Ulster Grand Prix

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Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The Ulster Grand Prix is a defunct motorcycle road race which took place on the Template:Cvt Dundrod Circuit made up entirely of closed-off public roads near Belfast, Northern Ireland. Due to the races having the fastest average speed over a single lap of any motorcycle road race, it was the fastest race of its kind (Road Racing) in the world. The lap record of 136.415 mph (219.539 km/h) was set by Peter Hickman in the 2019 superbike race, a faster average than the Isle of Man TT lap record, which stands at 136.358mph (219.446 km/h) as of 2024, set also by Peter Hickman.

The last running of the event occurred in 2019. As a consequence of increased insurance and sundry costs, in association with diminished sponsorship revenue,[1] together with the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of the meeting has been called into question.[2]

History

Origins

File:NI-UGP hairpin bend.jpg
Hairpin bend on the Dundrod Circuit

The first races took place in 1922 and in 1935 and 1948 the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme gave it the title Grand Prix d'Europe. The Ulster Grand Prix was included as one of the races in the inaugural 1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season (now MotoGP), a place it held until 1971. It also counted for the Formula TT Championship between 1979 and 1990.Template:Fact[3] The race has been held on three different circuits. The Template:Cvt Old Clady circuit was used from 1922 until 1939 and included a notoriously bumpy Template:Cvt straight.[3]

1947 – 1952

After World War II the new Clady circuit was used that, due to road improvements, was now Template:Cvt in length and in use between 1947 and 1952.

1953 – 2019

From 1953 the venue was moved to the Template:Cvt Dundrod Circuit.

The 1971 meeting marked the last year in which the Ulster Grand Prix formed part of the FIM Grand Prix International Motorcycle Racing Calendar. The 250cc race was won by Ray McCulloch[4] whilst the meeting concluded with Australian Jack Findlay taking the honours in the 500cc blue ribband finale race onboard a Suzuki. This was Findlay's first victory for Suzuki[5] and was also notable in that it recorded the first 500cc class win for a motorcycle powered by a two stroke engine.[6][7] The event was cancelled in 1972 because of the political situation in Northern Ireland, but it was held in 2001 during the Foot-and-mouth crisis, even though the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT were cancelled that year.[8][9]

2019 meeting

The final meeting took place in 2019 which saw the running of a full race programme with Man of the Meeting, Peter Hickman, establishing a record of seven victories over two days during which he upped the outright lap record to Script error: No such module "convert"..

Future in doubt

As of 2025 the future of the meeting remains under threat.[10] In the wake of the 2019 races the following meetings were consequently cancelled as a repercussion of a lack of financial backing in addition to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Following the 2019 event several top riders, including Peter Hickman, subsequently had prize money held back by the organisers.[11] As a result Hickman has stated that he would be disinclined to return to any reincarnation of the event until he has received all outstanding monies in full.[11]

In 2020 a winding up order was issued to the Ulster Grand Prix organisers, the Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club, with the Dundrod & District having amassed debts of approximately £300,000. Following the issuing of the order, the club went into liquidation before later entering into a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) to pay back a portion of its debts to creditors.[12]

There was a degree of optimism for the running of the races which would have marked the centenary of the event in 2022. In March of that year, a potential new promotor, the Revival Racing Motorcycle Club, signaled that they were prepared to undertake the stewardship of the meeting with a view to a return of racing in August 2022. In an ambitious bid to bring Ireland's two biggest road races under one organisational umbrella, Revival Racing had sought to put together a major proposal for a financial package of £800,000 which would see them take over the Ulster Grand Prix in addition to seeking to safeguard the future of the North West 200.[13]

Government funding was signed off by the Department of Economy and Department of Finance, but in a late setback Tourism NI refused to support the proposal which in turn resulted in the proposal being withdrawn and the 2022 race meeting was cancelled.[12][10]

During the Autumn of 2022 a further feasibility study was undertaken by Revival Racing with a view to the running of the Ulster Grand Prix in August 2023. Whilst initial studies appeared favourable, Revival Racing subsequently found difficulty in mustering the required financing and in October 2022 issued the following statement: Template:Quotation

This resulted in Revival Racing relinquishing further involvement with the event, and consequently the Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club undertook to attempt to organise the 2023 meeting. The proposed format would have entailed a much reduced programme of racing, more in line with that of a National as opposed to an International meeting.[14]

An important announcementScript error: No such module "Unsubst". was made on 9 February 2023 by the Motorcycle Union of Ireland with regard to the running of motorcycle racing in Ireland for the 2023 season. This followed a significant increase in the insurance premium required to cover the events and consequently placed the 2023 racing schedule under threat of being cancelled.[15] In late April 2023 the organisers cancelled the 2023 event, citing insurance and funding problems.[16]

A further announcement, issued by the event's organisers, the Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club, was made on 8 January 2024, concerning the running of the event as part of the 2024 racing calendar. The statement by the club concluded by stating that due to ongoing insurance and financing issues, the proposed 2024 Ulster Grand Prix had been cancelled.[17][18][19]

Official names and sponsors

  • 1958, 1961, 1964–1965, 1971: Ulster Grand Prix (no official sponsor)[20]

Incidents

In 1997 Dublin sidecar pilot Stephen Galligan died of injuries sustained in a warm-up crash the day before the race. Mr Galligan died ten days later in hospital. Seven-year-old spectator Christopher McConnell-Hewitt also lost his life when he was struck by the sidecar which veered out of control on a long straight and crashed into a crowd. [21]

Notable riders

File:NI-Joey-Dunlop 1982UlsterGP.jpg
Joey Dunlop during the 1982 Ulster Grand Prix

Joey Dunlop won 24 Ulster Grand Prix races during his career, with Phillip McCallen winning 14 races, Peter Hickman with 13 wins, Bruce Anstey 12[22] and Brian Reid 9 wins.[23] Some of the famous riders include: Guy Martin (11 wins) Stanley Woods (7 wins), Jimmie Guthrie, Jimmie Simpson, Artie Bell, Les Graham, Freddie Frith (3 wins), Geoff Duke (3 wins), John Surtees (6 wins), Ray Amm, Carlo Ubbiali (5 wins), Bill Lomas (3 wins), Mike Hailwood (7 wins), Giacomo Agostini (7 wins), Phil Read (3 wins), Bill Ivy (3 wins), Bob McIntyre, Gary Hocking (3 wins), Tom Herron (5 wins), Ron Haslam (5 wins), Jon Ekerold, and more recently Mick Grant, Wayne Gardner, Steve Hislop, Robert Dunlop (9 wins).

FIM World Championship rounds (1949–1971)

Template:Infobox motor race

Multiple winners (riders)

# Wins Rider Wins
Category Years won
7 Template:Flagicon Mike Hailwood 500cc 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967
350cc 1966
250cc 1967
125cc 1959
Template:Flagicon Giacomo Agostini 500cc 1968, 1969, 1970
350cc 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970
6 Template:Flagicon John Surtees 500cc 1958, 1959
350cc 1958, 1959, 1960
250cc 1955
5 Template:Flagicon Carlo Ubbiali 250cc 1960
125cc 1950, 1956, 1958, 1960
4 Template:Flagicon Jim Redman 350cc 1962, 1963, 1964
250cc 1963
Template:Flagicon Luigi Taveri 250cc 1956
125cc 1957, 1962, 1966
3 Template:Flagicon Geoff Duke 500cc 1950, 1951
350cc 1951
Template:Flagicon Maurice Cann 250cc 1949, 1950, 1952
Template:Flagicon Bill Lomas 500cc 1955
350cc 1955, 1956
Template:Flagicon Gary Hocking 500cc 1961
350cc 1961
250cc 1959
Template:Flagicon Phil Read 500cc 1964
250cc 1964, 1965
Template:Flagicon Bill Ivy 250cc 1968
125cc 1967, 1968
2 Template:Flagicon Ken Kavanagh 500cc 1953
350cc 1952
Template:Flagicon Werner Haas 250cc 1954
125cc 1953
Template:Flagicon Cecil Sandford 250cc 1957
125cc 1952
Template:Flagicon John Hartle 500cc 1956, 1960
Template:Flagicon Hugh Anderson 125cc 1963, 1964
Template:Flagicon Kel Carruthers 250cc 1969, 1970
Template:Flagicon Ángel Nieto 50cc 1969, 1970

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

# Wins Manufacturer Wins
Category Years won
24 Template:Flagicon MV Agusta 500cc 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1969, 1970
350cc 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970
250cc 1956, 1958, 1960
125cc 1952, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960
13 Template:Flagicon Honda 500cc 1966, 1967
350cc 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966
250cc 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967
125cc 1961, 1962, 1966
11 Template:Flagicon Norton 500cc 1950, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1965
350cc 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
8 Template:Flagicon Moto Guzzi 500cc 1955
350cc 1955, 1956, 1957
250cc 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952
7 Template:Flagicon Yamaha 250cc 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1971
125cc 1967, 1968
5 Template:Flagicon NSU 250cc 1953, 1954, 1955
125cc 1953, 1954
4 Template:Flagicon Suzuki 500cc 1971
125cc 1963, 1964, 1965
2 Template:Flagicon Velocette 350cc 1949, 1950
Template:Flagicon Mondial 250cc 1957
125cc 1950
Template:Flagicon Gilera 500cc 1952, 1957
Template:Flagicon Derbi 50cc 1969, 1970
Template:Flagicon MZ 350cc 1971
250cc 1959

By year

A pink background indicates a round that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship.

Year Track 50cc 125cc 250cc 350cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1971 Dundrod Race cancelled[N 1] Template:Flagicon Ray McCullough Yamaha Template:Flagicon Peter Williams MZ Template:Flagicon Jack Findlay Suzuki Report
1970 Template:Flagicon Ángel Nieto Derbi Template:Flagicon Kel Carruthers Yamaha Template:Flagicon Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1969 Template:Flagicon Ángel Nieto Derbi Template:Flagicon Kel Carruthers Benelli Template:Flagicon Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1968 Template:Flagicon Bill Ivy Yamaha Template:Flagicon Bill Ivy Yamaha Template:Flagicon Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1967 Template:Flagicon Bill Ivy Yamaha Template:Flagicon Mike Hailwood Honda Template:Flagicon Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Mike Hailwood Honda Report
1966 Template:Flagicon Luigi Taveri Honda Template:Flagicon Ginger Molloy Bultaco Template:Flagicon Mike Hailwood Honda Template:Flagicon Mike Hailwood Honda Report
1965 Template:Flagicon Ernst Degner Suzuki Template:Flagicon Phil Read Yamaha Template:Flagicon František Šťastný Jawa Template:Flagicon Dick Creith Norton Report
1964 Template:Flagicon Hugh Anderson Suzuki Template:Flagicon Phil Read Yamaha Template:Flagicon Jim Redman Honda Template:Flagicon Phil Read Norton Report
1963 Template:Flagicon Hugh Anderson Suzuki Template:Flagicon Jim Redman Honda Template:Flagicon Jim Redman Honda Template:Flagicon Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report
1962 Template:Flagicon Luigi Taveri Honda Template:Flagicon Tommy Robb Honda Template:Flagicon Jim Redman Honda Template:Flagicon Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report
Year Track 125cc 250cc 350cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1961 Dundrod Template:Flagicon Kunimitsu Takahashi Honda Template:Flagicon Bob McIntyre Honda Template:Flagicon Gary Hocking MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Gary Hocking MV Agusta Report
1960 Template:Flagicon Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Template:Flagicon John Surtees MV Agusta Template:Flagicon John Hartle Norton Report
1959 Template:Flagicon Mike Hailwood Ducati Template:Flagicon Gary Hocking MZ Template:Flagicon John Surtees MV Agusta Template:Flagicon John Surtees MV Agusta Report
1958 Template:Flagicon Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Tarquinio Provini MV Agusta Template:Flagicon John Surtees MV Agusta Template:Flagicon John Surtees MV Agusta Report
1957 Template:Flagicon Luigi Taveri MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Cecil Sandford FB-Mondial Template:Flagicon Keith Campbell Moto Guzzi Template:Flagicon Libero Liberati Gilera Report
1956 Template:Flagicon Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Luigi Taveri MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi Template:Flagicon John Hartle Norton Report
1955 Template:Flagicon John Surtees NSU Template:Flagicon Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi Template:Flagicon Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi Report
1954 Template:Flagicon Rupert Hollaus NSU Template:Flagicon Werner Haas NSU Template:Flagicon Ray Amm Norton Template:Flagicon Ray Amm [N 2] Norton Report
1953 Template:Flagicon Werner Haas NSU Template:Flagicon Reg Armstrong NSU Template:Flagicon Ken Mudford Norton Template:Flagicon Ken Kavanagh Norton Report
1952 Clady Template:Flagicon Cecil Sandford MV Agusta Template:Flagicon Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi Template:Flagicon Ken Kavanagh Norton Template:Flagicon Cromie McCandless Gilera Report
1951 Template:Flagicon Cromie McCandless [N 3] FB-Mondial Template:Flagicon Bruno Ruffo Moto Guzzi Template:Flagicon Geoff Duke Norton Template:Flagicon Geoff Duke Norton Report
1950 Template:Flagicon Carlo Ubbiali FB-Mondial Template:Flagicon Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi Template:Flagicon Bob Foster Velocette Template:Flagicon Geoff Duke Norton Report
1949 Template:Flagicon Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi Template:Flagicon Freddie Frith Velocette Template:Flagicon Les Graham AJS Report
Footnotes

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  1. ↑ The 1971 50cc race was cancelled as the organisers had only received eight entries.[24]
  2. ↑ The 1954 500cc race was stopped due to bad weather and the race was excluded from the world championship.[25]
  3. ↑ The 1951 125cc race only had four competitors and the race was excluded from the world championship.[26]

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See also

References

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  1. ↑ The Ulster Grand Prix, Again, Unlikely For 2023 Season rideapart.com, 29 October 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023
  2. ↑ Ulster Grand Prix future in doubt as 2022 centenary event cancelled amid funding shortfall ITV News, 7 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023
  3. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  8. ↑ Ulster Grand Prix 2001 – Preview (retrieved 10 September 2006)
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External links

Template:MotoGP races Template:Ulster Grand Prix

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