Hickman excited as UGP dates announced
DUNDROD and District Motorcycle Club, organisers of the Ulster Grand Prix, have announced that their road races will be held on August 8-10, 2019.
Four races will be held on Thursday August 8, including the first of the meeting’s three Superbike races, plus Supersport, Supertwins, combined Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight.
On Saturday August 10, there will be seven races including two Superbike, two Supersport, Superstock, Supertwins, combined Ultra Lightweight and Lightweight.
Race week begins on Monday August 5, with practice for all classes two days later. Practice continues on Thursday morning.
Peter Hickman, this year’s Man of the Meeting and a double winner of Supersport and Superbike races during a curtailed event, said: “I’m looking forward to getting back to Dundrod, it’s one of the best circuits on earth.”
The number of newcomers at the meeting will be restricted and Superbike, Superstock and Supersport are only open to international licence holders, with national licence holders eligible for the other classes.
Clerk of the Course Noel Johnston said: “My key message to everyone, but especially to newcomers, is that Dundrod is an extremely fast and technical circuit which must be treated with respect and that means doing a serious amount of groundwork before taking to the grid.” MARK Allen will have to beat the best snooker has to offer if he is to win on home soil at the Northern Ireland Open next month.
Taking place at the Waterfront Hall from November 12-18, the entry list has been released and features a star-studded cast.
Of the world’s top 16 players, 15 will be in Belfast to try and wrestle the title off last year’s winner Mark Williams.
World champion Williams, who defeated China’s Yan Bintao in the final 12 months ago, is one of the world’s top 16 in action next month, as is the most recognisable name in the sport, Ronnie O’Sullivan.
World No.1 Mark Selby is also down for the event, as are John Higgins, Judd Trump and local favourite Allen, who is currently the World No.11. Allen’s form at the event hasn’t been as good as he would have liked, losing in the quarter-finals in 2016 and in the last 64 last year.
“People from Northern Ireland support their own so I would love to give them something to cheer about,” said the 32-year old.
“I feel as if I’m playing well, my game is in good shape.
“I have put too much pressure on myself to do well there in front of my home crowd. This will be the third year for the event so hopefully I have got used to that feeling and I can cope with it a bit better this time.
“It would be a great time for my game to come together.”