Ulster Grand Prix

After a partial washout Ulster Grand Prix in 2007 and the total washout of the event in 2008, when Northern Ireland woke up to yet more rain on the day of the 2009 Ulster Grand Prix, many were probably thinking here we go again with another washout.

But the rain eventually cleared and the racing got under way almost two hours later than planned, but once it was go, the racing was some of the best that has been seen round the famous Dundrod circuit for many years.

With a few minor incidents and a power failure early on in the race schedule the Dundrod Club soon pulled themselves back on track and with the rain eventually turning to sunshine in the afternoon the action on the track was also hotting up!! The first race of the day, the Lisburn City Council Superstock, was red flagged after less than half race distance when Killyman’s Ryan Farquhar was in a clear lead.
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HONDA, HONDA, HONDA: Martin, Hutchinson and Johnston tackle the Tornagrough section at the UGP

View the Dundrod 150 and UGP Gallery 2009
 

Armoy

Ryan Farquhar took three more victories on Saturday when he claimed the Open, Supersport and Supertwins races at the inaugural Armoy Road Races.

Home to the famous 'Armoy Armada, Farquhar also claimed the lap record in each, to move on to 52 wins for the season with the results also seeing him clinch the Irish Road Race and Ulster Road Race Championships for each class.

In addition, he clinched the Duke Road Race Championship but his joy was overshadowed by a tragic accident in the final Grand Final race that claimed the life of a spectator.
 
With the three-mile circuit brand new to all competitors, practice was untimed and grid positions determined by Championship position with the Supersport 600cc race kicking things off. The five-lap race saw Farquhar lead from start to finish for his first win of the day and he immediately followed this up with another dominant performance in the Open race. With the fastest lap of the day, 107.897mph, he was able to take the chequred flag by five seconds once more.

Visit the Armoy Gallery

  

Mid Antrim

Ryan Farquhar's dominance of the 2009 Irish National Road Race season continued at the Mid Antrim 150 on Saturday with yet another haul of victories. The KMR Kawasaki took his fourth successive four-timer as he claimed the win in the Superbike, Grand Final, Supersport 600cc and Supertwins races to make it an astounding 49 wins for the season.
 
Like most of the UK, conditions were far from ideal with practice taking place in the wet but the showers did hold off long enough for Saturday's race schedule to take place. The opening Superbike race saw Farquhar get his day off in the best possible fashion when he took a commanding 6.4second win. He then took fifth place in a rare 250cc outing before getting back to winning ways in the Supersport 600cc race.

 The race was re-started over three laps after Michael Dunlop crashed out but in the re-run, it was William Dunlop who pushed Farquhar all the way, his margin of victory this time a much closer 1.7seconds.

Visit the Mid Antrim Gallery

North West 200

Today's big race, the NorthWest 200, has been cancelled because conditions are too dangerous to compete safely even after the start was delayed twice due to intermittent rain.


Half of The Triangle circuit was wet and the other half dry, so tyre choice was too difficult to call. Clerk of the Course Mervyn White said: "It been a difficult day. There is some standing surface water in places so after the last warm-up lap, I talked at lot of the riders and they said that the conditions were too patchy and we shouldn't race."

View the North West 200 Gallery