Hickman Dominates Ulster Grand Prix 2019

Peter Hickman, BMW S1000RR, on his way to winning the Superstock race at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo Barry Cregg.

If there was ever a day of challenging conditions for the organizers of the Ulster Grand Prix today put them to the ultimate test. With heavy overnight rain and low cloud that lay as a heavy mist over much of the circuit at road closing time, it did not bode well. With further torrential rain by mid morning it looked like the writing was on the wall for this years races. Many thought they would not see a bike on track and all that they would see was the road sweepers go by on another lap of the circuit as they fought against the floods appearing on the track from the rain and also the water running off the fields. They won the battle though and their perseverance paid off, as the rain eased and water lying on the trackside dried up enough for Clerk of the Course Noel Johnson to let out competitors for the opening race of the day.

Peter Hickman, BMW S1000RR, on his way to winning the Superstock race at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo Barry Cregg.

First up was the Superstock race where Peter Hickman wanted to keep his winning streak at the Dundrod track going this year after winning both the Superbike and Supersport races on Thursday evening. Of course Dean Harrison, Conor Cummins, Davey Todd, Derek Sheils, Lee Johnston would out to stop him. Hickman however got the start he wanted and headed the field down the flying kilo for the first time of the day. Not as easy to do in the wet as the leading rider would always be the first to come across any difficult areas first. This was no problem to current circuit lap record holder who built his lead as the opening lap went on. Behind him Davey Todd, Conor Cummins and Lee Johnston battled it out for the final two podium spots. Hickman was out of sight by half distance and comfortably extended his lead and cruised to victory on his BMW S1000RR. Todd also on a BMW came home in second with Cummins bring his Honda home in third.

Conor Cummins, Honda Fireblade, in action during the Superstock race at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo Barry Cregg

Peter Hickman, Triumph 675, leads Davey Todd, Honda CBR600, on his way to winning Supersport race 2 at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo Barry Cregg.

The second race was for the ever popular Supersport machines and many were hoping for a repeat of Thursdays race between Peter Hickman and Lee Johnston. Wet roads meant that it might not work out the way the fans wanted it and it proved to be the case. Again Hickman on his reliable Triumph 675 got the wholeshot and once again opened up an early leads from Johnston, Todd, Cummins and Jamie Coward. While the rest battled it out Hickman got away and ran home again comfortably. Johnston did break clear from the battle for second and left the two Padgetts Honda riders fight over the final podium place, Todd won that battle but by only 0.42 of a second.

Peter Hickman, Triumph 675, on his way to winning Supersport race 2 at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo Barry Cregg

With two wins from two so far could Hickman make it a treble in the first Superbike race of the day? It would be hard to bet against him as both he and his BMW S1000RR are clearly working so well on the roads this year. It was Dean Harrison on his Kawasaki ZX10R who got the start and lead on the opening lap. Hickman didn't take long to get by though and again set out to build a big lead. Harrison tried hard for the next couple of laps but just could not stay on Hickman's pace. This meant he was having to defend from Conor Cummins on his Honda Fireblade. Hickman controlled the race and came home to make it a hat-trick of wins by four seconds. Cummins got the better of Harrison but by only 0.93 of a second.

Dean Harrison, Kawasaki ZX10R, leads Peter Hickman, BMW S1000RR, during Superbike race 2 during the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Peter Hickman, BMW S1000RR, on his way to winning Superbike race 2 at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo Barry Cregg

Sadly the Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight race was red flagged after one lap due to a crash leaving Neil Kernohan and Michal Dokoupil to take the wins in each class.

Lee Johnston, Yamaha R6, in action during Supersport race 2 at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo Barry Cregg

Derek Sheils, Yamaha R6, in action during Supersport race 2 at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo Barry Cregg

Up next were the Supertwins where Christian Elkin on a Hawasaki and Joe Loughlin on an Ian Lougher ran Patton provided the damp spectators to a much needed closely fought race. Loughlin got the start and lead from Elkin, Lee Johnston and Ian Lougher who was making his final race appearance at Dundrod. Loughlin and Elkin broke away from the field to battle for the win after the opening laps were completed. Both riders took turns to lead as each had an advantage over the other on different parts of the circuit. Loughlin struggled though out of the hairpin with a tall first gear and this is where Elkin took advantage and as they exited it on the final lap he got a better run entering Flowbog Crossroads and took the lead which he held to the line despite having to deal with a back marker. Lee Johnston came home in third.

Christian Elkin, Kawasaki ER6, on his way to winning the Supertwins race at the Ulster Grand Prix. Photo: Joe Connolly.

Joe Loughlin, Patton, in action during the Supertwins race at the Ulster Grand Prix. Photo: Joe Connolly.

Davey Todd, BMW S1000RR, in action during Superbike race 2 at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Lee Johnston, BMW S1000RR, in action during Superbike race 2 at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Derek Sheils, Suzuki GSXR 1000, in action during Superbike race 2 at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo: Barry Cregg

Supersport riders lined up on the grid for their second race of the day and as the track conditions had improved greatly since their earlier race, it meant a closer fought race looked likely. That is what happened and again Hickman on his Triumph 675 and Johnston on his Yamaha R6, put on a thrilling show for the crowds. Both riders fought hard but fair and pushed each other all the way. Just to make it harder for Hickman he had to deal with a loose filler cap and had to deal with fuel spilling out on to him and his bike on the opening laps. Hickman got back into the lead on the penultimate lap and try as he might Johnston just could not get by finishing 0.145 seconds behind. Conor Cummins finished on the podium again in third.

Conor Cummins, Honda Fireblade, in action during the Superstock race at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo: Barry Cregg

Lee Johnston, BMW S1000RR, in action during the Superstock race at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo: Barry Cregg

With four wins from four starts and six from six if including Thursday evenings races, Peter Hickman was on the verge of creating history as he lined up for the final race of the day and the second Superbike race. If he were to win it, he would make it five wins from five starts a record held since 1996 by Phillip McCallen. Again it was Dean Harrison who put it up to him on the opening laps but began to fall behind as the race went on. To be fair nobody was in the same league as Hickman who never put a wheel wrong and made riding the Dundrod circuit at an average speed of over 134mph in damp conditions look like a Sunday morning ride. Conor Cummins again filled the podiums places in third to round off a successful meeting for the Manxman. Derek Shiels put in a good showing finishing in sixth and finishing top local rider on his Suzuki.

MIchael Dunlop, BMW S1000RR, in action during the Superstock race at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo: Barry Cregg

The 2019 UGP certainly belonged to Peter Hickman who put on a display of riding that the rest simply could not live with. He has now set a new benchmark for the rest to rise to next year. Credit to the organisers for getting the show going at all let alone a full race programme after the high level of rainfall that fell.