Despite the threat of showers on race day, the opening two rounds of the 2024 King of the Roads championship at the Cookstown 100 produced a memorable full day of racing. Points were available for both the Open and Cookstown 100 events, giving riders double the chance to tally early points in the 15 race season. The championship, which takes part at 7 events across 5 countries, ranks riders in the main Superbike races, the rider with the most points crowned the King of the Roads at the end of the year.

With crowd favourite Michael Dunlop absent from Saturday’s race day due to a crash on Friday evening, Hexham’s Dominic Herbertson and Dublin’s Michael Sweeney emerged as favourites for both points paying races. And after Herbertson collected the spoils in the Moto 3 and Supersport encounters, the 33 year old, aboard the Burrows Engineering/ RK Racing BMW M1000RR, was determined to add more wins in the 1000cc races.

In the Open Superbike Race, Herbertson would make it a hat trick as he enjoyed a trouble free run, Sweeney encountered an issue with his MJR BMW M1000RR, relegating the likeable Irishman from second place to fourth by the flag. The runner up spot therefore went to Ballymena’s Neil Kernohan on his Yamaha R1, while Sam Johnson from Lincolnshire was third on a Suzuki.

In the headlining Cookstown 100 race, Sweeney and Herbertson would trade positions and fastest times for the duration of the 12 lap encounter. With conditions perfect around the Orritor course, fans were treated to an on track duel that lasted until the last lap, Herbertson coming away the winner by under two tenths of a second. There was equal excitement in the battle for third, as Ryan Whitehall clinched the last podium spot from Keelim Ryan in the closing stages.

With two wins, Herbertson therefore heads the King of the Roads standings after 2 of 15 races. Michael Sweeney in second place and Ryan Whitehall third. Next on the King of the Roads schedule is the North West 200 in early May.