Kinning & Hesketh Win David McCall Ulster GP Races

To be part of the spectacle and atmosphere of the Ulster Grand Prix was almost overwhelming on Saturday, the massive crowds of spectators for the motor-bike races cheered the 30 riders through the pits just like a grand tour race with blasting music, entusiastic commentary and police siren out-riders making this a day to remember on this 4th aniversary for our clubmate Dave McCall. Unfortunately we only have a 1 hour window to work with and our thanks go to Noel Johnston (clerk of the course) and his team for giving us the opportunity and their support to ride the circuit with closed roads.

On a breezy sunny morning the cavalcade rolled out from Lamh Dearg to the pits which was already buzzing with engine noise, disco music, announcements and a sea of enthusiastic spectators. At 0930 exactly police cars and motor bikes set off with sirens wailing to announce the road closure and the start of our races, flagged off 2 minutes apart by Maryland stalwart Billy Knowles.

At the end of lap 1 a group of 6 from the A race had gone clear flying with a tailwind through the pits at 40mph to the gasps of the onlookers, the B race also had a group of 6 in their break dominated by Phoenix riders. On the 2nd lap up the climb Kinning and Cranston had successfully worked Hawkins over to hold a gap to the line, in the B race a well worked and timely attack by Hesketh had him a good gap before the descent which he held to the line.