Peter Hickman made it three Supersport victories from three starts at the FonaCAB Ulster Grand Prix, but only after emerging on top from a pulsating race long duel with Lee Johnston for Skegness Raceway Supersport honours.
Evenly matched in Thursday’s thrilling Shoei Helmets Supersport race, this week’s third middleweight class encounter saw TROOPER Triumph mounted Hickman, Ashcourt Racing Yamaha mounted Johnston treat fans around Dundrod to another thriller.
Separated by just 0.101 of a second after the completion of lap number four, the fifth lap saw Hickman and Johnston get closer and closer in proximity, as the battle for race victory intensified.
Onto the sixth and final lap and Hickman quickly made his move to the front, could ‘General Lee’ respond?
Of course he did, but would that one final piece of determination, pace, race craft be enough to outwit Dundrod maestro Hickman.
The answer for fans favourite Johnston was unfortunately no, as Hickman crossed the line at the end of lap six to take race honours by just 0.145 of a second.
Runner-up for the third Supersport race in succession to Hickman, eight times International Road Race winner Johnston was full of praise for the UGP lap record holder who set a new record for race wins at a single Ulster GP meeting.
Photo by Tommy Vennard
Completing the podium finishers behind Hickman, Johnston was Milenco by Padgetts Conor Cummins who just got the better of team mate, IRRC Superbike series leader Davey Todd.
PreZ Racing’s Jamie Coward finished fifth whilst Martin Jones Racing backed Michael Sweeney, banked a more than creditable sixth place finish.
Wrapping up the top ten finishers were Davies Motorsport’s Dominic Herbertson (7th), French star Xavier Denis (8th), Maxwell Freight Services runner-up Joe Loughlin (9th) and former Senior Manx GP champ Tom Weeden (10th).
Words by Stevie Rial