Tyco BMW rider Ian Hutchinson re-wrote the record books at the MCE Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod on Saturday when the Yorkshire man grabbed the lap record on his way to an astonishing four timer.
Hutchinson took wins in the Superstock, Supersport and a double in the Superbike setting a new absolute circuit lap record at 134.084mph in the final race of the day the Around a Pound MCE Ulster Grand Prix Superbike race.
In the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Superstock race, it was Peter Hickman on the IG Kawasaki who took an early lead with Ian Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop fighting to stay with Hickman as they blasted off in the six lap race.
Hickman's lead was short lived as he picked up a puncture ruling him out of the remaininder of the race. It then turned into a three rider scrap between Hutchinson Michael Dunlop and Manxman Dan Kneen on the Mar-Train R1 Yamaha who was making his first race since the Tandragee 100.
Dunlop took the lead on the final lap but Hutchinson on the Tyco BMW passed Michael Dunlop on the last lap just a mile from the finish giving Hutchinson and Tyco BMW the opening race win.
In the first Supersport race, sponsored by Whitemountain Centra, it was Bruce Anstey who set the pace on the opening lap with Anstey on the Padgett's Honda opening up a comfortable gap from the end of lap two with Ian Hutchinson on the Camer Yamaha fighting for second place with Dean Harrison (Honda).
Michael Dunlop on the MD Racing Yamaha was a retirement at the end of lap one leaving Anstey, Hutchinson and company to take the race into control. At the end of lap four, Hutchinson had pulled in Anstey to 0.8 seconds from Conor Cummins now in third place, but just as soon as the leaders had crossed the finish lap the red flags came out due to an incident at Joeys Windmill stopping the race.
After a delay to clear up the incident that stopped the race, the result was declared with Anstey taking the win with Hutchinson second and Manxman Conor Cummins third on the second Padgett's Honda.
In the second Supersport 600 race sponsored by Barron Transport, it turned out to be an incredible affair with seven riders battling for the overall victory. Ballymoney's William Dunlop looked to be on course to take the race win and with just two corners to go on the final lap but Ian Hutchinson on the Camer Yamaha, somehow produced the move of the meeting when he dashed inside Dunlop to take the win by the narrowest of margins with Peter Hickman coming from sixth place to third to fill the final place on the podium.
The Maxwell Freight Services Supertwins race turned out to be the closest battle of the day with just one second separating the top five, with Dan Cooper on his Cooper Kawasaki taking the win by just 0.4 seconds from Dublin's Derek Shiels, with James Cowton third.
The best of the days racing came in the final race of the day, the Around a Pound Ulster Grand Prix Superbike race with a new absolute track record being set on the last lap of the six lap race.
It was Ian Hutchinson who set the early pace on his Tyco BMW with Michael Dunlop and Bruce Anstey chasing Hutchinson who was going for his fourth win of the day.
By lap two, Michael Dunlop had hit the front with Anstey now second and Hutchinson third and by mid distance it looked like Dunlop was about to take his first and only win of the day.
But Hutchinson had more to offer and as he gained the lead again on lap four with Anstey now second and Dunlop third, with Hutchinson breaking the speed trap timing at and incredible 199.2mph.
It was clear to be seen that this race was going to be a three way rider battle right up to the finish line, with the massive crowd around the Dundrod circuit eagerly awaiting the last lap.
It was on that last lap where the records began to tumble with Ian Hutchinson setting the fastest ever lap of the Dundrod circuit as he crossed the finish line to take win number four at a speed of 134.84mph. New Zealander Bruce Anstey came home in second place at 133.913mph and Michael Dunlop third at 133.918mph.
