Reigning champion Alastair Seeley bags four-timer in Ulster Superbike opener at Bishopscourt

The 42-year-old showed his class as a former double British champion, with Seeley taking pole in both classes and winning all four races at the Temple Club’s meeting to throw down the gauntlet to his rivals.

He has now won 14 straight races on the IFS Yamaha Superstock machine after an unbeaten run of 12 victories last year on his way to securing the title.

With Dromara’s Ali Kirk confirming his retirement from the sport last month, Seeley’s opposition on Saturday in the Superbike class came from Lisburn’s Carl Phillips, who has not raced competitively on the short circuits since he won the USBK title in 2019.

Phillips was a retirement in race one but he later made amends to take the runner-up spot behind Seeley, who prevailed by just under two seconds.

Seeley is building towards the North West 200 next month as the event returns for the first time in three years.

With no British tests pencilled in or warm weather trips to Spain, the Ulster Superbike venues of Bishopscourt and Kirkistown will serve as his testing ground as he prepares the IFS Yamaha machines for a crack at more glory around the 8.9-mile ‘Triangle’ course, where Seeley has won a record 24 times.

“It was a great day at Bishopscourt with four wins out of four on the IFS Racing Yamahas,” Seeley said.

“It was also great to have ‘Jezza’ [Jeremy McWilliams] with us and getting two wins out of two on the Paton in the Supertwin races.

“Big thanks to all my sponsors, old and new, and all my additional crew. We’re working well and looking forward to getting stuck back in again over the Easter weekend.”

Seeley opened his account in the first Superbike race, taking victory by over eight seconds from Jason Lynn (J McC Roofing Kawasaki), who inherited second place when the returning Phillips was forced out with a machine issue on the SBR Suzuki.

Cork’s Mike Browne finished third on the Burrows Suzuki ahead of Ryan Gibson (Kawasaki).

In race two – cut from nine laps to seven as the organisers came under time pressure after qualifying in the morning ran on for longer than anticipated – Seeley was given a run for his money for a while by Phillips, before he eventually managed to pull a gap.

He won by 1.9s, with Lynn a further five seconds down on Phillips at the line as he rounded out the top three.

In the Supersport class, reigning champion Seeley was a runaway winner in both races on the Yamaha R6.

He led from start to finish in the opener and took the chequered flag with more than 26 seconds in hand over Christian Elkin (Bob Wylie Yamaha), with the podium completed by Jamie Lyons (C&M Motors/Tooltec Yamaha).

Roads prospect Browne had been running in second place on the Burrows Yamaha R6 until he slid off at the second chicane on lap two, escaping unscathed.

Browne was ruled out of the second Supersport race and Seeley made light work of the opposition, streaking clear in the shortened seven-lap race to win by almost 16 seconds from Elkin, with Lyons again in third spot.

Ex-Grand Prix rider Jeremy McWilliams was a double winner in the Supertwin races on the fonaCAB/IFS Paton, despite having to start from the rear of the grid.

McWilliams saw off British Junior Supersport champion Cameron Dawson (J McC Roofing Kawasaki) by just over a tenth of a second in the opener, with Ryan Gibson (Aprilia) third.

In race two, McWilliams – who could be set to return to the North West 200 in a few weeks’ time – wrapped up his double, beating Gibson by 1.8s, with third going to Michael Gillan (Suzuki).

Ballymena’s Ross Moore clinched a double in the Moto3 class, with Alexander Rowan and Jack Burrows – making his USBK debut – second and third respectively in each race.

Kris Duncan and Jack Oliver took a victory apiece in the Lightweight Supersport races on their 400cc Kawasaki machines.

Team Wood Academy rider Ruben Sherman-Boyd won both Moto One races on his Tianda 300, while Adam Brown and Kai McClintock were the SS300 winners.

The second round of the Ulster Superbike Championship will be the Easter Saturday meeting at Bishopscourt on April 16.