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Race History The
Ulster Grand Prix is one of the oldest Motorcycle Racing events in the
world. First held in 1922 it quickly established itself as one of the most
important road-races in the calendar and drew entries from all the top
riders. In
1935 the Federation Internationale Motocycliste conferred on it the title
" Grand Prix d` Europe": an honor which was repeated in 1948.
When the world championships were inaugurated in 1949 the Ulster Grand
Prix was included among the events selected to count towards same, a
position it held right up to 1971. The
worsening political situation in Northern Ireland forced the promoters to
cancel the 1972 event, and with the lobby against the dangers of pure
road-racing gaining momentum all the time, championship status was
destined never to return. Nevertheless,
along with the Isle of Man T.T. Races and the North - West 200, the Ulster
Grand Prix is still considered to be one of the three greatest " Road
" races still in existence. From 1922 to 1939 the race was held over
the famous 20.5 mile long Clady circuit, including the notoriously bumpy
7-mile straight. Alterations to part of the circuit during World War 2
resulted in a new Clady circuit measuring 16.5 miles to the lap, and this
was used from 1947 until 1952. In 1953 the race was moved to the nearby
Dundrod circuit, where it is still held. During
the 78-year history of the event, most of the top riders in every era have
competed in it. During the 1920`s entrants included Wal Handley, Alex
Bennett, Joe Craig, Graham Walker and Charlie Dodson. In
the 1930`s leading riders such as Stanley Woods, Jimmy Guthrie, Jimmy
Simpson, Walter Rusk and Dorino Serafini were among the winners, and in
the 1940`s there was Artie Bell, Les Graham and Freddie Frith. Stars of
the 50`s who participated in the Ulster Grand Prix included Geoff Duke,
John Surtees, Ray Amm, Carlo Ubbiali, Bill Lomas and Ken Kavanagh, while
the 1960`s produced heroes like Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Phil
Read, Bill Ivy, Bob McIntyre, Jim Redman and Gary Hocking. Household
names such as Tom Herron, Ron Haslam, John Williams and Jon Ekerold graced
the Dundrod circuit in the 1970`s while the 80`s saw the emergence of
stars like Mick Grant, Brian Reid, Wayne Gardner, Steve Hislop and Carl
Fogarty. Robert Dunlop and Phillip Mc Callen have flown the flag for the 1990`s, but the outstanding rider in the history of the event, (And indeed arguably the greatest pure road-racer ever) is: JOEY DUNLOP. His
record 24 wins at the "ULSTER" spans 3 different
decades--------- His first win was in 1979 and his most recent in 1999.
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