Ballymoney rider William Dunlop came away from the Armoy Road Races on Saturday stunned by the news that a race fan had died during a serious accident in the Grand Final, a day that Dunlop said was everyone's worst nightmare.
Clearly upset by the circumstances surrounding Saturday's event, Dunlop will now focus on this weeks Ulster Grand Prix Bike Week, in which the PJ Flynn/CD Racing rider will compete in both the Dundrod 150 and UGP Races.
"It's been a hard weekend for everyone, and what should have been a momerable days racing at Armoy, has ended in tragic circumstances. All our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the spectator who died, and to make it worse, he is from the village," said Dunlop
"I had an OK day I suppose, but was very mindful of next week' s Ulster Grand Prix, and I did not want to do anything silly to jeopardise that. The 125 Honda suffered from another seizer, the last one being at the Mid Antrim. I can not work out why she is doing that all the time, but Mark Keen from KRP Racing is coming over for the Ulster so I will get him to have a look at it before the 125 race at the Dundrod 150.
"I threw away the win in the 250cc race at Armoy, after I had bother seeing where I was going. My visor was steaming up and I could not see on the last lap. Michael (Dunlop) got past me on the run to the finish-line, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
I took a very pleasing second place in the Supersport 600 race, and I know that the 600 Yamaha is as good as any other 600 out there. Not to blow my trumpet too much, but I can see me taking a podium in one of the Supersport 600 races at the Ulster, that's how confident I am with Chris's 600.
The Senior Race was a bit boring to be honest and I just settled in for a safe top five finish, as Ryan just blow us all away again, and congratulations to him on his treble of Irish Championships in 2009. I want to say a very big thank you to all the boys in the Ballygowan Club who presented me with an additional £500 last Thursday night at La Mon House which is to help me out at the Ulster Grand Prix.
"I am extremely proud and grateful for all that Ballygowan Club has done for me this year, and hopefully that will continue into next season. I will repay them with a win at the Ulster."
