Posted by Cleggy on Aug 15, 2010 in
Bike Racing
The historic Dundrod Race circuit in the County Antrim Hills proved once again that it is beyond doubt the best Race circuit in Ireland serving up close and fast racing.
A fast, flowing circuit with great changes in elevation and some insanely fast ‘Balls out‘ corners is as popular with the competitors who Race around it as it is with the Media Photographers whose job it is to document the events of the Race day Photographically.
For this image of William Dunlop on the CD Racing Superstock Suzuki I used a wide angle lens to capture more of the landscape, for me the fluffy White Clouds and Blue Sky really make this image.
William Dunlop is always great to Photograph, here he is on the CD Racing Supersport Yamaha R6 and again I used a wide angle lens to capture this image as he skims the Kerbs.
On Thursday for the Dundrod 150 races, Manxman Daniel Kneen, Aussie David Johnson and Brian McCormack from Waterford in the South of Ireland served up a fantastic Race where Johnson set a new lap record. It wasn’t enough though as Daniel Kneen took the win with McCormack in Third.
All throughout this years Ulster Grand Prix Bike Week Two Men showed that they were going to be the Men to beat. Falkirk Flyer Keith Amor and Ian Hutchinson.
London based New Zealander Bruce Anstey has struggled for form this year on the Relentless Suzuki but boy did he find his mojo again for the Ulster Grand Prix! Anstey sat behind Hutchy and Amor keeping a watching eye on proceeedings and then on the final lap he ‘pulled the pin‘ setting a new outright circuit lap record with an average speed of just over 133.9 miles per hour to take the Ulster Grand Prix Superbike Race win and give the Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing Team something to cheer about.
Next weekend sees an Irish Clubmans Championship Race at Bishopscourt on the Saturday followed by an Irish Superbike Championship Race at the same venue on Sunday. I will probably miss them both as I will be Photographing my Brother’s Wedding in ‘Derry.
Tags: Bishopscourt, Brian McCormack, Bruce Anstey, CD Racing, Daniel Kneen, David Johnson, Dundrod, Dundrod 150, Ian Hutchinson, Irish Clubmans Championship, Irish Superbike Championship, Keith Amor, Relentless, TAS, Ulster Grand Prix, Waterford, William Dunlop
Posted by Cleggy on Jul 11, 2010 in
Bike Racing
The scheduled Saturday practice session for the 2010 Walderstown Road races was pretty much wiped out due to persistent heavy Rain, thankfully I had not planned on attending practice and by the time Sunday morning dawned the Sky was already looking much clearer.
The old pensioner (Derek Wilson) was again my travelling companion which meant that I’d have to buy my own food or starve as Derek is a Scots Man and they don’t like putting their hands in their pockets too often. We travelled down together with me doing the driving and approximately Two hours later arrived at our destination to be met with a Dry circuit, and clear skies. We made the same journey last year but unfortunately Andrew Neill was to lose his life in a crash and we soon had to return home, but there was no repeat this year (just one Red flag incident) with some great racing.
With Ryan Farquhar away competing at Scarborough (and dominating proceedings) the opportunity was there for someone else to grab a few wins and a slice of the healthy prize fund. The start / finish section of the circuit is the widest section of road and it needs to be with a mass start where a bunch of bikes all have to brake extremely hard at the first road end for the first corner. Here in the images John Burrows machine has the back-end stepping out under braking.
The Supersport race was led from the start by William Dunlop on the CD Racing R6 Yamaha and it looked like he would never be headed.
But half way through the race his brother Michael started to come on strong and was soon right on his back wheel. With a lap to go Michael made his move passing William in mid-air over the jump and managing to get the bike down, and slowed for the peel in point to the next left hander before going on to take the win.
The next event for me is the Irish Superbikes at Kirkistown on Tuesday and then off to Kells for more road racing at the weekend.
Tags: CD Racing, Irish Superbikes, John Burrows, Kells, Kirkistown, Ryan Farquhar, Scarborough, Supersport, Walderstown, William Dunlop
Posted by Cleggy on Jun 6, 2010 in
Bike Racing
With the racing finally running late on Saturday afternoon it meant that Sunday was as per the schedule a day with no racing. I took advantage of this to get a bit of a lie in, a rare treat, before venturing out for another walk round the TT paddock.
I noticed this interesting sign in the Uel Duncan camp, a reflection on their racer Michael Dunlop and just how much he puts on the line (as do all the other competitors) when he tackles the Isle of Man TT Mountain circuit!
John Burrow’s Shark Helmets lay in the corner of his awning unwashed from yesterdays race, and you can see that the Manx insect population has been visibly reduced due the speed the big lad was travelling at.
Inside the awning of Chris Dowd’s Team CD Racing, William Dunlop’s Race Tyre for tomorrows Superstock Race has already been selected.
I then went off a spin in the Car to scout out a few possible shooting locations for tomorrows racing, and there is one spot in the Glen Helen area that looks like it might offer some good Photographs………….but then I would have to contend with more of those Manx Midges!
Tags: CD Racing, Chris Dowd, Glen Helen, Isle of Man TT, John Burrows, Michael Dunlop, Mountain Circuit, Shark Helmet, TT, Uel Duncan, William Dunlop