Michael Dunlop bounced back from the clutch problems that had put him out of the opening Supersport race to clinch victory in the Ulster GP Superstock race, his third successive win in the class and sixth UGP win in total. Riding the MD Racing Honda, Dunlop overhauled initial pace setter Gary Johnson on the third lap and, aided by the fastest lap of the race at 130.10mph, ran out victor by almost seven seconds.
"The bike went well and although the Kawasaki had better top end, once I'd got to the front I was able to pull away," said Dunlop afterwards. "I couldn't pull out of Gary's slipstream and he was riding well again so it was tough to begin with and it's nice to take the win on the Honda. It also makes up for the 600 race and I really enjoyed the race so I just need to pull my finger out for the rest of the day."
With the rain having stopped and the sun breaking through the clouds, a clear dry line had appeared and all the front runners went out on dry tyres although first race winner Guy Martin's race ended before it had got going as he pulled in at Cochranstown on the opening lap. There was also drama on the start line as Lee Johnston and Rob Barber collided, both riders fortunate to escape unharmed.
It was Johnson who led at the end of the opening lap by just 0.2s from Dunlop with Bruce Anstey in third two seconds back closely followed by Ian Lougher and Dean Harrison. The front two were rapidly pulling away though and by the end of lap two, their gap over Lougher, who was now in third, was 5.6s. The Welshman had his hands full with Anstey and Harrison, just 0.6s between the trio.
By now the course was almost dry for the entire lap, just a few damp patches under the trees remaining, and Dunlop fought his way to the front on lap three with a 128mph+ lap. Harrison meanwhile had moved up to third as Derek Sheils continued to circulate in a lonely sixth place.
Once in the lead, Dunlop utilised the clear track to its fullest and with the fastest lap of the race on lap five, the race was all but his and he duly completed the final lap to win by a commanding 6.6s, Johnson later admitting he ahdn't got adjusted to the Kawasaki quick enough nor been committed enough through the corners. Anstey used all his experience to edge out Harrison for third by 0.3s as Lougher took fifth and Sheils sixth. Stephen Thompson overhauled Dan Cooper on the run in to the line to claim seventh with Gareth Keys and Paul Shoesmith having an equally close dice for ninth.
