BBC SPORT | N Ireland | Lougher rides to treble

Welshman Ian Lougher won both the big Superbike races at the Ulster Grand Prix around the Dundrod circuit on Saturday.

Lougher, riding for the Northern Ireland-based TAS Racing stable, also claimed the Supersport 600 race and a wonderful treble.

In the opening Superbike event which was the major race of the day, he brought his Suzuki home ahead of Richard Britton.

Britton, on his O'Kane Suzuki, headed Adrian Archibald by a whisker into second place.

After a long delay following a re-start due to unfortunate accident featuring Gary Jess, Lougher shot away from the start and never looked back.

He established a new lap record on lap four with a time of 127.820mph. Lougher's average speed was 126.495mph.

In the final race of the day it was again Lougher who nudged ahead of Britton again with New Zealander Bruce Anstey in third.

Lougher was then involved in a thrilling head-to-head with Scotsman Iain Duffus in the Supersport 600.

The two fought out a great scrap over the rereduced five lap race before Lougher picked up the winner's �2000 cheque.

Earlier David Jefferies won the opening Production 1000cc race.

Sitting astride his big TAS Racing Suzuki, the Northern Ireland-based Yorkshireman pipped Archibald with Lougher third.

Jefferies had an average speed of 123.972mph with Archibald on his Red Bull Suzuki clocking 123.273.

However, Archibald posted a new lap record when he went round the Dundrod circuit at an average speed of 126.34mph on his third circuit.

Yorkshire's David Jefferies won the opening race at Dundrod
David Jefferies won the Production 1000cc race

In the 600cc race run concurrently, the Suzuki of Darran Lindsay got the better of Gary Jess who was just ahead of Welshman Nigel Davies.

Davis, however, was demoted following a protest, and John Donnan collected third place.

Lindsay charged round at an average speed of 118.990mph with Jess clocking 118.671.

Lindsay clocked the fastest lap with a speed of 120.785mph.

The result of this race has yet to be officially ratified due to a protest concerning third place.

Lindsay then chalked up a double when he won the five-lap 125cc race with a speed of 107.017mph.

He pushed England James Crumpton into second place with Ian Lougher third.

Spluttered

Lindsay had a fasted lap at 110.086mph.

One of the favourites Robert Dunlop was left at the start after his bike spluttered off and he finally finished in eighth place.

In the 400cc race, Ryan Farquhar and his Kawasaki edged out fellow Ulsterman Gary Jess with Brian Gardiner in third.

Farquhar went round in 108.616mph, but Gardiner chalked up a new record lap of 118.058mph on his fifth circuit.

The main Superbike race of the day was delayed following a spill on the opening lap.

In the Classic race, Gary Jameson on his 750cc Optech Weslake was the easy winner ahead of Wallace Seawright and Bill Wark third.

Results

1000cc Production
1 David Jefferies, 1000 Suzuki, 124.730mph.
2 Adrian Archibald, 1000cc Sukuzi, 123.972
3 Ian Lougher, 1000cc Suzuki, 123.273.

600cc Production
1 Darran Lindsay, Suzuki, 118.990mph
2 Gary Jess, Yamaha, 118.671
3 John Donnan, Yahama, 115.804.

125cc
1 Darran Lindsay, Honda, 107.017mph
2 James Crumpton, Honda, 105.996
3 Ian Lougher, Honda, 106.018.

400cc
1 Ryan Farquhar, Kawasaki, 108.616mph
2 Gary Jess, Kawasaki, 108.452
3 Brian Gardiner, Kawasaki, 108.571.

Superbike Race 1
1 Ian Lougher, Suzuki, 126.495mph
2 Richard Britton, Suzuki, 125.881
3 Adrian Archibald, Suzuki, 125.871.

Superbike Race 2
1 Ian Lougher, Suzuki, 126.170mph
2 Robert Britton, Suzuki, 125.256
3 Bruce Anstey, Honda, 124.701.

250cc
1 Darran Lindsay, Honda, 113.053
2 Dave Burns, Honda, 111.576
3 Rikki McCready, HOnda, 109.215.

Supersport 600
1 Ian Lougher, Suzuki, 120.682mph
2 Iain Duffus, Suzuki, 1290.650
3 Darran Lindsay, Suzuki, 120.115.

Classic
1 Gary Jameson, 750 Optech Westlake, 98.203mph
2 Wallace Seawright, 750 Triumph, 96.860
3 Bill Wark, 500 Drixton Honda, 95.279.


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