2016 Ulster GP: Hutchinson takes narrow Superstock victory
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03/07/2017
Ian Hutchinson got the 2016 Ulster Grand Prix underway in fine style on Saturday morning when he won the opening Superstock race on the Tyco BMW by 0.2s from Michael Dunlop.
Despite starting 14th on the grid, it was Hutchinson who led at the end of the opening lap by 0.9s from Derek Sheils and Peter Hickman with Dan Kneen in fourth, Dean Harrison fifth and Dunlop back in sixth. However, Hickman was looking down at the machine as he flashed past the Grandstand and, indeed, he pulled in to retire at the end of the second lap where Hutchy still led.
The gap was down to 0.5s and it was Kneen who was now up to second on the Mar Train Racing Yamaha with Dunlop just behind him on the Hawk Racing BMW. He lapped at 131.517mph and he was certainly charging, grabbing the lead at Jordan’s Cross third time around.
His third lap was 132.115mph and it put him 0.8s clear of Hutchinson at half race distance with the top five now completed by Kneen, Harrison and Sheils. Kneen was sticking with the leading duo though and by the end of lap four, there was still only 1.3s between the leading trio.
Hutchinson had upped the pace to 132.292mph which saw him close the gap to just 0.3s with two laps to go. Harrison, meanwhile, was still in fourth but over eight seconds adrift as he battled with Conor Cummins and Sheils.
Dunlop still led with one lap to go and on the final lap, the lead changed hands on numerous occasions. Hutchinson went back to the front at Jordan’s Cross only for Dunlop to retaliate by the time they reached the hairpin. Coming back through the Flowbog Crossroads and Quarry Bends though, Hutchinson re-took the lead and held on to claim his sixth UGP win. Dunlop had to settle for second with Kneen taking an excellent third, only his second ever podium at the event.
The battle for fourth went down to the wire and it was Harrison who prevailed from Cummins, Gary Johnson and Sheils with just over half a second covering them at the chequered flag. Steve Mercer, Jamie Coward and Bruce Anstey completed the top ten with Dan Hegarty the best of the newcomers in 12th.
