[2] The race has been held on three different circuits. The 20.5 mi (33.0 km) Old Clady circuit was used from 1922 until 1939 and included a notoriously bumpy 7 mi (11 km) straight.[2]
After World War II the new Clady circuit was used that, due to road improvements, was now 16.467 mi (26.501 km) in length and in use between 1947 and 1952.
In 1953 the race was moved to the 7.401 mi (11.911 km) Dundrod Circuit where it is still held. The 1971 event was won by Australian Jack Findlay in what was the Ulster Grand Prix's last year as part of the FIM Grand Prix international motorcycle racing calendar. Findlay's victory on a Suzuki was also notable for marking the first 500cc class win for a motorcycle powered by a two stroke engine.[3][4] 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.[5][6]
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. [7]
Bruce Anstey won the Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2010, setting a new lap record of 133.977 mph (215.615 km/h), making him the fastest rider on the fastest motorcycle racing circuit in the world.[8][9]
Future in doubt
As of 2023 the future of the meeting is under threat.[10] The last running of the event was in 2019 with the following meetings being cancelled as a consequence of a lack of financial backing in addition to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
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.[11]
In March 2022 a potential new promotor, the Revival Racing Motorcycle Club, had signalled that they were prepared to undertake the stewardship of the meeting with a view to a return of racing in August 2022. However once again the required funding could not be secured and this resulted in the proposal being withdrawn and the 2022 race meeting was cancelled.[11][10]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 starement:
"As this situation is unlikely to change in time to allow us to progress for 2023, we have therefore reluctantly withdrawn our UGP date application with the MCUI (UC)."
— Revival Racing Motorcycle Club statement: Thursday October 27, 2022.[10]
An important announcement was made on February 9 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.[12]
Official names and sponsors
1958, 1961, 1964–1965, 1971: Ulster Grand Prix (no official sponsor)[13][14][15][16][17]
^By, The Motorsport Memorial Team. "Motorsport Memorial -". www.motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
^Pinchin, Gary (2010) "Bruce Anstey: Road racing’s reclusive hero", Motorcycle News, 18 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010
^"Ulster Grand Prix: Anstey celebrates being fastest man on planet", The Belfast Telegraph, 17 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010
^ abc"Ulster GP return shelved by Revival Racing MCC" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^ ab"UGP off amid doubts over event's future" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^"North West 200 organisers 'not giving up fight'" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^"1958 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
^"1961 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
^"1964 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
^"1965 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
^"1971 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
^"Anstey claims 12th Ulster GP win at Dundrod". 14 August 2016 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^"Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1971" [World Championship Road Racing – 1971]. Racing Memory (in French). from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
^"Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1954" [World Championship Road Racing – 1954]. Racing Memory (in French). from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
^"Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1951" [World Championship Road Racing – 1951]. Racing Memory (in French). from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
External links
Ulster Grand Prix official website
Ulster Grand Prix race history
Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club
March 08, 2023
ulster, grand, prix, motorcycle, road, race, that, takes, place, dundrod, circuit, made, entirely, closed, public, roads, near, belfast, northern, ireland, united, kingdom, according, race, organisers, fastest, road, race, world, venuedundrod, circuitfirst, ra. The Ulster Grand Prix is a motorcycle road race that takes place on the 7 401 mi 11 911 km Dundrod Circuit made up entirely of closed off public roads near Belfast Northern Ireland United Kingdom According to the race organisers it is the fastest road race in the world 1 Ulster Grand PrixVenueDundrod CircuitFirst race1922Most wins rider Joey Dunlop 24 The first races took place in 1922 and in 1935 and 1948 the Federation 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 citation needed Since the Covid pandemic meeting cancellation in 2020 the future of the meeting is in doubt Contents 1 History 2 Future in doubt 3 Official names and sponsors 4 Famous riders 5 FIM World Championship rounds 1949 1971 5 1 Multiple winners riders 5 2 Multiple winners manufacturers 5 3 By year 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory Edit Hairpin bend on the Dundrod Circuit 2 The race has been held on three different circuits The 20 5 mi 33 0 km Old Clady circuit was used from 1922 until 1939 and included a notoriously bumpy 7 mi 11 km straight 2 After World War II the new Clady circuit was used that due to road improvements was now 16 467 mi 26 501 km in length and in use between 1947 and 1952 In 1953 the race was moved to the 7 401 mi 11 911 km Dundrod Circuit where it is still held The 1971 event was won by Australian Jack Findlay in what was the Ulster Grand Prix s last year as part of the FIM Grand Prix international motorcycle racing calendar Findlay s victory on a Suzuki was also notable for marking the first 500cc class win for a motorcycle powered by a two stroke engine 3 4 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 5 6 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 7 Bruce Anstey won the Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2010 setting a new lap record of 133 977 mph 215 615 km h making him the fastest rider on the fastest motorcycle racing circuit in the world 8 9 Future in doubt EditAs of 2023 the future of the meeting is under threat 10 The last running of the event was in 2019 with the following meetings being cancelled as a consequence of a lack of financial backing in addition to the Covid 19 Pandemic In 2020 a winding up order was issued to the Ulster Grand Prix organisers the Dundrod amp District Motorcycle Club with the Dundrod amp District having amassed debts of approximately 300 000 Following the issuing of the order the club went into liquidation 11 In March 2022 a potential new promotor the Revival Racing Motorcycle Club had signalled that they were prepared to undertake the stewardship of the meeting with a view to a return of racing in August 2022 However once again the required funding could not be secured and this resulted in the proposal being withdrawn and the 2022 race meeting was cancelled 11 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 starement As this situation is unlikely to change in time to allow us to progress for 2023 we have therefore reluctantly withdrawn our UGP date application with the MCUI UC Revival Racing Motorcycle Club statement Thursday October 27 2022 10 An important announcement was made on February 9 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 12 Official names and sponsors Edit1958 1961 1964 1965 1971 Ulster Grand Prix no official sponsor 13 14 15 16 17 Famous riders Edit 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 18 and Brian Reid 9 wins citation needed 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 EditUlster Grand Prix Grand Prix motorcycle racingVenueDundrod Circuit 1953 1971 Clady Circuit 1949 1952 First race1949Last race1971Most wins rider Mike Hailwood Giacomo Agostini 7 Most wins manufacturer MV Agusta 24 Multiple winners riders Edit Wins Rider WinsCategory Years won7 Mike Hailwood 500 cc 1962 1963 1966 1967350 cc 1966250 cc 1967125 cc 1959 Giacomo Agostini 500 cc 1968 1969 1970350 cc 1967 1968 1969 19706 John Surtees 500 cc 1958 1959350 cc 1958 1959 1960250 cc 19555 Carlo Ubbiali 250 cc 1960125 cc 1950 1956 1958 19604 Jim Redman 350 cc 1962 1963 1964250 cc 1963 Luigi Taveri 250 cc 1956125 cc 1957 1962 19663 Geoff Duke 500 cc 1950 1951350 cc 1951 Maurice Cann 250 cc 1949 1950 1952 Bill Lomas 500 cc 1955350 cc 1955 1956 Gary Hocking 500 cc 1961350 cc 1961250 cc 1959 Phil Read 500 cc 1964250 cc 1964 1965 Bill Ivy 250 cc 1968125 cc 1967 19682 Ken Kavanagh 500 cc 1953350 cc 1952 Werner Haas 250 cc 1954125 cc 1953 Cecil Sandford 250 cc 1957125 cc 1952 John Hartle 500 cc 1956 1960 Hugh Anderson 125 cc 1963 1964 Kel Carruthers 250 cc 1969 1970 Angel Nieto 50 cc 1969 1970Multiple winners manufacturers Edit Wins Manufacturer WinsCategory Years won24 MV Agusta 500 cc 1958 1959 1961 1962 1963 1968 1969 1970350 cc 1958 1959 1960 1961 1967 1968 1969 1970250 cc 1956 1958 1960125 cc 1952 1956 1957 1958 196013 Honda 500 cc 1966 1967350 cc 1962 1963 1964 1966250 cc 1961 1962 1963 1967125 cc 1961 1962 196611 Norton 500 cc 1950 1951 1953 1956 1960 1964 1965350 cc 1951 1952 1953 19548 Moto Guzzi 500 cc 1955350 cc 1955 1956 1957250 cc 1949 1950 1951 19527 Yamaha 250 cc 1964 1965 1968 1970 1971125 cc 1967 19685 NSU 250 cc 1953 1954 1955125 cc 1953 19544 Suzuki 500 cc 1971125 cc 1963 1964 19652 Velocette 350 cc 1949 1950 Mondial 250 cc 1957125 cc 1950 Gilera 500 cc 1952 1957 Derbi 50 cc 1969 1970 MZ 350 cc 1971250 cc 1959By year Edit A pink background indicates a round that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship Year Track 50 cc 125 cc 250 cc 350 cc 500 cc ReportRider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer1971 Dundrod Race cancelled N 1 Ray McCullough Yamaha Peter Williams MZ Jack Findlay Suzuki Report1970 Angel Nieto Derbi Kel Carruthers Yamaha Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report1969 Angel Nieto Derbi Kel Carruthers Benelli Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report1968 Bill Ivy Yamaha Bill Ivy Yamaha Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report1967 Bill Ivy Yamaha Mike Hailwood Honda Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Mike Hailwood Honda Report1966 Luigi Taveri Honda Ginger Molloy Bultaco Mike Hailwood Honda Mike Hailwood Honda Report1965 Ernst Degner Suzuki Phil Read Yamaha Frantisek Stastny Jawa Dick Creith Norton Report1964 Hugh Anderson Suzuki Phil Read Yamaha Jim Redman Honda Phil Read Norton Report1963 Hugh Anderson Suzuki Jim Redman Honda Jim Redman Honda Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report1962 Luigi Taveri Honda Tommy Robb Honda Jim Redman Honda Mike Hailwood MV Agusta ReportYear Track 125 cc 250 cc 350 cc 500 cc ReportRider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer1961 Dundrod Kunimitsu Takahashi Honda Bob McIntyre Honda Gary Hocking MV Agusta Gary Hocking MV Agusta Report1960 Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta John Hartle Norton Report1959 Mike Hailwood Ducati Gary Hocking MZ John Surtees MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta Report1958 Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Tarquinio Provini MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta Report1957 Luigi Taveri MV Agusta Cecil Sandford FB Mondial Keith Campbell Moto Guzzi Libero Liberati Gilera Report1956 Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Luigi Taveri MV Agusta Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi John Hartle Norton Report1955 John Surtees NSU Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi Report1954 Rupert Hollaus NSU Werner Haas NSU Ray Amm Norton Ray Amm N 2 Norton Report1953 Werner Haas NSU Reg Armstrong NSU Ken Mudford Norton Ken Kavanagh Norton Report1952 Clady Cecil Sandford MV Agusta Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi Ken Kavanagh Norton Cromie McCandless Gilera Report1951 Cromie McCandless N 3 FB Mondial Bruno Ruffo Moto Guzzi Geoff Duke Norton Geoff Duke Norton Report1950 Carlo Ubbiali FB Mondial Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi Bob Foster Velocette Geoff Duke Norton Report1949 Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi Freddie Frith Velocette Les Graham AJS ReportFootnotes The 1971 50cc race was cancelled as the organisers had only received eight entries 19 The 1954 500cc race was stopped due to bad weather and the race was excluded from the world championship 20 The 1951 125cc race only had four competitors and the race was excluded from the world championship 21 See also EditClady Circuit Dundrod Circuit North West 200 Grand Prix motorcycle racing List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing seasons List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World ChampionsReferences Edit The World s Fastest Road Race Ulster Grand Prix Official Website 2010 Retrieved August 2010 a b Eddie McIlwaine 17 August 2008 10 things you didn t know about the big event The Belfast Telegraph p 15 Jack Findlay 3 June 2007 Archived from the original on 12 January 2022 via www telegraph co uk MotoGP Milestones crash net Retrieved 30 March 2017 Ulster Grand Prix 2001 Preview retrieved 10 September 2006 Victoria O Hara 17 August 2008 Revved up for race The Belfast Telegraph p 15 By The Motorsport Memorial Team Motorsport Memorial www motorsportmemorial org Retrieved 3 October 2021 Pinchin Gary 2010 Bruce Anstey Road racing s reclusive hero Motorcycle News 18 August 2010 Retrieved 28 August 2010 Ulster Grand Prix Anstey celebrates being fastest man on planet The Belfast Telegraph 17 August 2010 Retrieved 28 August 2010 a b c Ulster GP return shelved by Revival Racing MCC via www bbc co uk a b UGP off amid doubts over event s future via www bbc co uk North West 200 organisers not giving up fight via www bbc co uk 1958 500cc Class FIM Grand Prix World Championship Programmes The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project www progcovers com 1961 500cc Class FIM Grand Prix World Championship Programmes The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project www progcovers com 1964 500cc Class FIM Grand Prix World Championship Programmes The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project www progcovers com 1965 500cc Class FIM Grand Prix World Championship Programmes The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project www progcovers com 1971 500cc Class FIM Grand Prix World Championship Programmes The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project www progcovers com Anstey claims 12th Ulster GP win at Dundrod 14 August 2016 via www bbc co uk Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route L annee 1971 World Championship Road Racing 1971 Racing Memory in French Archived from the original on 24 June 2011 Retrieved 2 November 2011 Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route L annee 1954 World Championship Road Racing 1954 Racing Memory in French Archived from the original on 29 September 2011 Retrieved 2 November 2011 Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route L annee 1951 World Championship Road Racing 1951 Racing Memory in French Archived from the original on 8 February 2012 Retrieved 2 November 2011 External links EditUlster Grand Prix official website Ulster Grand Prix race history Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ulster Grand Prix amp oldid 1142641696, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
