertwin classes, Jamie Coward admitted that the race would come down to a tyre gamble. Coward led off the line, chased by Michael Dunlop.

The two dominated proceedings, with the new Isle of Man TT win record holder finally moving to the top spot at Cross Four-Ways on lap three of the six-lap race. Sadly the race would only last one more lap before an incident at Ballawhetstone brought the race to an early end. Dunlop was declared the winner ahead of Coward and the Senior TT winner, and reigning Southern 100 champion, Davey Todd. 

By 9pm, the weather was decidedly gloomy and wet, but the five-lap Supertwin race got underway nonetheless, with Rob Hodson jumping to the lead ahead of Coward. Coward was unable to hang on to Hodson as he had with Dunlop in the earlier encounter, and Hodson took a commanding win with Coward and Davey Todd once again filling the remaining podium positions.

Championship Day condensed following Wednesday washout

The rain getting in the way has been a recurring feature of Manx racing this season, with the TT suffering a number of delays and reschedules across its fortnight. It was no different for the Southern 100, and a deluge across the island gave organisers no choice but to cancel all running on Wednesday and run a condensed schedule throughout Thursday, otherwise known as Championship Day.

It was a tough call for the organisers, who had to ensure they honoured all sponsorship agreements, resulting in multiple podium ceremonies for the same race. There would be wins for Mike Browne, Rob Hodson and a double for Michael Dunlop in the back-to-back race schedule, while Ben Birchall and Kevin Rousseau continued to improve as a new pairing, winning the first of two sidecar races for the day.

Davey Todd retains Championship crown as Birchall completes double

Having had to settle for podium results all weekend, it looked as though Davey Todd’s reign as the Southern 100 #1 bike would be over, with Michael Dunlop seemingly unbeatable on the big bike. That all went out of the window with the start of the Solo Championship race, as Todd rocketed his Milwaukee BMW to the front of the field. 

It wasn’t easy for Todd, though, as he was hounded by regular rivals Michael Dunlop and Honda’s Dean Harrison, the three separated by less than a second on lap five of the nine-lap curtain-closer. Dunlop dove to the inside of Todd on the final lap, but Davey would not be beaten and worked his way back through following a mistake from Dunlop at Castletown Corner, the very last corner of the race. Harrison completed the podium, with Jamie Coward and Honda’s Nathan Harrison rounding out the top five.

Finally, in the Sidecar Championship race, Ben Birchall and Kevin Rousseau turned up the wick as they smashed lap records on their way to a truly dominant victory. The pair set the first-ever sub-2-minute, 29-second lap around the Billown circuit, lapping at 102.713mph. While they were storming off at the head of the field, double TT winners Ryan and Callum Crowe duelled with long-time rivals Pete Founds and Jevan Walmsley for the remaining podium positions. The local boys would come out on top, with the FHO Racing pairing of Founds and Walmsley having to settle for third overall.

That’s not all for Manx racing this year, though, as attention now turns to the Manx Grand Prix over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Future stars of the TT will be in action in the Lightweight, Junior and Senior Manx Grand Prix, while some of the top names in the sport are expected to compete for the Classic Superbike and Classic Senior trophies.

Images courtesy of Southern 100