Uel Duncan

Full Name. Uel Duncan.

Home Town. Carrigans, Co Donegal.

Date of Birth: 12:6:1970

Status. Engaged to Kitty

Height. 5' 11".

Occupation. Steel Erector.

Favourite Food / Drink. Chicken, Pasta, Milk.

First Race. Skerries 1996, Support Class.

Favourite Race. Isle of Man mountain course.

Ambition. To succeed in the Regal Championship and Lambert & Butler Challenge in 2000.



	Allstar Motorsports Honda CBR600 (Regal spec). Allstar Motorsport Honda CBR600 ( Tony Scott Tuned ).		Gareth Robinson Racing Honda CBR900RR.


	Kenny Duncan - Mechanic		Uel Duncan - Donegal Dynamo		Brian Dillon - Pit Crew

1997

7th Irish Road Race Support Championship.

Manx GP, 6th Newcomers 600cc Race.

1998 Results.

Irish National Road Race Support Championship.

Tandragee 100. 2nd. lap speed 93.768 mph.

Dundrod 150. 1st. lap speed 111.216 mph.

Dundalk. 2nd lap speed 106.40 mph.

Skerries. 2nd. lap speed 95.77 mph.

Killalane. 1st. lap speed 96.17 mph.

1998 Results.

Irish National Short Circuit Championship.

Aghadowey. Race One. 4th, Race Two. 3rd.

Kirkistown. Race One, 3rd. Race Two, 4th.

Nutts Corner. Race One, 3rd. Race Two, 2nd.

Bishopscourt. Race One, 2nd. Race Two, 2nd.

Aghadowey. Race One, 2nd. Race Two, 2nd.

1998 Manx Grand Prix.

Qualified 20th for Junior Race. 109.45 mph.

Junior Manx GP. 12th. Fastest Lap 111.94 mph.

Average 110.12 mph.

Member of Winning Team, MCRRC of Ireland.

Qualified 7th for Senior Race. 109.45 mph.

Senior Manx GP. 12th. Fastest Lap 112.48 mph.

Average 110.59 mph.

1998 Results.

Irish National Road Race Results.

Tandragee. Regal Race, 15th, 90.32 mph.

Senior Race, 15th, 92.85 mph.

Dundrod 150. Regal Race, 10th, 111.33 mph.

Senior Race, 20th, 110.05 mph.

Dundalk. 600cc S/Sport Race, 6th, 108.41 mph.

Senior Race. 12th, 108.72 mph.

Skerries. 600cc S/Sport Race. 8th, 97.39 mph.

Killalane. 600cc S/Sport. 4th, 97.13 mph.

Senior Race, 12th, 96.65 mph. Grand Final, 14th, 96.62 mph.

Carrowdore. Grand Final, 15th, 106.33 mph.

Irish National Short Circuit Results.

Nutts Corner. Regal Race One, 10th. Regal Race Two, 11th.

Bishopscourt. Regal Race One. 12th. Regal Race Two. 13th.

Aghadowey. Regal Race One. 15th. Regal Race Two. 12th.

Kirkistown. Regal Race One. 15th. Regal Race Two. 20th.

Aghadowey. 600cc. 7th. S/Sport 600. 15th.

1st Senior Race. 11th. 2nd Senior Race. 10th.

International Results: 'Newcomer'

May 99: North West 200 Road Races:

Regal Supersport 600 Race - 17th.

1st Superbike 1100cc Race - 19th. Best Newcomer, 1st 600cc machine.

2nd Superbike 1100cc Race - 1st 600cc machine.

August 99: Ulster Grand Prix Road Races:

Regal Supersport 600 Race - 10th. 1st Superbike 1100cc Race - 14th.

September 99: Manx Grand Prix Road Races:

Fastest rider during practice week, 115.65 mph.

Junior Manx GP - Crashed at Glen Helen while leading on lap two.

Senior Manx GP - Retired due to shoulder injury from Junior Manx GP.

Isle of Man:

Southern 100 Road Races:

Superbike Race 1, - 4th. First 600.

Superbike Race 2, - 8th.

First 600. Senior solo founders race. - 1st.

Jurby Road Races:

Supersport 600 - 1st. Race &; Lap Record.

Unlimited Race 1 - 3rd.

Unlimited Race 2 - 3rd.

Regal 600 Championship.

Cookstown 100 - 9th.

Tandragee 100 - 15th.

Dundrod 150 - DNF.

Dundalk R/Races - 9th.

Skerries R/ Races - 2nd.

Kells R/Races - 5th.

Mid Antrim 150 - 5th.

Monaghan R/ Races - 5th.

Lambert & Butler Championship:

Cookstown 100: DNF.

Tandragee 100: Crashed.

Dundalk R/Races: - 9th.

Skerries R/Races: - 4th.

Kells R/Races: - 3rd.

Mid Antrim 150 - Crashed.

Monaghan R/Races: - 3rd.

Monaghan R/Races: 7th.

Grand Final Races:

Tandragee 100 - 14th.

Dundalk R/Races - 11th.

Skerries R/Races - 5th.

Kells R/Races - 5th.

Mid Antrim 150 - 8th.

Monaghan R/Races - 8th.

National Short Circuit Results:

Regal 600

Aghadowey: March - 10th Race1, 5th Race 2.

Aghadowey: Easter - 10th.

Kirkistown: Easter - 7th.

Kirkistown : September - 8th Race1, 9th Race 2.

National Short Circuit Results:

Lambert & Butler

Aghadowey: March - 9th.

Aghadowey: Easter - 15th.

Kirkistown: Easter - 15th.

Aghadowey: June - 9th.

Kirkistown: September - 5th.

International Short Circuit Results:

Kirkistown Sunflower International: SS600 Race 1 - 5th. SS600 Race 2 - 6th.

Assen Dutch International: SS600 Race - 18th.

Uel Duncans 2000 season may only just have started on the track but the whole team have been working harder than ever
to make sure Uel has his best season ever. Last year Uel was hit by bad luck on a number of occasions and by late panic on others, this year it will be different. Now armed with Gareth Robinson's CBR900 as well as the two Allstar Honda CBR600's Uel was well on the pace for the season opener at Nutts corner. The team had tested successfully at Bishopscourt, Kirkistown and Nutts Corner and Uel ( by his own admission not a great fan of the short circuits ) was going better than ever.

So following a good day at the pre season races which took place at Aghadowey where Uel showed marked improvement
in his short circuit riding he hit the track at Nutts Corner with a vengeance. In the first Regal race he had a great battle with John Donnan and Gary Jess finishing 7th. In the second Regal race Uel made the start of a lifetime and streaked away to lead the field. Only in the closing stages did Richard Britton catch and eventually pass Uel. Uel though easily held onto his second place giving him an excellent result on what is far from his favourite track. The Lambert & Butler races were a little more unkind as Uel circulated in a fairly lonely 8th place in race one, while in race two he again made a brilliant start which saw him holding on to third place in very tricky conditions until hitting a false neutral and crashing out handing third place to Allstar Motorsport teamate Ryan Rainey. The King of the Corner feature race saw Uel placed well towards the back of the grid for reasons best known to the organisers. and Uel never really got going finishing down in 13th place.

Uel's next outings will be at the Easter meetings at Aghadowey and Kirkistown where he will be out to prove he is really a contender on the short circuits as well as the roads.

So to Kirkistown and he continued to improve his short circuit skills getting better every time he goes out on the bikes. Although he was knocked off in contentious circumstances in the Regal race and took some time building up confidence riding on slicks for the first time on a real fast track Uel finished off the day by finishing third in the Lambert & Butler race.

The roads now beckoned and with Uel's growing experience he was looking at being a regular front runner. The Cookstown races now run on the awful Orritor circuit were first on the 2000 calendar and being Cookstown, of course it was wet. This did not stop Uel enjoying himself. Most eyes were on Joey who was out on one of Paul Birds Demon Vimto SP1's but on this very tricky circuit the ideal machine had to be the CBR600 and we happen to have a couple of very good ones. This showed as Uel
held off Adrian Archibald in a race length dice in the Lambert & Butler race finishing fourth behind eventual winner Richard Britton, and fourth in the Regal race.

In the re scheduled 2000 season the North West 200 was next up and this was Uel's second outing at this high profile event. Honda Britain had equipped Uel with a production spec CBR900 originally built for Joey. This was to be a big day for Uel and the team. Practices for the North West 200 turned out to be a disaster with Tuesday night shortened and Thursday cancelled altogether because of fog. The fireblade had been throwing up problems in the suspension department but Uel persevered and on race day he was ready to give it his all. Uel had to pull out of the first Superbike race because of handling difficulties but he rode brilliantly in the 600cc, Production and second Superbike race finishing tenth in each race. These results ensured that Uel had the Production machine for his next massive task. The Isle of Man TT.

Before the TT though it was the Tandragee road races and Uel again scored well in the Regal race finishing fourth but the setting up of the fireblade was still causing Uel problems and he finished in the pack in both the Lambert & Butler race and the Tandragee 100 race.

So it was off to the Isle of Man for Uel's first TT races. The team were in good spirits even though the whole Honda contingent were absorbed in desperately trying to set up both the fireblades and the SP1's. Uel came down the list a little when it came to the pecking order but his production Blade was placed in the very capable hands of Simon Becks team who did a fantastic job helping to set the machine up. Uel also had his F1 Blade and thanks to much help from Ron Williams at Maxton he was getting this machine sorted slowly but surely. The CBR600 was not really any bother and considering this bike nearly knew it's way round on it's own, the Junior TT was looking like Uel's best race of the week.

The Formula 1 race was run in patchy conditions that did not suit many riders and history will tell how Joey Dunlop on a special VTR SP1 with one of Aaron Slights spare World Superbike Engines took the fight to the V&M Yamaha's and won with David Jefferies breaking his R1 Yamaha trying to catch the master. Uel was not expected to go quite as quick but he did not let himself down ( well according to the rest of the team, not according to Uel ). He had a decent ride on the Robinson Bros CBR900 finishing in 18th place.

In the junior race Uel was going well, when on lap two on the Sulby section the bloody Harris Performance footrest hanger ceased to perform. Uel was very lucky when you think of were it could have broken. He managed to stop the machine and retired justifiably very annoyed. This recurrent problem had cost him a very good finish and a replica.

The Production TT will go down in history as a farce. it should never have been run at all. The weather around the scheduled start time was bad enough but this had deteriorated badly when the Clerk of the Course finally decided to start the race. Uel was not going to try any heroic's on Honda's pristine machine and he circulated at a sensible pace in awful conditions to finish 24th.

The Senior TT had quite rightly been held over until the Saturday morning and the conditions were good virtually all
round the course. Uel once again rode well this time finishing 18th. Once again not good enough for Uel but satisfying for the rest of us. There is always next year.

Our return to Ireland saw us at Dundrod for the 150 road races, probably Uels favourite circuit in Ireland. He had what can only be described as a damn good day. His performance bore testament to the saying about telling which riders have just returned from the Isle of Man. Uel finished 7th in the Regal race but saved all the excitement for the Lambert & Butler race were he diced with Adrian Archibald eventually finishing in 3rd position. Uel is definitely on the move towards greater things.

Pride they say comes before a fall, so Uel, never one to deliberately let people down chucked the CBR900 down the
track at Aghadowey in the first Lambert & Butler race. He was shaken not stirred and ran back down the track to be ready for his next race. The event hosted two Regal and two L&B races so all was not lost and Uel promptly set about making amends for his earlier mishap by coming 7th in Regal race one and 5th in the second Regal outing. The second L&B race had Uel down field a little finishing in 10th place after using one of the CBR600's against the massed ranks of R1's and 750 machinery.

Uel had decided to compete in Ulster Television's Champion of Champions series run over four evenings in June and July. I'm not too sure if it was the wisest decision he has made, considering he is self employed and this meant missing out on work for virtually a full week in june and again in July. Uel made his mind up though and when he's done that, that's usually that. The first evenings races were ok. Uel was never going to beat the likes of Michael Swann on a short circuit but he seemed to be enjoying himself. 7th and 8th places in the Supersport 600 races and 9th and 11th in the unlimited class races saw him fairly relaxed. It was I think seen as a bonus period for getting to know the big CBR900 better.

The second evening did not go so well. Yet again one of the Harris footrest brackets broke in the first Supersport 600 race and Uel could only manage 9th in the second 600 race. Uel's performance in the first Unlimited race was better though finishing 7th. It looked as though he was getting to grips with the Blade. Unfortunately in the second Unlimited race, the Blade bit back and Uel crashed out but thankfully without injury. he would return in July having learnt a little more about both himself and the Fireblade.

The next venue was one of Uel's favourites, The Skerries. The weather was not what we have become accustomed to
though and the track was very slippery. It didn't stop Uel from going like a train. 4th in the Supersport 600 race and 5th in the Grand Final meant a good day was had by the team and Uel had bagged some good points in the Irish road race Championships.

At Nutts Corner Uel suffered. He caught a false neutral in the Regal race and crashed out, and just to complete a poor day Uel finished a lowly 10th in the Grand Final.

Back to Kirkistown and the third and fourth evenings of the Champion of Champions series. The first evening was pretty uninspiring. Uel was having an off day as he finished 12th and 9th in the Supersport 600 races and 10th and 14th in the Unlimited races. The second day was to be no better apart from the fact that only Uel's quick reactions saved him from being in the middle of the horrendous crash that brought the series to an early close. In the first 600 race Uel was again in 9th place at the flag and he dnf'd the first big bike race. The second 600 race was of course red flagged and the meeting abandoned following the huge accident that saw five riders go down coming out of the very quick Debtors corner. Uel was
very lucky not to be in the middle of it all and he would be looking forward to returning to the roads again.

The next two meetings were both south of the border, the first being at Kells which saw Uel again dicing with Adrian Archibald. In the Supersport 600 race Uel held on the a fine 5th place and in the Senior race managed a decent 6th place. He had once again saved himself for the Grand Final. Uel finished a magnificent 6th place. Dundalk played host to the next round of the Irish road Racing Championships and again Uel rode brilliantly finishing the 600 Supersport race in 2nd place, the Senior race in 3rd and the grand Final in a great 4th place. Uel is really starting to move up a few degree's in ability and confidence.

Back to where Uel is really at home, on the roads and this time the Mid Antrim 150. It was a very tough day to start with as we had just lost Joey Dunlop and everyone was still pretty much shell shocked. Uel's first race of the day, the Lambert & Butler race was a nightmare. The circuit was in a terrible state, not helped by the fact that the road sweeping vehicle had left a trail of hydraulic fluid round the track the day before. Never the less Uel stayed on board and finished 12th. Uel faired
much better in the second L&B race putting on a real show to finish 3rd. The Regal 600 race after being red flagged when Dean Cooper was involved in a serious accident, was re-started with only half the grid assembled. Uel actually lead way but had a big moment on the second lap and eventually settled for 3rd place again.

Back across the border ( just ) to a favourite event for many in the calendar, The North Monaghan road Races at Glaslough Village. Unfortunately tragedy struck again in what was becoming a very difficult season. Following a fantastic performance by Uel in the first Regal race in which Uel finished 3rd, just beating Richard Britton to the line having battled with the Champion elect for the whole race. The Races were abandoned after the 250cc race was red flagged following the fatal accident involving Gary Dynes, Andrew McLean, Denis McCullough, Darran Lindsay and a number of other riders.

Next was a return to Uels favourite Irish circuit, Dundrod. This time it was the Ulster Grand Prix and Uel had a full stable of machines. Gareth Robinsons CBR900, the Tony Scott tuned Allstar Motorsports CBR600 and once again the Honda Britain CBR900 Production machine originally destined for Joey. This year practice was only on Friday so there was a lot for Uels to do. Although he was under considerable pressure, he was getting dialed in and was really looking forward to Saturday's races. Of course Uel didn't make it out on the Saturday, in fact he very nearly didn't even get to Saturday. Uel crashed at the Flow Bog crossroads while qualifying for the Supersport 600 race and having been resuscitated at the scene of the accident,
was taken to hospital in Belfast in a critical condition. It is only due to Uel's super fitness that he has survived and he is still fighting, His career as far as actually racing himself is over but he is already working with Gareth Robinson to put former classic racer Alex Donaldson out on Gareth's Fireblade in the 2001 season.

Uel Duncans story is not over, it's just started a new chapter. At end of the 2000 season amongst many other awards, Uel was awarded the trophy for the most improved rider of the 2000 season. This was for nothing more than for the fact that he had certainly earned it. Uel has become one of the most popular riders I can remember in Irish racing. A Gentleman off the bike and a determined but safe competitor on the bikes. A tribute to his family, his Country, his Sport and Himself. I will
always be proud to call Uel Duncan a friend of mine and it has been a pleasure and an honour to be associated with him over the last two short years.

18/3/2000 Aghadowey Closed to Club: 600cc Race 1 - 2nd 600cc Race 2- 4th

Senior Race 1 - 6th Senior Race 2 - 8th

25/3/2000 Nutts Corner Irish Championship: Regal 600 Race 1 - 7th Regal 600 Race 2 - 2nd

Lambert & Butler Race 1 - 8th Lambert & Butler Race 2 - DNF

King of the Corner Final - 13th

22/4/2000 Aghadowey Irish Championship: Regal 600 Race 1 - 8th <BR>Regal 600 Race 2 - 12th

Lambert & Butler Race 1- 12th Lambert & Butler Race 2 - 7th

Enkalon Trophy Race - 7th

24/4/2000 Kirkistown Irish Championship: Regal 600 Race 2 - 10th

Lambert & Butler Race 1 -9th

Ards Council Race - 11th

29/4/2000 Cookstown 100 RR Irish Championship: Regal 600 Race - 5th - F/Lap 73.655 mph

Lambert & Butler Race - 4th - F/Lap 74.453 mph

Cookstown 100 Final - 9th - F/Lap 75.464 mph

5/5/2000 Tandragee 100 RR Irish Championship: Regal 600 Race - 4th - F/Lap 96.919 mph

Tandragee 100 Final - 12th

17/6/2000 Dundrod 150 RR Irish Championship: Regal 600 Race - 7th - F/Lap 115.622 mph

Lambert & Butler Race - 3rd - F/Lap 119/910

24/6/2000 Aghadowey Irish Championship: Regal 600 Race1 - 7th Regal 600 Race 2 - 5th

Lambert & Butler Race 1 - DNF Lambert & Butler Race 2 - 10th

27/28/ 7/2000 Kirkistown UTV Champion of Champions: SS600 Race 1 - 8th SS600 Race 2 - 7th

SS600 Race 3 - DNF SS600 Race 4 - 9th

Senior Open Race 1 - 9th Senior Open Race 2 - 11th

Senior Open Race 3 - 7th Senior Open Race 4 - DNF

1/ 7/2000 Skerries RR Irish Championship: SS 600 Race - 4th - F/Lap 94.456 mph

Skerries Grand Final - 5th - F/Lap 88.055 mph

15/7/2000 Nutts Corner Irish Championships: MCUI Grand Final - 10th

25 /26/ 7/2000 Kirkistown UTV Champion of Champions: SS600 Race 1 - 12th SS600 Race 2 - 9th SS600 Race 3 - 9th

Senior Open Race 1 - 14th Senior Open Race 2 - 10th Senior Open Race 3 - DNF

23/ 7/2000 Kells Road Races Irish Championship: SS600 Race - 5th - F/Lap 99.656 mph Senior Race - 6th - F/Lap 99.975 mph

Kells Grand Final - 4th - F/Lap 100.621 mph

30/ 7/2000 Dundalk Road Races Irish Championship: SS600 Race - 2nd Senior Race - 3rd International Open Race - 4th

5/8/2000 Mid Antrim 150 RR Irish Championship: Regal 600 Race- 3rd - F/Lap 95.614 mph

Lambert & Butler Race 1 - 12th Lambert & Butler Race 2 - 3rd - F/Lap 98.929

12/8/2000 North Monaghan RR Irish Championship: Regal 600 Race - 3rd - F/Lap 95.537 mph

19 / 8/2000 Ulster Grand Prix: Uel crashed during practice ending his competitive racing career.