Ulster Grand Prix

The Ulster Grand Prix is a motorcycle race that takes place on the 7.3-mile Dundrod Circuit made up entirely of closed-off public roads near Belfast, Northern Ireland. 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. According to the race organisers, it is the fastest road race in the world.[1]

Ulster Grand Prix
VenueDundrod Circuit
First race1922
Most wins (rider)Joey Dunlop (24)

History
Hairpin bend on the Dundrod Circuit

Thomas Moles, motorcycle enthusiast and Member of Parliament, helped to push through parliament the first Road Races Act, which made it legal for the Clady Course to be closed for the first Ulster Grand Prix on 14 October 1922. That first race had 75 entries in four classes (250cc, 350cc, 600cc and over 600cc).[2] The race has been held on three different circuits. The 20.5-mile Old Clady circuit was used from 1922 until 1939 and included a notoriously bumpy 7-mile straight. It also ran across part of the grass runway at RAF Aldergrove and for the first two years of its existence the pits were on the Seven Mile Straight, by Loanends Primary School.[2]

In 1926 the 500cc race was won by Graham Walker on a Sunbeam. He also won the 1928 Senior race on a Rudge. In the 1936 Lightweight (250cc) event, Ginger Wood and Bob Foster, both on New Imperials, crossed the line so close, that after over 200 miles of racing, it took the judges an hour to decide that Wood was the winner by one-fifth of a second. Foster was, however, adjudged to have achieved the fastest lap. The 1939 Grand Prix was almost called off, but went ahead in spite of an entry of only 60 riders.[2]

After World War II the new Clady circuit was used that, due to road improvements, was now 16.5 miles in length and in use between 1947 and 1952.

In 1953 the race was moved to the 7.401-mile 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]

The 2007 Grand Prix attracted an entry of 162 riders, including 38 new riders, and took place on 18 August 2007, sponsored by The Belfast Telegraph.[6]

Bruce Anstey won the Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2010, setting a new lap record of 133.977 mph, making him the fastest rider on the fastest motorcycle racing circuit in the world.[7][8]

Official names and sponsors

Famous riders
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[14] and Brian Reid 9 wins. 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)
Ulster Grand Prix
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
VenueDundrod Circuit (1953–1971)
Clady Circuit (1949–1952)
First race1949
Last race1971
Most wins (rider)Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini (7)
Most wins (manufacturer)MV Agusta (24)

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

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

By year

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 Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1971 Dundrod Race cancelled [N 1] Ray McCullough Yamaha Peter Williams MZ Jack Findlay Suzuki Report
1970 Dundrod Ángel Nieto Derbi Kel Carruthers Yamaha Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1969 Dundrod Ángel Nieto Derbi Kel Carruthers Benelli Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1968 Dundrod Bill Ivy Yamaha Bill Ivy Yamaha Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1967 Dundrod Bill Ivy Yamaha Mike Hailwood Honda Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Mike Hailwood Honda Report
1966 Dundrod Luigi Taveri Honda Ginger Molloy Bultaco Mike Hailwood Honda Mike Hailwood Honda Report
1965 Dundrod Ernst Degner Suzuki Phil Read Yamaha František Šťastný Jawa Dick Creith Norton Report
1964 Dundrod Hugh Anderson Suzuki Phil Read Yamaha Jim Redman Honda Phil Read Norton Report
1963 Dundrod Hugh Anderson Suzuki Jim Redman Honda Jim Redman Honda Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report
1962 Dundrod Luigi Taveri Honda Tommy Robb Honda Jim Redman Honda Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report
Year Track 125 cc 250 cc 350 cc 500 cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1961 Dundrod Kunimitsu Takahashi Honda Bob McIntyre Honda Gary Hocking MV Agusta Gary Hocking MV Agusta Report
1960 Dundrod Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta John Hartle Norton Report
1959 Dundrod Mike Hailwood Ducati Gary Hocking MZ John Surtees MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta Report
1958 Dundrod Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Tarquinio Provini MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta Report
1957 Dundrod Luigi Taveri MV Agusta Cecil Sandford FB-Mondial Keith Campbell Moto Guzzi Libero Liberati Gilera Report
1956 Dundrod Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Luigi Taveri MV Agusta Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi John Hartle Norton Report
1955 Dundrod John Surtees NSU Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi Report
1954 Dundrod Rupert Hollaus NSU Werner Haas NSU Ray Amm Norton Ray Amm [N 2] Norton Report
1953 Dundrod Werner Haas NSU Reg Armstrong NSU Ken Mudford Norton Ken Kavanagh Norton Report
1952 Clady Cecil Sandford MV Agusta Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi Ken Kavanagh Norton Cromie McCandless Gilera Report
1951 Clady Cromie McCandless [N 3] FB-Mondial Bruno Ruffo Moto Guzzi Geoff Duke Norton Geoff Duke Norton Report
1950 Clady Carlo Ubbiali FB-Mondial Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi Bob Foster Velocette Geoff Duke Norton Report
1949 Clady Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi Freddie Frith Velocette Les Graham AJS Report
Footnotes
  1. The 1971 50cc race was cancelled as the organisers had only received eight entries.[15]
  2. The 1954 500cc race was stopped due to bad weather and the race was excluded from the world championship.[16]
  3. The 1951 125cc race only had four competitors and the race was excluded from the world championship.[17]
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See also

References
  1. "The World's Fastest Road Race" Ulster Grand Prix Official Website 2010. Retrieved August 2010
  2. Eddie McIlwaine (17 August 2008). "10 things you didn't know about the big event". The Belfast Telegraph. p. 15.
  3. "Jack Findlay". 3 June 2007 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  4. "MotoGP Milestones". crash.net. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  5. Ulster Grand Prix 2001 – Preview (retrieved 10 September 2006)
  6. Victoria O'Hara (17 August 2008). "Revved up for race". The Belfast Telegraph. p. 15.
  7. Pinchin, Gary (2010) "Bruce Anstey: Road racing’s reclusive hero", Motorcycle News, 18 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010
  8. "Ulster Grand Prix: Anstey celebrates being fastest man on planet", The Belfast Telegraph, 17 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010
  9. "1958 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  10. "1961 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  11. "1964 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  12. "1965 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  13. "1971 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  14. "Anstey claims 12th Ulster GP win at Dundrod". 14 August 2016 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  15. "Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1971" [World Championship Road Racing – 1971]. Racing Memory (in French). Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  16. "Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1954" [World Championship Road Racing – 1954]. Racing Memory (in French). Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  17. "Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1951" [World Championship Road Racing – 1951]. Racing Memory (in French). Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
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