Metzeler Ulster Grand Prix
Dundrod Circuit, Northern Ireland
August 16, 2014
McKinstry Skip Hire Superbike Race Results:
1. Bruce Anstey (Hon CBR1000RR), 7 laps, 24:10.701
2. Guy Martin (Suz GSX-R1000), -0.260 second
3. Lee Johnston (Hon CBR1000RR), -4.829 seconds
4. Michael Dunlop (BMW S1000RR), -7.421
5. Peter Hickman (BMW S1000RR), -45.290
6. Daley Mathison (Suz GSX-R1000), -47.162
7. Ivan Lintin (Hon CBR1000RR), -65.734
8. Ian Hutchinson (Yam YZF-R1), -66.579
9. Rob Barber (BMW S1000RR), -68.764
10. Russ Mountford (Kaw ZX-10R), -77.183
More, from a press release issued by Hawk Racing/BMW Motorrad:
Michael Dunlop finishes fourth in Ulster Grand Prix Superbike race.
Michael Dunlop finished fourth in today’s first Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix. Unfortunately due to worsening weather conditions, the second race has been cancelled and will not be run.
Bruce Anstey took the Superbike race win, ahead of Guy Martin and Lee Johnston, with Michael Dunlop crossing the line fourth, just two seconds off a podium finish.
While his weekend started off showing promise, including setting the pole position lap for the Superstock race, Dunlop’s efforts to win at the famous Dundrod circuit were hampered by a lack of setup time and ever-changing conditions out on the track with wind and rain blowing in from the Irish Sea.
With the weather rapidly changing around the circuit, leaving both wet and dry patches, Michael and the BMW Motorrad / Hawk Racing team were unable to get the perfect bike setup for the TT-winning BMW S 1000 RR to give Michael the 100% confidence required to push for wins around the challenging Ulster roads circuit.
Despite this, Michael managed to finish fourth in a thrilling Superbike race earlier today, coming back from a slow start and closing on the leaders right to the chequered flag. Michael made a slow start but, by lap three, he began to reel in the front riders, bringing the gap down from over three seconds to 1.3. However, Johnston held his pace on the final lap and secured his podium finish.
During the earlier Superstock race, Michael suffered from tyre issues during lap two onboard his MD Racing BMW S 1000 RR, dropping back and finishing 14th. As the team were preparing for the final Superbike race of the Ulster Grand Prix, Clark of the Course Noel Johnston called an end to proceedings after two incidents in earlier races led to delays and the weather took a final turn for the worse.
Ulster Grand Prix Superbike race one results:
1) Bruce Anstey (Padgetts Honda)
2) Guy Martin (Tyco Suzuki)
3) Lee Johnston (Pirtek Honda)
4) Michael Dunlop (BMW Motorrad / Hawk Racing)
5) Peter Hickman (Ice Valley BMW)
More, from a press release issued by Dan Cooper’s publicist:
Difficult Dundrod meeting for Cooper
Dan Cooper had a difficult few days of racing at the Metzeler Ulster Grand Prix this week with the Stroud rider experiencing mechanical problems in the Supersport class leaving him on the sidelines for the two races. However, he did salvage the week with a solid top ten finish around the high-speed Dundrod circuit in the opening Supertwins race on Thursday evening.
The event got off to the worst possible start for Dan when his recently acquired Supersport Honda expired on just the third lap of Wednesday’s practice sessions and that meant he had just the CMS Racing Kawasaki to ride in the two Supertwins races, the first of which was held on Thursday afternoon. Eighth in the early stages, Dan enjoyed a good three-man dice with Michael Sweeney and Christian Elkin and he eventually finished the five lap race in a strong ninth place.
Race conditions for Saturday’s feature Ulster GP races were a lot less favourable and it was almost in the evening before the Supertwins race came to the line. When it did, constant drizzle was forming with the wind speed also increasing and although Dan made a good start, lying in sixth at the end of the opening lap, he was forced to retire on the third lap with his tyres not suitable for the conditions.
Dan Cooper: “It’s been a tough few days and I was gutted with the Supersport machine expiring so early as it meant I only got two races all week. It also meant I missed out on a lot of track time but at least I had the Supertwin bike to still use and I did enjoy Thursday’s race. I was caught napping a bit in the early stages as everyone else had been out in all the other classes and was right on the pace but I had a good battle with a few riders out there and a top ten finish is always a good result given the standard of competition.”
“Unfortunately, we had the wrong tyres for Saturday’s race and the bike was weaving at high speed so it wasn’t safe to continue and pulling in was the only option. It’s a shame to have come to Northern Ireland and not be able to have a real good crack at things but that’s the way it goes and I’m looking forward now to the Classic TT where I’ll be kept busy with three different race bikes. It’ll be great to get back out on the Mountain Course so, hopefully, luck will be on our side and we’ll get plenty of laps in and some good results.”
Dan now heads straight to the
More, from a press release issued by
Excellent
The Ice Valley by Motorsave Trade team enjoyed an excellent Ulster Grand Prix meeting this week with Peter Hickman posting some excellent results on his debut, which included becoming the fastest ever newcomer at the event after a lap of over 131mph, and team owner Paul Shoesmith achieving some of his best results around the high-speed Dundrod circuit.
Louth’s Hickman overcame a spill at Wheeler’s on the opening lap of Thursday morning’s Superstock qualifying session to be back out in time for the Dundrod 150 races later in the day and he opened his account with a stunning seventh in the Superbike. Riding the Superstock BMW, his fastest lap of 131.198mph comfortably made him the fastest ever rider around the 7.4-mile circuit and using the same bike, he then won the National Challenge race by over 20 seconds with yet more 130mph+ laps.
Saturday’s action saw the Ulster Grand Prix races held in much less favourable conditions with drizzle and strong winds affecting everyone. Louth rider Hickman was undeterred though and took two more excellent results in the feature Superbike and Superstock races with a brace of fifths the outcome. It also meant he was awarded the ‘Best Newcomer’ trophy, just as he had done at the Isle of Man TT and
Team owner Shoesmith was also in action and took a brace of top twenty finishes in Thursday’s Dundrod 150 races with 13th in the Supertwins and 20th in the Superbike. However, the Poynton rider enjoyed a really strong Ulster Grand Prix race day with his best result coming in the second Supertwins race where he took an excellent eighth place. He also took 11th in the Supersport race and 12th in the Superstock race to crown an excellent meeting for the team
Peter Hickman: “It’s been another really good and enjoyable meeting for me and I’m delighted with the results and to pick up the ‘Best Newcomer’ award again. I made a bit of a mistake on Thursday and crashed out, making a real mess of the bike, but the team did wonders to get me back out in time for the races whilst Steve Hicken and Michael Dunlop helped me out with various parts. The bike felt exactly the same as it did before the crash and to get seventh and lap at more than 131mph in the Dundrod 150 race was really pleasing given the state the bike was in a few hours earlier.”
“It was a lot tougher on Saturday with the poor weather, which was unfortunate for everyone, as it made both riding and tyre choice tricky. I was over the moon with a pair of fifths though, especially in the Superbike race, and I’ve really enjoyed my first time at Dundrod. Shoey and the whole team have been mega and they did a mint job all week so it’s nice to repay them with some good results.”
Paul Shoesmith, Team Owner: “Once again, Peter’s attitude to the whole meeting has been exemplary and the whole team’s ecstatic with his results. He’s learnt the circuit so quickly and although he was obviously disappointed to have tipped off, he came back in superb style not only in terms of his results but also his lap in excess of 131mph which has made him the fastest newcomer in the history of the event. He’s attained some fantastic results, particularly those achieved in difficult conditions, so we couldn’t be happier.”
“As for my own results, I exceeded my expectations. I tend to finish in the top half of the races but this week I finished in the top third of all of them and I was well chuffed with the Superstock result as it’s such a tough class. I had a great battle in the second Supertwins race which wrapped up my week nicely so a big thanks to all the team for working so hard and all the sponsors for making it all possible.”
Paul now heads to the