Neil Lloyd lapping it up on the Isle of Man

Black Country rider Neil Lloyd has been mixing it with the best in the business for the first time after entering the Lightweight class.

Lloyd, from Wednesbury, has been using the club racing scene to hone his skills on his trusted Honda VF400 for the roads

during the run-up to the Southern 100 and has already competed at Oliver’s Mount,

Scarborough, in May finishing inside the top 10.

“I’ve competed in four rounds of in the 400 supersport meetings at the Tonfanau race circuit, in Wales, currently sitting fourth in the championship,” he said.

“I’ve missed the last two rounds at Darley Moor and can’t attend the next one as it clashes with the Southern 100, so we’ve slipped down to eighth in that championship.”

Lloyd, 46, set sail for the Isle of Man last Friday and competed in first race on Tuesday, finishing 21st around the 4.25-mile Billown Circuit, and was also back in action last night.

Lloyd will also be back road racing at Oliver’s Mount for the Gold Cup in September but will sit out the Barry Sheene round at the same track later this month as he did not have the funds.

Meanwhile, the top Black Country and Staffordshire club racers will be back in action for round four of the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club Championship on Sunday.

After winning all the Pre Injection 600 races so far, Stone’s Andy Lowe will be favourite to extend the 30-point advantage he currently enjoys.

Using the same bike to good effect, he is also second in the Pre Injection (up to 1300cc) championship, but sits 29 points behind Derby’s Jamie Pearson, with third-place man Mark Brailsford, of Chesterfield, just two points behind Lowe.

Rugeley’s Stuart Hall is currently joint second in the Mini Sound of Thunder championship but has a 16-point deficit from the top of the table to reduce this weekend.

Lloyd Shelley, from Burntwood, has just a six-point advantage at the head of the Sound of Thunder championship, having missed a round due to Thundersport GB commitments.

In the Classic 350 Championship, Dudley’s Mark Cockerton lies second but only five points off top spot, while Brian Prescott, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, is third.

Passenger Keith Box, from Wolverhampton, and his driver Anthony Eades lead the Open Sidecars championships by 15 points.

Darley spokesman Brian George said: “Some competitors may be enjoying large points advantages over their rivals but this is only the midway point of the championship.

“With the final round’s races being just one long race for each class and double points on offer, no rider can think they are home and dry just yet.”

Practice will begin on Sunday at 10am, with the first race scheduled for 11.30am.

Entry is £12 for adults, £8 senior citizens and free for under 16s. Camping is also available.