Well race fans! The countdown is well and truly on! It’s hard to believe in 7 weeks time we will be kicking off the 2018 MCE Insurance Ulster Grand Prix Bike Week and what a race line up we have in store!
The new revamped 11 race schedule will have you race fans begging for more come Saturday evening. With top notch racing at the North West and TT, I hope you’re all as excited as I am to see the spectacle that will be UGP 2018. Over the coming weeks I will be trying to whet your appetite for what’s in store come Bike Week and with entries closing on Friday 29th June and our launch taking place on Monday 2nd July, it’s all systems go.
Since losing our Worlds Fastest Road Race title to the TT, there has been a lot of hype and chat, but to be honest, come Saturday 11th August, it will mean more to me to have all competitors home safe than to focus on the title or a lap record.
Racing at the TT this year just seemed to move to another level. With perfect conditions for practice and race it just made it so much more enjoyable for spectators and riders alike. No doubt when the International race paddock arrives at Dundrod, Peter Hickman and lap record holder Dean Harrison will be the men everyone has to beat. A lot of riders impressed me at the TT with their performances but the one who really stood out was Davo Johnson, riding for the Gulf BMW team. I think next year he will no doubt be moving up a level.
I’d like to close with passing on my condolences to the families of Dan Kneen and Adam Lyon. Dan was a great supporter of the Ulster Grand Prix and had served his apprenticeship with a Superstock win in 2014 and just narrowly missed out in the second superbike race win last year. Adam came last year as a newcomer and created a great impression both on the track and off. Both lads will be sadly missed.