After giving the Mid-Antrim a miss to give his shoulder a little more time to heal it was off to Dundrod and the Ulster Grand Prix. Having returned to Dundrod in 2006 for the first time in a few years due to his Manx Grand Prix challenge he was looking for a bit more luck this time. The shoulder was still not 100% so it would be case of seeing how it would hold up on the fast flowing 7.4 mile circuit.

Wednesday Practice
Conditions were pretty good as Davy set off on the Investasure Honda Fireblade for the practice session for the Dundrod 150 Superbike Race, although it was still damp in places. It was not to be a great session as he struggled with the conditions and the handling of the Superbike and the impact that was having on his shoulder, he eventually finished a lowly and disappointing 43rd with a lap under 105mph.

Next up was the UGP Supersport Session and things were to go a lot better, the 600cc Machine a lot less vicious so easier to control, and with the roads now dry he managed to get round at just over 113mph and the 25th best time. It was then the turn of the 250cc Two Stroke Machines and Davy was to set the fifth fastest time on the Ballygowan Supporters Club Honda as conditions continued to improve.

Finally it was the first session for the UGP Superbike’s and Davy after a few adjustments was to take thirty three seconds of his earlier time and set the 17th quickest time at just under 120mph.

Thursday Practice & Dundrod 150 Race
Conditions were not good on Thursday morning as the UGP final qualifying session was to get underway. Even though there was soaking wet roads, quite a number of riders went out, a few had no choice as they had still not qualified. Davy decided to go out for a run round, but ended up touring round and pulling in to the pit lane after just one lap as there was nothing to gain in the conditions. That left Davy 18th on the grid for Saturdays Superbike Race.

The Supersport Session was next in the programme, but track conditions were still not great so Davy decided to give it a miss and dropped only one place on the grid to 26th. The final practice session was for the 250’s and with conditions improving Davy took to the track and recorded the eleventh best time, but his time from Wednesday was better and left him ninth on the grid and a third row start.

After a disappointing qualifying it was always going to be difficult to come from the fifth row of the B Group in the Dundrod 150 Superbike Race. From the off Davy was determined to get as far up the result sheet as possible and a good start certainly helped his cause. Throughout the six laps he continued to move forward through the traffic and with his first 120mph lap on the final circuit he got himself up to twenty fifth by the chequered flag on the Investasure Honda, a reasonable end to a long day.

Saturday Ulster Grand Prix Races
There was more rain on race day and proceedings were put back a few hours as the organisers felt it was too wet and dangerous to race, eventually the rain stopped and the track began to dry. It was still damp as Davy took the Autotech CBR600 Honda to the line for the Supersport Race. After two laps he like quite a few others decided that conditions were not for him and he retired, the last thing he needed was to come off and aggravate the shoulder.

The 250cc Race was even shorter for Davy as the Ballygowan Honda went off on the opening lap and he had no choice, but to retire at the paddock. The rain was back on by the time of the first Superbike race so Davy took discretion ahead of valour and did not got out at all on the 195bhp Honda Fireblade. The rain continued to fall and was even heavier when the race was red flagged after three laps and called a result. The rain was getting worse and the final two races of the day were abandoned.

pic : Joe Connolly - www.bigjoephotos.eu

pic : Stephen Wilson

pic : Stephen Wilson

A dejected Davy speaking afterwards said, “What a disaster, we started slow on Wednesday, but our times were getting better all the time. I was never going to be near the front guys this week as I am probably riding at about 80% fit at the moment. Then the rain came and wiped us out as I just could not afford to come off and aggravate the shoulder and maybe do some permanent damage. I am destined not to have a good run at Dundrod, it was crap last year and this; so we will just have to wait till next year and hope for a change of fortune”.