Ian Richardson has suffered agony at the National TT Champs, being disqualified shortly after he had finished in the bronze medal position (Photo: Ian Anderson)
Ian Richardson disqualified at National TT Champs
Having been the story of the night at the National TT Championships, Ian Richardson’s joy was short-lived when he was disqualified.
The UCD-FitzCycles.ie man was 3rd in the elite race behind winner Ryan Mullen (Cannondale-Drapac) and Nicolas Roche (BMC Racing).
Richardson recorded a time of 42:50 on the 34km course that started and finished in Johnstown, Co Wexford.
That was 2:02 behind the flying TT specialist Mullen and 1:47 down on runner-up Roche.
Crucially, Richardson had 27 seconds to spare of Marcus Christie (SBR Performance) in 4th place.
However, he was adjudged to have taken a roundabout the wrong way around, thus slightly shortening his journey.
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His disqualification means heartbreak for Richardson and that Christie was promoted from 4th on the night into the bronze medal position.
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There were lengthy deliberations after the event at TT headquarters in Johnstown Castle.
A number of officials confirmed Richardson had taken the roundabout at the turn the wrong way.
It technically meant he had not completed the course and so his disqualification was confirmed.
Richardson had confirmed his form of late by winning the Hammond Memorial TT last weekend. And he also took the Naas Open TT the previous weekend.
However, Christie put himself in among the favourites on recent days with a fantastic ride against the clock last Sunday.
He did a 48:31 at the Father’s Day 25 Mile TT on the Woodgreen A26 course near Ballymena.
He said at the time while he was short on racing so far this year he was looking forward to see how he would do at the championships.
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