Michael Dunlop’s Ulster treble

Michael Dunlop had never won an Ulster Grand Prix going into this year’s event – but he left the Dundrod course on Saturday evening after being proclaimed the Man of the Meeting after three sensational race wins.

The major highlights of the meeting came from the two Supersort races – both featuring bitter battles with his elder brother William whose Wilson Craig Honda appeared to have a top speed advantage over Michael’s R6.

But the Street Sweep Yamaha rider called upon all his aggression to push harder on the brakes and through the corners as the pair of them swapped the lead several tiems in both races.

Michael won both scraps to add to the Superstock race win over Relentless by TAS Suzuki rider Guy Martin that opened the day’s racing.

Martin finally got his first really big win of the year when he took the honours in the Superbike race that brought the curtain down on the day’s racing – after a scrap with Keith Amor, with William Dunlop third.

Martin had earlier crossed the line first on the road the opening Superbike race of the day, narrowly edging out Amor – but the race win went to Bruce Anstey who had qualified 20th and started from the second wave and therefore had the advantage of clear track.

KMR Kawasaki rider Ryan Farquhar won the Twins race while Ian Lougher racked up his 16th Ulster GP victory with a 250cc race win on a very trick Honda.