Conor Cummins claimed just his second Ulster Grand Prix win on Thursday evening when he won the 2018 event’s first Supersport race.

The 32-year-old, whose first UGP win came in 2009, powered to victory on the Padgett’s Honda in the race that was delayed and restarted because of rain at the Northern Irish venue.

Seaking in parc ferme after the race, the Ramsey man added: ’The bike was faultless. We made a tyre choice right from the off and stuck with it, and I think experience counted for a lot there. The Padgett’s team and myself have been round here a lot so I’m well happy. The bike was perfect.’

’It’s nice to be back on the top step here after all these years. It wasn’t an easy race as the first two or three laps were pretty ding dong but I just got my head down and got into a rhythm, keeping it as smooth as possible.’

Adam McLean, who won the evening’s Supertwin race, was second and TT ace Dean Harrison third.

Earlier in the day Cummins set the first 134mph lap of the year to take pole for Saturday’s Superbike race.

That is part of a seven-race programme at the Dundrod circuit on Saturday, roads closing at 9.30am.