Hat-trick for Hickman with Harrison among the podium finishes
Exciting end to the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod
By Aaron O’Neill
It was Dean Harrison who scooped the honours in the blue ribbon Superbike race at the 2017 MCE Ulster Grand Prix. The event marked the end of the international road racing season with riders throughout the paddock aiming to finish the season on a high.
In the opening Superstock race, Louth based Peter Hickman, continued his winning form at Saturday’s MCE Ulster Grand Prix, after previous success at Thursday’s Dundrod 150.
Despite difficult early conditions at Dundrod, Hickman led throughout claiming victory in the opening race of the day. Hickman set the record straight after his retirement in the Superstock race in 2016 as he looked comfortable aboard his Smiths Racing BMW S1000RR.
Dean Harrison and Manxman Dan Kneen had a magnificent battle for second and third to round off the podium positions.
Australlian, David Johnson and Padgett’s Honda rider, Conor Cummins completed the top five.
Michael Dunlop could only muster a seventh place finish in the opening race as the Ballymoney man apparently overshot at the Cochranstown section of the circuit. Dunlop had been going well in the opening stages of the race as he found himself in fourth place, in hot pursuit of the podium places, before his mishap.
Conditions improved ahead of the opening Supersport race as the track began to dry out. Some early morning rain had put a delay on proceedings as organisers felt that a short delay would ensure safer racing conditions for the riders.
It was Bruce Anstey took the early lead in the Supersport class. The ‘Flying Kiwi’ shot to the front of the pack ahead of Hickman and Harrison in what was a closely fought contest in the opening laps. It was a proper ‘ding dong’ affair for podium positions with all of the front three doing battle around the 7.3 mile circuit. There was little to separate the podium places with less than half a second the gap in the opening laps.
Hickman launched his attack midway through the race and found his way past Anstey to take the lead. Hickman closed out the race and took victory to grab his second win of the day, adding to his dominance at Dundrod. Bruce Anstey and Lee Johnston rounded out the podium positions whilst Dean Harrison and William Dunlop completed the top five. Less than 0.4 seconds separated the top five, in what was a great advertisement for Irish Road Racing.
Anstey looked to go one better in the Lightweight/Ultra Lightweight class and make it a double victory in the class but it wasn’t to be as he retired early in the race.
Seasoned veteran Davy Morgan was the eventual winner in the Lightweight race after an impressive ride aboard his 250cc machine. Welshman, Paul Owen came home in second position with Callum Laidlaw completing the top three. Paul Robinson claimed the top step for the Ultra Lightweight race as he took his tally at Dundrod to, two for the week.
The opening Superbike race was one to remember as Bruce Anstey claimed victory at Dundrod. The weather conditions had drastically improved and Anstey shattered the lap record twice in the opening few laps. Englishman, Dean Harrison raised the bar once again moments later. Harrison shattered Anstey’s record aboard his Silicone Engineering Kawasaki, lapping Dundrod at an average speed of 134.614mph to claim the overall lap record.
It was another closely contested race with just over a second separating the top five riders. Hickman, Harrison, Cummins and Kneen were all part of the freight train aiming to halt Anstey’s victory parade. As much as the chasing pack tried their efforts were to no avail. Peter Hickman snatched the lead from the flying kiwi on the last lap but Anstey was having none of it as he crossed the line ahead of Hickman and Harrison. Manx pairing Dan Kneen and Conor Cummins completed the top five, whilst Michael Dunlop was a notable retirement on board his Bennetts Suzuki.
The second Supersport race of the day was initially red flagged. After the restart it was Peter Hickman who went on to claim victory and complete his hat-trick of wins. The race itself was a cracker with any of the front five in with a shout of a rostrum finish with only 0.4 of a second separating the front three. Hickman was the eventual winner but he was closely followed by Bruce Anstey and Lee Johnston who finished second and third respectively. Michael Dunlop finished fourth it what was a mixed day at Dundrod, technical issues seemed to blight his day.
In the Supertwins race Ivan Lintin clinched an emphatic victory from Dan Cooper and Adam McLean. The front two had a great battle throughout the race, with Lintin beating his own lap record. Dan Cooper launched an attack on the last lap as he made a push for the win but some smart manoeuvring through the Quarry Bends section of the circuit witnessed Lintin outfoxing his opponent and taking the chequered flag by 0.3 of a second.
The 64th annual MCE Ulster Grand Prix concluded with the second Superbike race. Another unforgettable race which witnessed Dean Harrison grab the victory from Isle of Man compatriots Dan Kneen and Conor Cummins. It was a stellar battle throughout the 6 lap Superbike race with all three of the front riders jostling for position. Michael Dunlop finished in fourth place with Dubliner Derek Shiels coming home fifth.
Both Bruce Anstey and Peter Hickman retired out of the race with mechanical issues. Hickman’s engine gave way at Leathemstown on lap 2 whilst Anstey pulled into the pits after Lap 1 on board the RCV.
None the less, there where close battles throughout the day with lap records being smashed in almost every race. For further information about the event please visit: For any further information please visit the website: http://ulstergrandprix.net/