Northern Ireland’s newest racing team was officially launched last night at the Adelaide Insurance Bike Festival '09 and will take part in the National Superstock 600 BSB support class.
 
As part of a major drive to ensure that the Ulster Grand Prix will go ahead in 2009, after being washed out in 2008, the Ulster Grand Prix promoters, with the financial help from a UGP race enthusiast who wishes to remain anonymous, have launched the Ulster Grand Prix Race Team which comprises two local riders, Jamie Hamilton (Ballyclare) and Stuart Elwood (Lisburn), and also Christian Elkin (originally from Macclesfield but now living in Broughshane). They will be managed jointly by Harry Corbett and Mark Elwood with Albert Kirk as team co-ordinator.
 
Hamilton and Elwood will be competing in the extremely competitive National Metzeler Superstock 600 class in the British Championship, this will be Hamilton's second year in this class and he is hoping that 2009 will be his year.

2009 sees Elwood move up from the 125s and his first full season on board the Superstock 600 machinery after a couple of races in this class at the end of the ‘08 season, the teenager who will also be completing his GCSEs this season is determined to be a front runner alongside Hamilton. Meanwhile the vastly more experience Elkin is on board to ride the R6 Yamaha for the team at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix.
 
The UGP team will be run as a satellite team from Seton Tuning who also run Hudson Kennaugh in the Supersport at BSB.
 
Team boss Phil Seton commented said: "We are very pleased to be able to offer our services to the Ulster Grand Prix team, with the three riders ability and our technical knowledge we are looking forward to the season ahead."
 
Clerk of the Course for "The Ulster" Noel Johnston was more than delighted with this new team and is hoping that this year the UGP Bike Week will be back bigger and better in 2009.