Courtsey of William Dunlop Racing
Gremlins win at Dundrod
Pic by Allan Armstrong
William Dunlop missed out on his first Dundrod 150 Race win on Thursday when the PJ Flynn/KRP Honda rider saw almost certain victory grasped from his hands within sight of the finish line during the McKinstry Skip Hire Dundrod 150 125cc Race.
Dunlop, who was taking part in Thursdays action which was part of the Ulster Grand Prix Bike Week, saw a comfortable seven second lead over Ian Lougher on the last lap, curtailed to the sidelines at Ireland's Corner, after the unfortunate 125 Honda rider suffered from a broken crankshaft. Totally gutted on his return to the paddock, Dunlop said that his misfortune in the race was hard to take in, especially after he had shattered Gary Dynes's 10 year class lap record on lap three, when Dunlop set a new class lap record at 113.370mph.
Later in the day, Dunlop notched up his fastest ever lap of Dundrod when he finished in 10th place in the Dundrod 150 Superbike race, with the 24 year old lapping at 128.820mph on lap three of six.
However, Williams luck returned when he set pole position in qualifying for Saturdays 250cc Ulster Grand Prix, with the PJ Flynn/Ballygowan RRSC Honda rider over a full second faster than second quickest man Ian Lougher.
William Dunlop: "Its been a strange day. Thankfully it was dry, and as you witnessed, the lap records and speeds in general, took a right bashing. I am still upset with the 125cc Dundrod 150 race, when I had the race in the bag with about four miles to go until the flag. The crankshaft appears to have broken due to the engine seizing. Getting the fastest lap was a bonus I suppose, but I had the race in the bag.
The Dundrod 150 Superbike race went ok, and I was happy with my all time fastest ever lap at Dundrod in that race at 128.820mph which I doid on a rear tyre that I used at Armoy, and saw me finished in 10th place, but the pace was really hot up front and that lap of conor cummins at just over 133mph was awesome.
I will start Saturdays 250cc race in pole position and I think it will be a three way race between myself, Ian Lougher and Michael (Dunlop). I still believe that if it is dry I can produce the goods in the 250 class.
I will also start from third place on the front row in the Supersport 600 class I was unable to better Wednesdays lap times after I dropped a value in Thursday practice on Chris Dowds 600 Yamaha. We have fitted a new engine to the bike but how she performs on race day remains to be seen.
In Saturdays Superstock race I will start in 8th place along side Michael Pearson, so that should be a good race with the top ten boys in that class all really on the pace. I just hope that it stays dry on Saturday, but the forecast is not to promising, and that is not good news for me, so here's hoping".
