First big win for Kennedy
WEXFORD MOTORCYCLE rider Graham Kennedy from Mulrankin had his first big win at the Ulster Grand Prix in the Dundrod National 150 on Thursday in mixed conditions. He learned the track very quickly, qualifying third for the national race.
In a thrilling national race, Graham came from fourth position and snatched a win on the last lap, by 3.6 seconds, in the process setting the fastest lap of that race.
Qualifying session for the supersport race took place in wet conditions, and Graham qualified 15th immediately behind British Superbike rider, Peter Hickman.
During the racing at the Ulster GP, Graham got his average speed up to 119mph and was clocked at 168mph through the speed trap on the course.
At the start of the racing season this year, Graham was trying to get up to speed and recovering from a crash last July.
He started out at a very mucky Mid-Antrim and finished twelfth, and Tandragee was next finishing 14th.
In Cookstown he was eighth, then 13th in Skerries after making a mistake on the hairpin, before finishing eighth in Walderstown, ninth in Faugheen, and eleventh in Armoy, where he crashed last year.
The last race of the season was due to be at Killalane but unfortunately due to a dispute in the club, ie has been cancelled.
So ends the season for Graham, but as he said himself, ‘ending with a win wasn’t so bad’.
Graham would like to express his gratitude by thanking his main sponsors: Premier Vehicles at Clogh Service Station, Gorey, and also Wexford Motorcycles, Edwards Coaches, Michael Carr, Hillview Motors, Ronan Burke Electrical, Liam Gordon and David Browne.
He would also like to thank Dermot Richards, Tom Devereux, Willie Kane, his girlfriend Nicole Kane, his brother Colin Kennedy and his father Patsy Kennedy for all their help and support throughout the year.