Retro Rewind: Special moment for Manx star Dan Kneen with maiden international success at Ulster Grand Prix

Kneen was a revelation as he dominated on ex-racer John Burrows’ Suzuki GSX-R1000 on his debut at events such as the Cookstown 100, Tandragee 100, Kells and Faugheen on his way to securing the Irish Superbike title at his first attempt.

However, the quiet Isle of Man rider’s success wasn’t limited solely to the bread-and-butter road races throughout Ireland, with Kneen demonstrating his potential on the international stage at the Ulster Grand Prix.

On a memorable day for the then 27-year-old, he edged out Dean Harrison in one of the closest ever finishes ever witnessed at Dundrod to win the Superstock race.

It was Dan’s maiden triumph at one of the ‘big three’ road races and the first international victory for the Dungannon-based Burrows team.

Here, we look back on one of the biggest moments in Kneen’s career at the Ulster Grand Prix on Saturday, August 16, 2014.

Kneen was locked in battle throughout the re-started five-lap race with Bradford’s Harrison and Kiwi Bruce Anstey.

English star Harrison and Kneen swapped places continuously on the final lap, but it was the Manx ace who came out on top by just one thousandth of a second on the line.

The race was restarted over a reduced distance when the red flags came out initially as a result of rain on lap two, with Harrison holding a commanding advantage of almost six seconds.

However, Kneen represented a different prospect when the action got underway again and he came out on top to earn a dream win for himself and Burrows Racing.

He told me afterwards: “It was a tight race and he [Harrison] was quicker on some corners and I was quicker on others. We must have been passing each other two or three times a lap but it was good fun, I loved it.

“The intermediate tyres were awesome and I had plenty of grip, I didn’t really have any slides apart from on the wet bits.

“It was wet on some corners and dry on others and it was a really tricky race,” he added.

“I wasn’t even sure if it was the last lap so I knew I had to make every one count just in case and it worked out for us.”

Harrison, who had been enjoying a terrific season after finishing as the runner-up in the Superstock race at the Isle of Man TT and winning five out of seven races at the Southern 100, was denied his first Ulster GP success by the narrowest of margins.

“My bike was moving around massively but it was a great race and we were passing all the way around,” Harrison said.

New Zealand star Anstey had been sitting poised in third behind the leading pair and was planning on making his move on the final lap.

However, the 44-year-old made a miscalculation and had to settle for a place on the rostrum in third.

Anstey explained: “The last lap flag didn’t come out, it was the chequered flag and that was that; I can’t count!

“I’d been lining them up nicely all the way round to make a move on the last lap, so I’ll have to start counting the laps now.”

Delighted team boss Burrows admitted he hadn’t quite expected his rider to reach the top step on a special day for the privately-run team.

“I didn’t come here expecting that, although I felt like Dan could push for podiums. In fairness the conditions probably suited us and it’s a great start to the day,” Burrows said.

“Fair play to the lad, he’s come over here this year and done tremendously well and he’s done himself and his sponsors proud and we’re delighted.

“I was glad to see the chequered flag an hopefully he can have more success along the way.”

The sense of jubilation was short-lived however, after Kneen was ruled out of the remainder of the event after he was caught up in a three-rider spill with Keith Amor and Harrison and Ireland’s corner in the opening Supersport race. All three escaped serious injury.

There was controversy at the start of the Superstock race when pole man Michael Dunlop required a change of visor seconds before the race was due off, raising questions over whether or not he should have been moved to the back of the grid.

Nonetheless, Clerk of the Course Noel Johnston gave Dunlop the time he needed before the riders were sent on their way, with the Ballymoney star making a terrible start on his MD Racing BMW.

Dunlop had moved into fourth by lap three, but the 25-year-old retired into the pits at the end of the lap along with Pirtek Honda’s Lee Johnston.

Crumlin man Stephen Thompson finished an excellent fourth on the Bathams BMW ahead of newcomer Peter Hickman from Louth, while Tyco Suzuki’s Guy Martin rounded out the top six places.

A rising star, Dan Kneen was tragically killed in 2018 during practice at the Isle of Man TT at the age of 30.

He had signed to ride for Northern Ireland’s Tyco BMW team and was tipped for big things when his career was cruelly cut short.

Retro Rewind: Special moment for Manx star Dan Kneen with maiden international success at Ulster Grand Prix

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