Ian Hutchinson on his way to a hat trick of wins at the UGP. Photograph: Eric Blayney (more)

I wasn’t at the Ulster Grand Prix this year, in fact, I haven’t been there since 2007 but I can safely call it ‘another fine Ulster Grand Prix” with complete confidence only because I have been enough to know that this event never ever lets the fans down. I’ve been to shit football matches, I’ve watched drab hockey games, I’ve even seen the odd procession in Formula One, but I have never, never seen a boring race at the UGP. If I could have it my way, I’d be there every single year and the sooner I can get back to watch it once more, the better. Six different category motorbike races lasting anywhere from twenty to thirty minutes each around a 7.401mile road circuit with dozens of bikes and thousands of fans lining the country roads in the hills above Belfast. The action is forever wheel to wheel, the passing frequent, the drama extreme, the danger levels high to really get the addrennelin flowing and average lap speeds upward of 130 mph for five or six laps with finishes decided by a handful of seconds at the most. This year, from what I heard by word of mouth and by listening to live commentary on Internet Radio, was no different.

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The Honda Indy of 2010 just kind of crept up on me. I heard the commercials for it, months in advance but after deciding months in advance that I was going to go I woke up one day and realised the event was only a few days away. I quickly snapped up a ticket for the race day and on Sunday morning hopped in the car early and headed down to Exhibition Place to watch some top level motor racing.

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I can’t believe it’s been a year already. But here we are, mid-July 2010 and the Indy Cars are back in Toronto again and my ticket is purchased. There is no way such an elite level motorsport could come to within ten kilometers of my door and I not find myself in attendance. I didn’t have the cash to get along for the entire weekend like last year, but I wanted to at least see the race. Looking back at last years event my most vivid memory was how close the racing was and how much overtaking there was in comparison to F1 and I hope for more of the same tomorrow.

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So another year over and this year as I explained in the NW200 preview blog a few days ago, I had to make do with watching online from the computer yesterday morning. I got up early, missed the first race but caught the next three before I had to go out. It was excellent stuff as always though a little hard to watch all the people there without wishing I was there also enjoying the day. The man of the day I suppose would be Alaister Seeley who picked up two victories in the six races with wins in the Supersport race and the second Superbike race. He became the first Irishman to win the Superbike race at the NW200 for thirteen years. Not bad going.

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Once again I am in Canada for the weekend of the North West 200 and so for a second year running I won’t be able to get along to the track to watch one of the most thrilling sporting events of the year. Still, with the live streaming of the races on their website and their live twitter updates I should be able to see the racing at least and I can’t wait.

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While F1 was badly dropping the ball in their opening race of the season, Indy Car was on the other side of the world in Sao Paulo, Brazil getting it right in theirs. The race was won by Will Power from Ryan Huter-reay and Vitor Meira in what was reported to be a highly exciting race with plenty of overtaking and tight racing. Here is what was reported on Indy Cars Facebook page:

What a race! A crazy start, heavy rain, a rookie leading laps and a dramatic last stint! Congratulations to our Sao Paulo Indy 300 podium finishers 1st: Will Power, 2nd: Ryan Hunter-Reay, 3rd: Vitor Meira. Log on to www.indycar.com for the complete post-race wrapup!

I went to the Indy race in Toronto last summer for my first ever experience of Indy Car and was blown away by how exciting the racing was and how much overtaking I seen. I didn’t follow the season much thereafter but did say I would try get into the 2010 series so that come July when it returns to Toronto I will know a little more about what’s going on. Well, if the racing continues like this, it shouldn’t be hard.

Condolences to the family of Henry Surtees, the 18-year-old son of former F1 world champion John Surtees who was killed in a Formula 2 race this past weekend. The incident occurred during the second race when the car of Jack Clarke spun and struck the wall at the exit of Westfield Bend. A tire from Clarke’s car flew off and appeared to strike Surtees in the head, sending him crashing into the barriers at Sheene corner. He was airlifted to hospital but was pronounced dead. A sad piece of news indeed.