It was with excitement and anticipation that the team headed to Dundrod for the Ulster Grand Prix, as they had the use of R1 & R6 Yamaha’s prepared by AIM and supported by CSC Branson, Strangford Holiday Park and BLRC. With the extra horse power from both machines it was hoped that these would help Davy move up the leader board in the Supersport and Superbike Classes.

Practice on Wednesday was a case of getting the feel of the new bikes and a lap of 118mph first time out despite some handling issues on the R1 Yamaha Superbike meant a sixth row start for the Dundrod 150 Superbike Race on Thursday. The Supersport session was easier with the R6 bike handling a lot better than the R1 and it was a lap just over 119mph and the fourteenth fastest time. It was then the 250cc Session and the fifth fastest time was recorded on the BLRC/Strangford Holiday Park Honda. Finally it was back out on the CSC Branson/Strangford Holiday Park/AIM R1 Yamaha for the second time and with the adjustments making the handling a lot better, Davy recorded his fastest ever lap around Dundrod at 124.2mph and the thirteenth fastest time. Things looked good going in to Thursday.

pic : Joe Connolly

The Superbike was again first up for Thursday’s qualifying and just as Davy was about to leave the holding area there was a fuel leak, which turned out to be from the fuel pump seal. This was quickly replaced, but it still meant missing half the session and with the adjustments to try and help the handling issues not working it meant that Davy did not better his time from Wednesday and left him on the fourth row on the grid on Saturday. It would also mean using the race later in the day as another practice to try and resolve the front end problems. The Supersport was next up and Davy took another two seconds of his lap time to take him over 120mph and leave him in sixteenth and again on the fourth row. The 250cc Session was steady and showed a slight improvement on time and a second row start on Saturday.

On Thursday evening it was the first race of the week for Davy and he was looking at it as more track time to try and sort out the R1 Superbike handling rather than worrying about his finishing position. However, it didn’t matter as about 300 yards from the line a broken baffle in the engine sump meant and oil leak and he had to retire on the opening lap.

pic : Stephen Wilson

After two dry days of practice rain and wet roads greeted the riders at Dundrod on Saturday morning. However it soon cleared and as Davy headed out for his first race on the Supersport Machine the roads were dry. It was a slow start and he found himself in thirteenth at the end of the opening lap as the race progressed he picked off a couple of riders and found himself in a battle for tenth with two other riders. He had soon moved ahead of these riders and was now eighth, but then the bike slowed and began to cut out and with a lap and a half to go he had to retire, in sight of his best ever four stroke result at Dundrod. When the bike returned the problem could not be found, although it was thought that it might be a valve problem and so it was decided that it would not be safe to run in the second Supersport Race – not a good start to the day.

Next up was the 250cc Race and a top six finish was definitely a possibility on the Strangford Holiday Park/BLRC Honda. Again it was a slow start and at the end of the opening lap Davy was seventh, by the end of the next lap he was up to fifth and was up to fourth and catching third when the bike seized at the end of the flying kilo, resulting in another retirement and more frustration.

So the only chance of success was now on the R1 Yamaha in the two Superbike races. Again it was to be dejection, frustration and anger as electronic problems meant retirement on the opening lap of both races and nothing to show for the week’s work of everyone involved. An Ulster Grand Prix, blessed with dry roads, excellent racing and unbelievable times had been a disaster for Davy Morgan Racing.

A dejected and frustrated Davy on Saturday evening commented “I am bitterly disappointed, what more can I say, this was to be potentially the start of something new for the team, but it was not to be so we now need to try and put it behind us and move forward. There was good results there for the taking today and machine failures put paid to that, I know this happens in racing, but it still doesn’t make it any easier to take”.

“It was a stressful week all round even before things went wrong, as the bikes with all the kit on them were completely different to anything I have ridden before. I want to thank all my sponsors, team members and supporters for their encouragement, help and support. I want to apologise to them all for not putting on a better show on race day”.