Ulster GP 16 August 2003

After the TT, the Ulster Grand Prix (UGP) is the next biggest Road Race (together with the North West 200). Both are held on closed public roads in Northern Ireland and are International events attracting the best professional road racers in Europe.

The UGP is round a 7.4mile circuit which uses roads close to Belfast International Airport. This year was the 50th anniversary of road racing at the circuit and there was a real party atmosphere to the whole weekend.

The circuit itself consists of some of the most complex corner combinations and gradient changes (it has been compared to a mini TT course). The majority of the corners are either blind or do not have a clear sight line through them, making it difficult to commit to a corner without knowing precisely where you are and what comes next. The fastest lap speed recorded was by Adrian Archibald (Senior TT winner) at 128mph.

Neil and me sailed across from the West Coast of Scotland (Troon) to Belfast on the Wednesday evening together with Brian Bud (sponsor). Brian wanted to see a little road racing and came across with us to help out.

We got to the circuit paddock in time to get the tent up (which Peter Drummond, Drummond Investments had lent us). We felt like we were in luxury accomodation as it had two separate sleeping compartments, and a huge area where we could store lots of race gear and sit when it got cold in the evening.
The bike sat in our new roll out awning which is attatched to the side of the van. We sold the big garage as it was so time consuming to put up and take down at race meetings.

We immediately experienced the hospitality of the Northern Irish and were given coffee by Billy (who has been in Irish Road Racing for 40 years !). As the weekend progressed we were lucky enough to be at the receiving end of Billy's immense knowledge about racing and his endless hilarious stories about things that had happened in the past.

In the morning I had to sign on, while Neil and Brian got the bike passed through scrutineering. I attended a meeting of the riders and it was here I realised just who I was going to be racing against…….all the big names in Irish Road Racing and TT; Adrian Archibald, John McGuinnes, Richard Britten, Ryan Farquhar, Jason Griffiths etc.
These guys are the very top of professional road racing !

Before I could practice on the circuit I had to go round with the other newcomers in a bus with an experienced rider who explained some of the more basic knowledge, like braking points, turn in points and sighting lines for some of the corners.
After this (as a newcomer) I had an extra practice session together with the other newcomers, where the first three laps were led by an experienced racer.
It was pretty awesome to be out on the circuit finally. It is very technical and VERY fast.
When I came in I was in a very quiet mood, as it had made such and impression on me. I needed to reflect on all the information I got from my first practice and it felt like there was so much, I would never be able to take it all in, using the few practice laps I would get.

This is a wee bit natural of course and it is necessary to give your brain time to process the huge amount of input it gets.

When I went out in the 2nd practice session, I felt alot better and began to really enjoy it.
I found that I suffered from lack of course knowledge though, as there were corners where other riders would pull away from me as I was rolling back or changing down gear, thinking the corner was tighter.
I tucked in behind another rider for a few laps and It helped show me the way. Especially over the Deers Leap (a blind crest right hander, taken flat out in top gear). It was like driving off the edge of the world as all you can see is sky as you go over the top.

I got 7 really good laps in and was smiling again when I came in. I could now begin to thread corners together and recognise where I was going.

I had qualified at an average speed of over 101mph.

Next practice began with me scrubbing in the new tyres I had got between practices. I felt good and the bike was going well. By the third lap I was beginning to go faster, but unfortunately the practice was stopped after an accident which required the ambulance to go out on the circuit.

I could have used the extra laps for experience but, still felt I knew the circuit well enough to race two days later.

Friday was a day where we could relax and check the bike over. We picked up Peter in the morning from the airport and I took him round the circuit for a couple of laps to show him what it was like (also to keep what I had learned in my head).

At mid day Liam Gallagher (my team mate in the MAGsport team, who I had been in contact with and had sent me some videos of the UGP) came along and took me out for a couple of laps to show me things to look out for and give me some tips.

Then, Brian, Peter, Neil, Liam and me went to the pub and spent the afternoon having a really good laugh about racing and bikes in gerneral. Liam had some really good stories to tell about racing in Ireland and I only hope he didn't get into trouble from his wife for staying out too long !

The pub was so good, we came back later on that night !

Race day.
I've never seen as many people lining the roads and hedgerows to watch racing. The atmosphere was electric. The weather was great (for the first time in 6 years apparently) and hot !

I was out in race 4 and we had to have the bike re scrutineered before doing the final checks and preparation.

Peter was given the title of chief "helmet polisher" as he prepared my visor and lid. Brian had washed the bike and it was looking gleaming and Neil had checked the bike over, changed the oil and bled the brake up as good as it could get.

As we went down to the collection area I think everyone was very nervous. I was cooking in my leathers but I had a laugh at the pit bimbo who was supposed to be keeping the sun off Robert Dunlop. She stood under it shading herself while he was boiling away!

At last we got out for our warm up lap, we were to race with the 125GP bikes as in the TT. The 125's go away 30 seconds before the 400's at the UGP.
The bike felt good in the warm up and I felt ready.

Back round on the starting grid, it was just like you would expect at GP. You take your grid position where your pit crew are standing ready to do a final check and the time is counted down from 3 minutes.

At 1 minute the crew leave and the bikes are started.
At 30 seconds it was just us on the grid
At 10 seconds engage gear sign and watch the lights
Then go.

I got away very well and despite being on the last row I got past three bikes pulling down the first straight. Into the first flat out left hander it was Iain Duffus, Ryan Farquhar, Jason Griffiths (all professional) and Duncan Baillie, all in a wee train, about a yard behind each other. It felt good, I was on it !

Unfortunately as i came out of the second corner my clutch started slipping and coming down to leathamstown crossroads I was busy winding the lever adjuster in and was passed. It got worse as I continued and soon I could not get any drive, I had to nurse the bike round and pull in at the end of the first lap.

After all that its amazing that something like that can prevent you from having a good race, but it happens and I had to watch the race from the pit wall.

We were all a bit depressed, but it didn't last long, as we had such a great time and met such good people. We had to think about the whole event and not just the race.

It was a brilliant weekend and we WILL be back next year, so look out !

Thanks to my sponsors and everyone who helps make it possible.

Peter Drummond Investments
www.MAGsport.com
Scottish Bikers with a Dissability SABD
www.ReadItAndWeep.net
www.Saddletramps.org.uk
Race Paint Ecosse by Andy Thompson
City Couriers
Cheers Brian Bud
Russell at York Barbers, Edinburgh
Zoom Racing products
EBC
Herbie Maclean
Howard Selby Motors (North Berwick)
www.eastfortune.org.uk