Sixteen wins at the same meeting, that must be a record or near to it, unless anyone knows different.

the welsh lad must be holder of many a record.

he could have given himself the chance to win the big races, but he arrived at the paddock gate (looking to get out) after the bikes had done their warm up lap and were on the line rarin' to go.

The luck of the Welsh

By Jimmy Walker
Friday, 8 August 2008

If someone were to ask you who had the third-highest number of wins in the history of the Ulster Grand Prix, the chances are you wouldn’t say "Ian Lougher".

Yet the Welsh rider, who has been competing at the Ulster since 1985 - we’re talking about over 20 years here - is in third spot on the overall count with 12 successes which puts him in behind the all-conquering Joey Dunlop with 24 and Phillip McCallen with 14.

"I didn’t know I had that sort of placing", said Lougher.

"I knew I had 12 wins but I was unaware of the placings of Dunlop and McCallen. It’s nice to know I’m in that league and hopefully I will add a few more successes on Saturday."

Lougher maintains that the Ulster Grand Prix comes at just the right time in the season.

"The Isle of Man TT is much too early in the year in my view," he said.

"And before that the North West 200 in May. There really is not enough time to develop machinery at this part of the season and as far as I’m concerned the Ulster is just right."

Lougher, who has been called "Lucky Locker" because English commentators can’t pronounce his name properly, added: "I always enjoy the Ulster Grand Prix and hopefully it will continue for a long time."

However, Lougher is a little bit coy about his age and doesn’t like to let everyone know what it is. Even I am unaware but I reckon he’s in his 40s and he looks remarkable fresh for one who has completed for so long.

The fast and flowing curves Dundrod suit him admirably for his style of racing and he has already scored two trebles round the circuit.

The first was in 2002 when he was riding for the TAS Suzuki team and the second was in 2005 when he was with the Black Horse outfit which backed a team run by Lougher himself.

"When I left TAS at the end of 2002 and went my own way I wasn’t really story", he told me.

"Although I had some fantastic results with TAS I wanted to do my own thing and have my own team. I’m a freelance by nature and being in that position means that I can race wherever I like and whenever I like. I was too confined with TAS who only wanted me to do three races a year. That wasn’t my scene. But we parted on the best of terms.

"Since then I have been reasonably successful; and I’m looking forward to scoring at least one win at Dundrod on Saturday. My best chance would be in the Supersport 500, which is a highly competitive class and is competed for in two races.

“My Yamaha R6 suits me down to the ground and I’m not boasting when I say that I’ll take a lot of beating. I know Bruce Anstey, Ian Hutchinson, Guy Martin and John McGuinness will be around but I understand that Martin may not have a 600cc bike."

However Lougher is proved wrong in this observation, for Martin has since told me that he will have 600cc machines sponsored by Wilson Craig from Derry.

Lougher made his first win at the Ulster in 1998 when he won the 250cc class and he feels he has another great chance in this class this week.

His first ever win in Ireland was in 1991 when he was successful at the North West 200 but as Lougher said: "That seems a long time away.

Lougher has a lot of time for the Ulster fans who have taken him to "on board" since he moved to Dromara in County Down seven years ago.

"Although I’m a Welsh man they still see me as an Ulster rider and that’s nice," said Lougher.

"I hope they are still behind me when it comes to race day as I will need all of the support I can get.

I can see a couple of podiums for Ian this week,no one knows Dundrod better than him and he seems to have good machinery this year

well i too see a couple of podiums for mr lougher good luck to him