A Strong Ulster Grand Prix meeting for Kneen
Despite a fall and an injured hand
Dan Kneen enjoyed a strong two days of racing at the Ulster Grand Prix
with the Manxman taking a number of top eight finishes on the
Valvoline Racing by Padgetts Honda machines, his best result being an
excellent fourth in the Dundrod 150 Superbike race.
The 6-lap race got proceedings underway on Thursday evening and having
completed the first lap in eighth place, Dan had moved up to a good
fifth by the end of the third lap. Aided by his best ever lap of the
7.4-mile circuit, 130.937mph, he was able to maintain this position as
he started his sixth and final lap but when leader Guy Martin crashed
out, the race was red flagged. With Martin out of the results, Dan was
promoted up to fourth to get his week underway in fine style.
Saturday’s feature Ulster Grand Prix races saw fine conditions at the
beginning of the day and Dan opened his account with a good seventh in
the Superstock race, less than two seconds adrift of fifth. It was a
similar outcome in the first Supersport race where a race long battle
with Peter Hickman saw him just miss out on sixth.
Next up was the feature 7-lap Superbike race and a good start saw Dan in
seventh place and right in touch with the leading group. However, second
time around he slid off at the hairpin when he tried to go up the inside
of William Dunlop, suffering a deep cut to his hand when he tried to
pick the bike up. The hand injury led to him pulling out of the second
Supersport race but with the offending cut stitched he was back out on
the grid for the second Superbike race, which was held in tricky, wet
conditions, and he duly completed his weekend with a strong sixth place.
Dan Kneen:
“It’s been a bit of a mixed week here at Dundrod and whilst
I was able to have a real good go in some of the races, I wasn’t in
others. Fourth in the Dundrod 150 race and a near 131mph lap was a great
start to the week and Saturday’s feature race was looking good too. I
was right on the back of the front group and when William Dunlop ran a
little wide going into the hairpin, I tried to nip underneath. I got
sucked in a bit though and tucked the front.
I had a decent enough run in the wet Superbike race later in the day
but it was hard to see where I was going with all the spray. When it
cleared up a bit, I was able to get going but it wasn’t worth pushing
too hard. The first 600cc race went ok and I set my fastest ever lap on
a Supersport bike so there have been some good positives to take away
with me this week.”
Dan now has a two week break before practice gets underway for the
Classic TT races where he’ll be riding in the 4-lap Formula One race.
Picture by Stephen Davison – Pacemaker Press International
Information from a Dan Kneen press release
Wemoto sponsors Dan Kneen
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