| Ulster Grand Prix Paddock Gossip | ||||||||
Greene has heavy fall in Regal qualifying Donegal's Seamus Greene crashed heavily during qualifying for the Regal 600 Race on Friday afternoon at Quarterlands. Riding a borrowed 600 Honda, which he rode last year, the normally super smooth rider slid off under braking on the approach to the tightened corner, whilst passing Manxman Paul Hunt. He slid into the bales suffering bruising, but the bike hit the road sign on the outside of the corner, causing a lot of damage. The brave Greene was clearly shaken up after the accident, but still went straight out in the next session on his own Investasure Suzuki, and qualified an impressive fifth fastest for the Production Race.
Britton struggles against mighty Suzuki's Patsy O'Kane rider, Richard Britton told us about the problems he was having on his R1 Yamaha in practice for the Production Race. He told us that he was 'Flogging a dead horse against them Suzuki's. I'm having to ride the wheels off it round the corners just for them to fly straight past on the straights'. Britton had a good day on Saturday taking a best finish of third place, but was one of the many riders to struggle in the Production Race on Yamaha machinery. He told us 'Yamaha are bringing something new out next year, so hopefully we'll be able to compete with them then'.
Duffus splits from V&M? Ian Duffus was riding a Suzuki at the Ulster for East Coast Superbikes at the Ulster Grand Prix. He told us that he wasn't sure why V&M Racing, who he was originally expected to ride for at the Ulster, couldn't run him at the event. He went on to say that he didn't think he would be riding for them again next season, although he was open to all options, and is looking forward to riding at the North West, TT and Ulster again in 2002.
Have you been Cargo-ed? There were a number of Ulster Grand Prix riders walking round the Dundrod paddock on Saturday with quite colourful hair. Stephen 'Cargo' Carr led the 'effort' sporting a rainbow effect on his barnet. Seamus Greene was another who went for a new colour. He had his hair dyed to match his bike and surname, and quipped that the new 'do' should give him an extra 2mph on race day! Cargo commented, that he thought that it was unlikely that Seamus would park next to him in a race paddock again this season!
McCallen helps out the Milky Bar Kid Ulster Grand Prix legend Philip McCallen was on hand to assist Richard Milky Quayle on his Dundrod debut. He had helped him learn the circuit on the run up to Saturday's meeting, and was assisting with setting up the suspension for race day. It certainly worked, with the Manxman winning the Newcomers Race, and having a string of other impressive riders during the day. What a lot of people might not know, is that the RC45 Milky was riding for Mark Johns, was one of the ones that McCallen himself rode at the Ulster in the 90's. Words - Paul Phillips Pictures - Will Price & Stephen Wilson
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