Ballymoney race ace William Dunlop ended the 2008 Irish Road Race season with a win, a second, a third, and the Man of the meeting award at Sundays Killalane Road Races in North County Dublin, before the CD Racing PJ Flynn backed rider, bit the dust in the 125cc Race after he and brother Michael tangled at Kennedys Corner on the last lap while leading the race.
In a busy and hectic Killalane Races, William again showed all signs that he is a force to be reckoned with, and he deservedly took the Gene McDonnell Memorial Trophy plus 500 euros for the Man of the Meeting.
"That was a really good days racing which had everything in it from winning to crashing. The day started well for us with a seventh place finish in the Open Senior Race," said Dunlop.
"I took it easy on the first lap or two as the track was really dusty and extremely slippy, and I didn't want my days racing to come to a sudden end in the opener. The Supersport 600 race was much better after I took second place behind Keith Amor with just two seconds splitting us at the line, but the CD Yamaha 600 was going like a rocket, and so was Keith!.
"In the Grand Final, I got a very bad start but made up ground as the race went one, but I had a lot of work to do over five laps. I managed to get passed Michael Pearson on lap three and had my sights set on Adrian Archibald with one lap to go, and that was when I made my move up to third place. Ryan and Keith were just to far in front to make any possible challenge on them, but I was happy with third place. Chris Dowds R1 Yamaha is a real quick bike and she probably worked as well for us today than she did all year.
"In the 250cc Race, I got a good start behind pole man Davy Morgan, but it was Michael who got past us all and lead on the opening lap. He made a wee mistake on lap two and that let me through into the lead and I never looked back from that moment onwards and took the win with 1.3 seconds from Morgan and Michael. Again, that wee bike is working well, and after alot of thought, I think that I will retain it for next year as there are alot of memories associated with it.
"In the 125cc Race we were sent back to the pits after some of us had decided to start on slicks and the rain was starting to come on, so we were sent back to change our wheels and tyres. On the restart, Michael and I got away first with Sam (Dunlop) in third and I thought that I had this race won when going onto the last lap in the lead, Michael and I had a bit of a coming together.
"Michael tried to out brake me going into Kennedys Corner and could not get round, so he dumped her right in front of me. I had no where to go and went down also but managed to keep the bike in a riding position, and got going again, but I could only manage sixth place with Sam taking his first National Irish Road Race win.
"I was not all that happy with the crash, and the least said the better, but that's racing. I am looking forward now to going over to Scarborough where I will be riding 125-250 and 600cc machines for Paddy Flynn and Chris Dowds, so if I can carry on with results like today, I will be more than happy."
