Most Number of Solo Wins

There is no doubt as to which rider has won the greatest number of races in the 63 year history of the Oliver’s Mount closed public roads course, this honour goes to Ian Lougher. His amazing his win tally currently stands at an astonishing 126 victories, which is an outstanding achievement, on any circuit, anywhere in the world, never mind the twisty, hilly, narrow Scarborough roads circuit !

He took his first chequered flag at the parkland circuit during the September 1989 Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup meeting in the first leg of the 125cc race, heading home top British Championship contenders Rob Orme and Steve Lawton.

Lougher made his debut at Oliver’s Mount during the September 1984 International meeting, riding a TZ350 Yamaha with support from the late Ray Cowles. Reminded of his first ever visit to the circuit, he had found the whole experience a little bit daunting, saying: “It was a bit scary on a TZ350 when I first came here. The bikes weren’t quite so good handling back then and the ‘Jumps’ were perhaps a bit bumpier. I didn’t like the ‘Jumps’ at all at first. I’m still not that happy with them now, it’s probably my least favourite part of the circuit, but the modern bikes suspension, tyres and everything have improved a lot since then.”

During his many appearances at Scarborough the ever versatile Lougher has won races in the 125cc, 250cc, 600cc, Superstock, Superbike & 350cc Classic classes, aboard Aprilia, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha machinery.

The Ulster-based Welshman broke the magical 100th win barrier in the first leg of the 250cc GP event at the July 2007 Cock o’ the North Road Races, to the rapturous applause of the small crowd that had braved out the lashing rain. When asked by circuit commentator, Tony Coupland, which of his 100 wins was most special, Ian replied: “I’ve had lots of memorable wins, especially all the battles with Chris Palmer over the years, but if I had to make a choice it would be my very first win at the September 1989 meeting. In the first 125cc leg, I was leading but slid off at Mount Hairpin, I remounted joining well down the field and charged through to take the win.”

Coupland also asked if he would go on to win 200 races, the veteran racer said with a smile: “I’m certainly young enough !”

Lougher has this to say of the Oliver’s Mount circuit : “I have always enjoyed the Scarborough meetings, possibly because it’s the nearest thing to short circuit scratching I get to do these days, and you really do have to scratch around the 2.4 mile seaside circuit. But having said that, it’s a place that you need to treat with respect, as its easy for one of the many hairpin bends to catch you out, as I have found out to my cost in the past many times.”

The following is a list of Ian Lougher's 126 wins at Oliver's Mount (up to and including the Steve Henshaw Gold Cup Road Races - September 2009) :

Second in the all-time Scarborough winners list is Chris Palmer, having notched up a tremendous 79 wins since 1991, with many of them being hard fought two-stroke battles with Lougher in the 125cc and 250cc events. In recent years the former British 125cc Champion has moved into the bigger bike classes and is also enjoying success at Classic racing.

The following is a list of Chris Palmer's 79 wins at Oliver's Mount (up to and including the Steve Henshaw Gold Cup Road Races - September 2009) :

In third position is Lincolnshire-man Guy Martin, the popular, 27-year-old, has rapidly racked-up a massive 49 victories, including two Spring National titles, three Cock o’ the North titles, two Barry Sheene Classic Trophy titles, a record-breaking seven consecutive Steve Henshaw Gold Cup titles, as well as being the first rider to lap faster than 83 mph at Oliver's Mount.

Storming up the table is Dungannon plant fitter, Ryan Farquhar, one of the biggest names in the world of road racing, a Senior Manx Grand Prix winner, two times TT winner, 44 Oliver's Mount wins, three-times Ian Watson Spring Cup champion and four-times Duke Road Race Rankings winner. He has the distinction of holding the record of the most number of wins at a single Oliver’s Mount meeting, when at the May 2009 Barry Sheene Road Race Festival, he did what most people thought was impossible and took 18 wins from 18 starts, with 15 fastest laps. Farquhar has spent most of his career riding bikes built and prepared by himself.

In fifth spot with 29 wins is the late David Jefferies, the big Yorkshire-man was one of the most spectacular riders ever to grace the Oliver’s Mount circuit with his all-out action style and famous wheelies over the bottom straight ‘Jumps’. After winning the 1998 Spring National on his Tony Scott-tuned new R1 Yamaha he said: “I’m sure my back wheel has travelled much further than my front wheel, as it spent most of it’s time up in the air.”

'DJ', as he was better known, was a great supporter of the Scarborough races, being only one of three riders to have achieved five Gold Cup titles. He also took time out to entertain his many fans in the Oliver’s Mount hill climbs and once took a starring role in a Bike Week stunt show.

Welshman Jason Griffiths took 28 wins between 1992 and 2005, including two Cock o’ the North titles and one Gold Cup title. Now a resident in the Isle of Man, Griffiths had to scale down his racing activities after taking up a new role in January 2005 as Motor Sport Coordinator for Yamaha UK, overseeing all of their racing activities in road racing, motocross, enduro and supermoto.

Dean Ashton and Bob Heath both recorded 27 wins apiece wins during their racing careers at Scarborough. Former two time British Production Champion, Ashton took his first Scarborough win in 1988 and in 1995 became the first rider to do the clean sweep of the Spring National, Cock o’ the North & Gold Cup titles all in a single season, a feat that has only been matched since by one other rider Guy Martin. Ashton retired from racing at the end of the 2002 season to concentrate on his Hull-based motorcycle road & race tuning business – Ashton Performance Centre.

Former Works BSA rider and highly successful visor manufacture, Bob Heath dominated the Oliver’s Mount 350cc and 500cc Classic events in the 1990s and still holds both of the Classic 350cc & 500cc class lap records, which he set during the 50th Anniversary Gold Cup meeting in 1996. Heath took his first Scarborough victory in 1975 and retired from racing at the end of the 1998 season to spend more time on his other passions, steam engines and restoring/parading an ex Mike Hailwood RC173 Honda 350-4 that he had purchased from auction.

Up until the 1980’s victories were listed for finals only, these days events are now staged over two or more legs, but under the former system Huddersfield racer Phil Mellor took 23 straight wins between 1979 and 1987. Fellow Yorkshireman Mick Grant also notched up a total of 22 wins between 1971 and 1984. After retiring from racing in 1984, Grant moved into team management for various leading British motorcycle racing championship teams and has returned to the Oliver’s Mount circuit on many occasions to parade his green-meanie Kawasaki KR750-3.

Just outside the top ten, with 22 wins is Mick Goodings, in recent years he has virtually made the 400cc class his own, the Doncaster heavy goods vehicle mechanic doing the double at the 2008 Ian Watson Spring Cup & Cock o' the North meetings.

Paul Coward, a textile technician from Hebden Bridge, has 17 wins to his credit and has been a prolific winner in the classic races since the turn of the millennium. Coward has also achieved numerous podium positions when he has been a passenger to Stephen Ramsden in the sidecar races.

Following is a list of the ten riders who have taken the most wins in the history of the Oliver's Mount races (up to and including the Steve Henshaw Gold Cup Road Races - September 2009) :