Anstey wins opening race after Martin crashes out

Bruce Anstey has won the opening race of the 2015 Ulster Grand Prix race week, taking victory in the rescheduled Dundrod 150 race after Guy Martin crashed out of the lead on the final lap of the race.

Martin, the pole sitter, finished the opening lap in second place behind Ian Hutchinson, until a broken gear linkage for the multiple TT inner ruled him out of the action. Form then until the final lap, the Tyco BMW racer controlled from the front – until a highside at Irelands’ on the final lap took him out of the race.

From there, it was Anstey’s to cruise home to the win, while Conor Cummins and a delighted Peter Hickman, on only his second trip to the circuit, rounded out the podium.

Martin walked away from his crash relatively unhurt, but was taken to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital for precautionary checks.Speaking after the race, Anstey – always the gentleman – was quick to praise Martin for the battle, despite getting an up-close look at Martin’s crash.

“He was just on the gas a bit to early and he just high sided off so it was a bit of a shame.  It was a really good race up to then I was really enjoying it.  It was at Ireland’s he was just struggling for grip on the last lap. He just came out of there just sideways and just carried on. It just sort of flipped him over – just caught him out at the last second. It’s a bit of a shame as we were having a really great race – I hope he’s all right and I can have another go with him again on Saturday!”

The day’s other races, however, were victims of the day’s recurrent red flags, with only the Dundrod 150 race being run after a lowering sun reduced visibility.