Ulster Grand Prix 2007 Race Report
18th August 2007
Saturday 18 August brought heavy showers which eventually forced the "Ulster" to come to a premature end, with the days proceedings being halted half way through race four of a six race programme.
The weather however did not stop some exciting action on the track, with local competitors Ryan Farquhar and William Dunlop taking victories, together with visitors Guy Martin and Ian Hutchinson.
Dungannon's Ryan Farquhar on board his Kenny Harker Racing Kawasaki mastered the tricky conditions in the first race of the day (delayed for two hours due to standing water on the track), to win the Lisburn City Council Superstock race by almost 26 seconds from Conor Cummins, with his JMF Team Millsport Racing Yamaha team mate Rob Frost in third place, a further 20 seconds adrift.
Second race of the day saw damp conditions for the Investment Romania Supersport Race, where Guy Martin on his Hydrex Honda came from behind to beat Conor Cummins (JMF Millsport Racing Yamaha) into second place by 1.776 seconds, with Ryan Farquhar (Kenny Harker Racing Kawasaki) following in third place, almost 6 seconds behind Cummins.
The Pacemaker Press 250 Race was won by Ballymoney's William Dunlop on his PJ Flynn Honda from younger brother Michael, on the Marlow Construction Honda. Third place in this race went to Darren Burns on his SGas NI/Roy Hanna Motors Honda. The top three were covered by just over 3 seconds at the end of their five lap race.
The main race of the day - the Belfast Telegraph Superbike Race - lasted only three laps after heavy rain forced the race and indeed the event to conclude early. From the off, HM Plant Honda rider Ian Hutchinson showed his wet riding skills as he set the pace and probably wouldn't have been caught anyway by Hydrex Honda's Guy Martin, who had to settle for second place (5.787 seconds adrift at the end of lap three), with New Zealand's Bruce Anstey on his Relentless Suzuki by Tas Racing taking third, 7 seconds behind Martin. Although the lap record had been smashed by John McGuinness (HM Plant Honda) in Thursday's Dundrod 150 Superbike race to take the world's fastest road circuit lap record to an amazing 131.717mph over the 7.4 mile mountain circuit in Co Antrim, Hutchinson was in magnificent form to set the fastest lap in today's race at 118.983mph - quite amazing considering the conditions.
Despite the rain, road racing was the victor once again at Dundrod with the drenched spectators heading for home having seen some great racing. Over the years, I've come to expect wet weather at this meeting and I just know that I'll have to stand with both feet in a sheugh and my umbrella wedged through the wire fence while peering through my camera waiting for the best road racers in the world to entertain us - and this year was no exception - roll on 2008!
Take a look at the Ulster Grand Prix portfolio to see more pictures of today's race.
The weather however did not stop some exciting action on the track, with local competitors Ryan Farquhar and William Dunlop taking victories, together with visitors Guy Martin and Ian Hutchinson.
Dungannon's Ryan Farquhar on board his Kenny Harker Racing Kawasaki mastered the tricky conditions in the first race of the day (delayed for two hours due to standing water on the track), to win the Lisburn City Council Superstock race by almost 26 seconds from Conor Cummins, with his JMF Team Millsport Racing Yamaha team mate Rob Frost in third place, a further 20 seconds adrift.
Second race of the day saw damp conditions for the Investment Romania Supersport Race, where Guy Martin on his Hydrex Honda came from behind to beat Conor Cummins (JMF Millsport Racing Yamaha) into second place by 1.776 seconds, with Ryan Farquhar (Kenny Harker Racing Kawasaki) following in third place, almost 6 seconds behind Cummins.
The Pacemaker Press 250 Race was won by Ballymoney's William Dunlop on his PJ Flynn Honda from younger brother Michael, on the Marlow Construction Honda. Third place in this race went to Darren Burns on his SGas NI/Roy Hanna Motors Honda. The top three were covered by just over 3 seconds at the end of their five lap race.
The main race of the day - the Belfast Telegraph Superbike Race - lasted only three laps after heavy rain forced the race and indeed the event to conclude early. From the off, HM Plant Honda rider Ian Hutchinson showed his wet riding skills as he set the pace and probably wouldn't have been caught anyway by Hydrex Honda's Guy Martin, who had to settle for second place (5.787 seconds adrift at the end of lap three), with New Zealand's Bruce Anstey on his Relentless Suzuki by Tas Racing taking third, 7 seconds behind Martin. Although the lap record had been smashed by John McGuinness (HM Plant Honda) in Thursday's Dundrod 150 Superbike race to take the world's fastest road circuit lap record to an amazing 131.717mph over the 7.4 mile mountain circuit in Co Antrim, Hutchinson was in magnificent form to set the fastest lap in today's race at 118.983mph - quite amazing considering the conditions.
Despite the rain, road racing was the victor once again at Dundrod with the drenched spectators heading for home having seen some great racing. Over the years, I've come to expect wet weather at this meeting and I just know that I'll have to stand with both feet in a sheugh and my umbrella wedged through the wire fence while peering through my camera waiting for the best road racers in the world to entertain us - and this year was no exception - roll on 2008!
Take a look at the Ulster Grand Prix portfolio to see more pictures of today's race.