Ulster Grand Prix

I was up at Dundrod on Saturday for the Ulster Grand Prix....I was working, but the advantage was that I was able to watch the races from the best seats in the house. It was my first time at a race meeting and the first thing that struck me was the noise.....the bikes are unbelievably loud. Then there's the smell of race fuel....quite distinctive.

I watched the start....the speed with which they fly off the line is unbelievable. I mean....I think that on the R80/7 I can pull away pretty quickly, but just nothing compared to these things! Then after they've set off, you can hear the engines screaming as they fly round the track....you watch on the big screen as they get so close on closed public roads. It is, afterall, meant to be the world's fastest road race!! The home straight is after a long sweeping bend - you watch for the camera helicopter to give you an idea of where the bikes are, then you see them approaching the bend, an angle of lean that must be 50 degrees or so. They fly round the bend at about 140 - 150mph, then onto the straight, the noise is ringing in your ears, it's a blur as they pass (the superbikes reaching 194 - 196mph on the straight!).

I cannot place myself on one of those machines, I can't imagine doing those sorts of speeds (at least without a nappy!!). It was my first road race meeting, but I think I will be back at more, and I definitely plan to hit the North West 200 with a vengence next year!