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McBride joins the 130 club at the Ulster Grand Prix

Kettering’s James McBride took part in the fastest road race in the world the Ulster Grand Prix and joined the ranks of the 130mph club with a personal best of 130.004mph during the final Superbike race of the day.

Riding his Downview Finance Yamaha R6 and Pazzo Racing Superstock Yamaha R1, McBride pulled off some fine top ten results while pitching himself against the top British and Irish riders on one of the most challenging pure road circuits in the world.

The 7.4-mile circuit can suffer from the changeable Irish weather but this year it was kind and even the Dundrod 150, which is the precursor to the Ulster Grand Prix, ran in dry conditions (Thurs 12th August).

It was also the first opportunity McBride had to stretch the legs of the R1coming over the line in sixth place and fending off the attentions of British Superbike Evo rider Gary Johnson during the Topaz/Airport Road Service Station Dundrod 150 Superbike race.

He was also on the tail of the Relentless Suzuki riders, plus he put in a personal best lap time of 129.33mph which was set running on treaded worn tyres whilst everyone else was on new slicks.

The Ulster Grand Prix took place on Saturday 14th August and much to everyone’s surprise the event was greeted with warm weather. First up with was the Lisburn City Council Superstock race which saw McBride take seventh place. He didn’t get the best of starts but knuckled down to the race setting another personal best of 129.8mph beating both the Dunlop brothers. Unfortunately the race was red flagged due to an incident at Quarterlands just as McBride was catching TT star Guy Martin.

The Strong Construction UGP Supersport race one took to the track next and with McBride starting from 13th on the grid he had his work cut out for him. He managed to pull in a tenth place finish although a run across the grass at Leathemstown didn’t help matters. He lost two places due to this incident but overall improved his pace by three secs.

The feature race of the day the Stoneyford Concrete/People’s race UGP Superbike Race saw another seventh place finish for McBride. The Pazzo Racing R1 Yamaha was the first Yamaha to take the chequered flag, and the first customer Pirelli runner home on treaded tyres not slicks.

Another top ten finish was on the cards in the Around - a - Pound Supersport race with McBride bringing the Downview Finance R6 home in eighth place. This was a two part event with aggregated times so knowing exactly where McBride was running overall in the second part was a task for his pit crew Shaun and Bruce.

Before the race McBride thought the bike was wrongly geared but didn’t take a chance with a change until the restart. The changes made the bike right after all that track time on the R6, if this change had happened sooner the results would have been even better but McBride was thrilled to again achieve a top ten Supersport result.

The final race of the day was the www.visitlisburn.com Superbike race and although McBride finished in 11th just outside the top ten he managed to hit 130.004mph, allowing him into the 130mph club. The result wasn’t an issue for McBride as he had a close call battling with William Dunlop on the last lap and just to remain on his bike and finish would suffice.

McBride said: “It was a great event, I’m really glad the weather held off as it can have a big impact there. I saved my fast sport engine for coming here and it paid off. I’m over the moon with the results, you’ve got to remember I’m on a stock 2008 R1 machine and giving Superbikes a bit of a hard time! I’m finally in the 130 club too, I’m chuffed to bits. I bring up the rear as the 15 fastest rider of all time around Dundrod, I'm in the 130 club and the sixth fastest Superstocker, I’m well pleased six starts with six finishes.”

James will be back in action at Pembrey on the ManTTX Electric race on Sunday 22nd August. He will also be taking part in the Hottrax Endurance series and will finish the year at the Macau GP.

To watch the race action tune into BBC Northern Ireland’s Bikes! Show which will air at 10:35pm tonight, for further information click here.

Click here for high resolution image for download for web use, image courtesy of A C Promotions.

For press enquires contact louise@finesse-pr.co.uk.

Race results TT 2010

Dainese Senior TT 2010 10th James McBride

Monster Supersport Race 2 21st James McBride

The Royal London 360 Superstock Race 14th James McBride

Pokerstars Superbike Race 20th James McBride

Monster Supersport Race 1 17th James McBride


These results won James the Privateers Championship at the TT 2010.