Alex O’Grady takes two wins at Ulster Superbike Opener

Alex O’Grady takes two wins at Ulster Superbike Opener

Several Kerry racers competed in the opening round of the Ulster Superbike Championship at Bishopscourt on Saturday.

Alex O’Grady from Ballyduff secured his first Supersport Cup B victory on his Suzuki GSXR and backed that up by winning the second Cup race.

Although entered in the main Supersport Cup  class he admitted to a poor qualifying which forced him into the B races.

His pace in the B races also earned him third place in the Cup class.

“It was first tine out in a long time and I did not make the main race, I made a few changes to the back just before qualifying and dropped three seconds,” he explained. “

“Although I won both B races, it was a pity as my times in those races would put me fighting at the front of the Cup races. In my second race I managed better times than the rider who came third in Cup race so they gave me third place in the Supersport Cup!”

Darragh Crean, using the event as preparation for his British Superbike support season, took two seventh-place finishes in the Super Twins class on his Aprilia. Crean also made his Triumph debut in the Supersport class, finishing 11th and ninth.

=In the Lightweight Supersport class, Duagh’s Mike Sheeran finished second on his Honda 400, while Abbeyfeale’s Davey Broderick took fourth place.

Stephen Walsh faced mechanical issues in the Classic races. “Clutch gremlins stopped play before it started,” Walsh explained. “I spent the day on the spanners but no joy. I think it’s the clutch springs. Clutches are one of the weak spots on those Honda 500s. Still, the purpose was to test the bike so we did find some stuff out!”