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Les Shand’s hopes of success at Saturday's Ulster Grand Prix were thwarted by the Irish weather and, after torrential rain hit the entire province, the organisers were left with little option other than to abandon the races, the first time in its 86-year history that such an outcome had occurred. However, unlike the majority of the paddock, Les did manage to have one race and he finished in an excellent fourth place in Thursday’s 400cc race.
Les came into the 'Prix keen to add to his impressive haul of road racing results this season and again had a full compliment of machinery to aid his cause. However, right from the beginning of the event, circumstances conspired against the riders and the majority of Wednesday's practice sessions also fell victim to the weather.
Qualifying sessions were held on Thursday afternoon but it proved to be a troublesome time for Les as he slipped off his 600cc Suzuki at the hairpin, fortunately without injury. With time lost though, he slipped down to 23rd on the leaderboard whilst the damp conditions for the Superbike class caught out many and he placed 29th. However, with good conditions for the Superstock division, Les showed his true colours and a lap of 123.503mph, his best ever lap around the Dundrod circuit, was good enough for 12th on the grid.
There was also time for the 400cc race on Thursday and Les was locked in a superb battle for 2nd place as the 400cc machines and 650cc twins fought for supremacy. After a scare on the opening lap when he was forced wide at Leathemstown, he regrouped and the battle went right until the last lap when they caught some of the slower 125cc bikes. Unfortunately, Les found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and got held up and as he lost the tow to Paul Dobbs ahead of him, he had to settle for 4th, although this was still a great result on the ER6 Kawasaki.
However, Thursday's Dundrod 150 Superbike was also cancelled and with heavy rain falling all day on Saturday, the Ulster GP races were also called off with Les left to rue what might have been.
Speaking about the meeting, Les said:
'It's really disappointing to have the meeting cancelled, especially as the organisers have put in so much work, but it's just one of those things and there's not a lot we can do about the weather - I've never seen floods like it. We had a few problems in practice, as everyone did, but I was confident that we would be there or thereabouts on race day. I did manage to get the 400cc race under my belt though and it was a really enjoyable race. I got pushed onto the grass on the first lap when the rider in front of me had some machine problems and I lost a lot of places but I managed to claw my way back. The bike is a wee bit down on top speed and when I lost the tow on the last lap, there was no way of fighting back.”
“I was really looking forward to the Superstock and Supersport races on the Saturday but, as it turned out, we never got the chance to race at all. Like, I say, there's not a lot we can do about the weather but it’s a real shame for everyone involved in the meeting.”
Phil Wain
Freelance PR
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