Ulster Grand Prix: Farquhar tops practice

Ryan Farquhar topped the practice leaderboard in last night’s Ulster GP final combined superbike/superstock practice session.

The KMR Kawasaki privateer lapped the 7.4mile Dundrod road course at 129.812mph but it brought controversy as Farquhar uses the same ZX-10 superstock bike for the superbike class (usually just swapping tyres and minor suspension adjudtements) and his rivals claimed he ran slick tyres when he was credited with the same time for pole position in the superstock class.

Farquhar said: “I don’t see what the problem is. The organisers know I’m using the same bike for both classes.”

Keith Amor clocked 129.429mph on his BMW but only ran one qualifying lap on treaded tyres so he was posted as a non-qualifier in the Superstock class.

He ran slicks on the same bike to post a lap of 128.684mph for third quickest in the superbike class behind pole-man Farqhuar and Michael Dunlop. 

“It’s ridiculous,” said Amor of Farquhar’s fast lap. “How can he have the same time credited in the superbike and the superstock class?”

It was all very confusing on a very difficult opening day for the Ulster Grand Prix that was afflicted by both inclement weather and accidents which meant no one got close to the 133mph lap record.

There were three crashes at Tornagrough, two requiring the red flag then Dundrod rookie Lee Gourlay, riding a Ryan Farquhar-prepared Kawasaki SuperTwin, ran out of road at Dawson’s and crashed heavily coming onto the start/finish straight.

He sustained a suspected broken femur and head injuries but was said to be stable in hospital.

Roads closed at 1.30pm but the final session didn’t finish until 8.45pm.