Lee Johnston returned to the Dundrod circuit at the weekend for the MCE insurance Ulster Grand Prix where he managed to pick up two podium places, although he had to wait until Saturday to get them.

Thursday’s first Supersport race saw Lee have problems with the Padgett’s Honda and had to retire to the pits at the end of lap two. Meanwhile Padgett’s team mate, Conor Cummins led from start to finish to take the win from Adam McLean with Dean Harrison third.

McLean had got his weekend off to the perfect start on Thursday evening, by picking up his first ever win around the circuit by taking the Supertwin race in fine fashion by 6 seconds from Christian Elkin, while Welsh rider Ian Lougher completed the podium. Ederney’s Paul Gartland finished 13th in this one, but was unfortunate in qualifying not to start in the first group.

The final race on Thursday evening saw Paul Gartland and Melissa Kennedy in action in the concurrently run Lightweight and Ultra-Lightweight classes. Fading light saw difficult conditions for everyone, but thankfully organisers just about got the five lap race finished. With the 250/400 race starting first, Paul got off to a good start and held on to sixth position throughout and managed to be the third 400 home on the MJF Yamaha. Neil Kernohan was the first rider across the line, with Shaun Anderson second and Darryl Tweed third. Meanwhile in the Ultra-Lightweight class, Melissa just missed out on her first ever podium position at the UGP after a race long battle with Nigel Moore. Melissa had held on to third spot throughout the five lap race until the very last lap when Nigel took the initiative and also the podium place away from her, behind Christian Elkin and Michal Dokoupil.

Saturday morning saw glorious sunshine for the opening Superstock race. Lee started from the second row of the grid on the Honda Racing 1000cc bike, and quickly found himself battling for fifth place for the first three laps. Unfortunately, the race was red flagged on lap four after an incident at the Joey’s Windmill involving French rider Fabrice Miguet. The incident also involved local rider Eric Wilson who thankfully only ended up a bit battered and bruised. With the race declared, it was Dean Harrison who took the win from Peter Hickman and Conor Cummins completing the podium while Gartland ended up in 30th position.

Next up for Lee was the second Supersport race in which he was hoping for a bit more luck than Thursday evening, and it didn’t take long to get into a battle with his Padgetts team mate. With Hickman leading the way from the start followed closely by Harrison, Johnston and Cummins, those positions were held until lap four when Harrison out braked himself going into Cochranstown which left the way clear for Johnston to take his first podium of the day behind Hickman, and less than half a second in front of Cummins in third.

Weather played havoc for the rest of the day for organisers with firstly the Superbike race being stopped after just two laps due to the heavens opening. With the weather looking as if it was not going to improve much, the race was declared a result, and it was Hickman again who took the win while Johnston picked up his second podium of the day with with Tyco rider David Johnson third.

And the weather forecasters weren’t far wrong when the last race of the day also had to be stopped just after two laps. As the second Lightweight and Ultra-Lightweight classes took to the circuit, visibility on the mountain got down to 100 yards in places, leaving it impossible for racing to continue. Shaun Anderson took the win with Neil Kernohan and Darryl Tweed completing the podium. Unfortunately our locals didn’t really get a chance to fulfil their full potential in this one, as Paul finished eighth in the Lightweight, while Melissa was lying fifth in the Ultra-lightweight behind Michal Dokoupil, Christian Elkin, Paul Robinson and Nigel Moore.