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Lougher Re-Writes Ulster Grand Prix and Dundrod Statistics

Ian Lougher made it 17 Ulster Grand Prix victories with a start to finish win in the 250cc event on Saturday.
On Rico Mendel's 250cc bike, the pre-race favourite dominated the race from the opening lap and ran out the winner by over seven seconds from Denver Robb with Jamie Coward third.

Earlier in the week, the Blackhorse Kawasaki rider/manager became the second most successful competitor round Dundrod when he won the Ulster Grand Prix 125cc race on Thursday afternoon.

Before his 125cc win, Ian had shared the honour with Bob Jackson.

Riding Norman Rank's Motorcycle Competition Service 125cc machine, Ian stamped his authority on the race from the flag and was already moving clear of the field by the time they got to Leathemstown on the first lap.

He continued to lead the race with Paul Robinson in hot pursuit until red flags brought the race to a premature end with just over two laps remaining.

The 2011 Ulster Grand Prix double win takes the popular Welshman's tally of victories at Dundrod to 20 with only Joey Dunlop having more wins, and has also provided him with a total of 38 Ulster Grand Prix rostrum finishes.

Ian Lougher in action on the Blackhorse Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R
Photo: Blackhorse Kawasaki

Saturday Race Day

Lisburn City Council Superstock Race.
Ian lined up on the second row of the grid for the opening race on Saturday on the Ninja ZX-10R. A rain shower just before the start meant that tyre choice would be critical with parts of the circuit dry and others wet. Gary Johnson led on the opening lap by over a second from Michael Dunlop, Guy Martin and Ryan Farquhar as Ian went over the line in seventh, just under three seconds down on the leader and in the company of William Dunlop and Bruce Anstey.

On lap two Lougher was very much on the move and had overhauled not only Dunlop and Anstey but also Farquhar to move up to fourth just under two seconds off the new race leader Michael Dunlop.A lap later and he was up to third just over a second behind second placed Guy Martin and now very much in contention. The next two laps saw Ian settle into third but as they began the last lap Gary Johnson was starting to threaten and indeed it was Johnson who just managed to get past at the hairpin on the final circuit to claim the third podium place with fractions of a second separating the two at the line. Nevertheless a solid start to day for Ian and the team.

Aer Lingus Supersport Race 1
After the initial race was red flagged, from the re-start there was only one second between the leading seven at the end of the first lap as Cameron Donald led from Keith Amor, William Dunlop, Michael Dunlop, Gary Johnson and Bruce Anstey with Ian just behind in eighth ahead of John McGuinness, Wayne Hamilton and Ryan Farquhar. On the second lap Johnson went straight on at the hairpin as McGuinness and Hamilton relegated Lougher to ninth. On the next lap McGuinness was safe in seventh and Farquhar had now moved ahead of Ian who was now tenth. Ian held this position on lap four and on the fifth and final lap Keith Amor crashed out at Leathemstown as Ian eventually finished ninth.

Wash 'n' Dash 250cc Race
Before the race the name on most people's mind as the race favourite was Ian Lougher and indeed that was how the race developed. A spell of rain before the race eventually gave way to bright sunshine as the riders headed out on their opening lap.

At the conclusion of the lap it was clear that barring a mechanical mishap, no-one was going to upset the pre-race predictions and on Rico Mendel's immaculately prepared machine that wasn't likely to happen as Ian led by just under seven seconds, a lead he was increase to 7.15 seconds at the end of the six lap race.

Ian was never troubled throughout the race except for some rear tyre problems in the closing stages, however he had enough in hand in terms of time and race experience to bring the bike safely home for Ulster Grand Prix win number 17. Seamus Elliott went out of second on the final lap enabling Denver Robb to take second with Jamie Cowden third.
Quickest through the speed trap was Lougher at 150mph.  

McKinstry Skip Hire Superbike Race 1
The race was one lap old when it was stopped due to rain and on the re-start Ian decided to pull in at the end of the opening lap.

Around A Pound Supersport Race 2
Ian's last race of the day was the second Supersport race and at the conclusion of the first lap he was ninth just ahead of Conor Cummins and Dan Kneen. On the next lap Kneen moved into ninth with Ian just behind followed by Cummins and Ben Wylie.

On lap three Lougher re-claimed ninth with Cummins now tenth with Kneen and Wylie completing the four-man group. On the next lap positions changed again as Wylie, Kneen and Cummins all got past to relegate Ian to twelfth. Ian and his BSB Superstock runner Cummins were enjoying a great race long scrap, with Lougher eventually getting the better of the Manxman to claim 11th at the conclusion of the six lap race.

So for the second year in succession Ian Lougher has re-written the Ulster Grand Prix and Dundrod Circuit statistics.

It's a welcome break for Ian and the team now before preparations begin for the next rounds of the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 and 600 Championships at Cadwell Park on Bank Holiday weekend August 27-29.