There was disappointment all round in the Relentless Suzuki camp when Saturday’s Ulster Grand Prix was cancelled due to a severe weather warning in Northern Ireland. The organising Dundrod and District Motorcycle Club were left with no other option when 45mm of rain fell within a three-hour period on Saturday morning leaving the circuit in no fit state for racing. Relentless Suzuki riders Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald had performed extremely well in the qualifying sessions with Anstey taking pole position in the Superbike class by almost four seconds. The Kiwi then took pole position in the Superstock class with a new unofficial lap record of 128.95mph. Donald also dipped under the previous lap record, posting a time of 128.62mph on his GSX–R1000 Suzuki making it a one–two for the Moneymore team on the front row.
Following on from his successful Ulster Grand Prix meeting last year, Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider Guy Martin was hoping to get back in the swing of things after a less than successful season but once again, the great British summer had other ideas. After a bright start to the day, gradually the clouds rolled in and by the time practice was due to get under way at 1.30pm this afternoon, the heavy rain which blighted last year's event on the Dundrod circuit returned with a vengeance causing organisers to delay proceedings.