Vauxhall International North West 200
Triangle Circuit, Northern Ireland
May 19, 2018
BetMcLean.com Supersport (600cc) Race Results:
1. Alastair Seeley (Yam YZF-R6), 6 laps, Total Race Time 27:47.289, Best Lap Time 4:33.864, Race Average Speed 115.906 mph
2. James Hillier (Kaw ZX-6R), -5.561 seconds, 4:37.213, 115.520 mph
3. Lee Johnston (Hon CBR600RR), -5.846, 4:37.440, 115.501 mph
4. Dean Harrison (Kaw ZX-6R), -6.113, 4:36.843, 115.482 mph
5. Michael Dunlop (Hon CBR600RR), -6.191, 4:36.673, 115.477 mph
6. Martin Jessopp (Tri Daytona 675R), -7.914, 4:37.934, 115.358 mph
7. Conor Cummins (Hon CBR600RR), -8.644, 4:38.280, 115.308 mph
8. Gary Johnson (Tri Daytona 675R), -13.145, 4:38.400, 114.999 mph
9. James Cowton (Kaw ZX-6R), -28.748, 4:41.587, 113.941 mph
10. Dan Kneen (Hon CBR600RR), -29.483, 4:41.868, 113.892 mph
Anchor Bat Superbike Race One Results:
1. Glenn Irwin (Duc Panigale R), 7 laps, Total Race Time 30:53.529, Best Lap Time 4:24.266, Average Race Speed 121.681 mph
2. Dean Harrison (Kaw ZX-10R), -1.017 seconds, 4:24.144, 121.615 mph
3. Michael Rutter (BMW S1000RR), -3.147, 4:24.338, 121.475 mph
4. Lee Johnston (Hon CBR1000RR), -6.231, 4:24.173, 121.274 mph
5. Alastair Seeley (BMW S1000RR), -7.167, 4:24.855, 121.213 mph
6. Conor Cummins (Hon CBR1000RR), -16.959, 4:25.062, 120.578 mph
7. Martin Jessopp (BMW S1000RR), -28.579, 4:26.819, 119.834 mph
8. Sam West (BMW S1000RR), -53.338, 4:29.967, 118.278 mph
9. James Hillier (Kaw ZX-10R), -58.696, 4:28.936, 117.946 mph
10. Daniel Cooper (BMW S1000RR), -74.318, 4:34.257, 116.991 mph
John M Paterson Supertwin Race Two Results:
1. James Cowton (Kaw 650), 4 laps, Total Race Time 19:50.489, Best Lap Time 4:57.351, Race Average Speed 108.077 mph
2. Jeremy McWilliams (Kaw 650), -0.602 second, 4:57.695, 108.022 mph
3. Joey Thompson (Paton), -1.467 seconds, 4:58.284, 107.944 mph
4. Christian Elkin (Kaw 650), -17.767, 4:58.878, 106.487 mph
5. Michael Sweeney (Kaw 650), -36.533, 5:07.148, 104.859 mph
6. Victor Lopez (Kaw 650), -49.558, 5:09.441, 103.757 mph
7. Denver Robb (Kaw 650), -50.505, 5:09.201, 103.678 mph
8. Jonathan Perry (Kaw 650), -51.096, 5:10.618, 103.629 mph
9. Xavier Denis (Kaw 650), -60.941, 5:10.242, 102.814 mph
10. Martin Lennon (Kaw 650), -64.365, 5:11.437, 102.533 mph
11. Matt Sadowski (Kaw 650), -73.007, 5:16.343, 101.832 mph
CP Hire Superstock (1000cc) Race Two Results:
1. Alastair Seeley (BMW S1000RR), 6 laps, Total Race Time 26:35.361, Best Lap Time 4:24.720, Average Race Speed 121.131 mph
2. Peter Hickman (BMW S1000RR), -0.186 second, 4:24.608, 121.117 mph
3. Dean Harrison (Kaw ZX-10R), -1.526 seconds, 4:24.992, 121.015 mph
4. Michael Dunlop (BMW S1000RR), -1.730, 4:25.257, 121.000 mph
5. Gary Johnson (Kaw ZX-10R), -2.760, 4:25.608, 120.922 mph
6. Dan Kneen (BMW S1000RR), -12.104, 4:25.654, 120.219 mph
7. Martin Jessopp (BMW S1000RR), -17.030, 4:26.213, 119.852 mph
8. James Hillier (Kaw ZX-10R), -25.430, 4:27.793, 119.231 mph
9. Conor Cummins (Hon CBR1000RR), -26.628, 4:28.932, 119.143 mph
10. Daniel Cooper (BMW S1000RR), -27.314, 4:29.958, 119.092 mph
Merrow Hotel & Spa NW200 Superbike Race Two:
1. Glenn Irwin (Duc Panigale R), 7 laps, Total Race Time 30:43.811, Best Lap Time 4:22.323, Average Race Speed 122.323 mph
2. Michael Dunlop (BMW S1000RR), -9.962 seconds, 4:23.105, 121.665 mph
3. Lee Johnston (Hon CBR1000RR), -10.147, 4:24.162, 121.653 mph
4. Martin Jessopp (BMW S1000RR), -10.328, 4:24.247, 121.641 mph
5. Conor Cummins (Hon CBR1000RR), -10.655, 4:24.239, 121.620 mph
6. Dean Harrison (Kaw ZX-10R), -12.142, 4:23.988, 121.522 mph
7. Michael Rutter (BMW S1000RR), -13.523, 4:24.708, 121.432 mph
8. Gary Johnson (Kaw ZX-10R), -36.555, 4:26.719, 119.945 mph
9. James Hillier (Kaw ZX-10R), -36.836, 4:25.272, 119.927 mph
10. Alastair Seeley (BMW S1000RR), -38.808, 4:25.982, 119.801 mph
More, from a press release issued by Be Wiser Ducati:
Sensational NW200 Double For Irwin
Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin swept to an emphatic double victory at the International North West 200 in Northern Ireland today when he took both Superbike races by commanding margins around the high-speed 8.9-mile circuit.
Last year’s Superbike race winner, Irwin had signalled his intentions in qualifying, held in superb conditions, when he took a superb pole position on Thursday afternoon, a lap of 122.454mph on the factory-backed Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R giving him a slender 0.066s advantage over Kawasaki rider Dean Harrison.
Conditions today were again perfect and the opening seven-lap Superbike race saw the Carrickfergus rider grab the holeshot and he never looked back. His lead over closest rival Michael Rutter at the end of the first lap was 3.7 seconds and this had become five seconds by the end of lap two with record race winner Alastair Seeley now in second.
Irwin’s fellow Ulsterman reduced the margin over the next couple of laps but the 28 year old responded in superb fashion to extend his lead again over the final three laps and with Seeley receiving a five second penalty for jumping the start, he took his second Superbike victory in a row at the Causeway Coast track from Dean Harrison.
The second race later in the day, again held over the distance of seven laps, saw an even more commanding performance and with a 3.5 second lead at the end of the first lap, he continually increased this over the course of the seven laps. Indeed, by the end of the race, his margin of victory over Michael Dunlop was nearly ten seconds as he completed a stunning double, also setting the fastest lap of the meeting at an average 122.809mph.
Glenn Irwin: “What can I say, it’s just been an awesome day! I managed to get the holeshot in both races and just got my head down which allowed me to break the tow of the other riders. With clear road, you can ride almost the perfect lap and the support I was getting from the crowd was unreal – I didn’t need a pitboard as the crowd were giving me all the signals I needed! The sun shone all day and the crowd was huge so with it being a hard week for the team after Shakey’s accident, hopefully today’s wins have lifted everyone’s spirits.”
Paul Bird, Team Owner: “Before the meeting, I thought it was going to be hard to win one race, let alone two, given the standard of competition but Glenn’s been full of confidence all week and he rode exceptionally well and well within himself. He looked good right from the word go and the team needed a lift after Shakey’s accident earlier in the week so for him to take the double and make it three wins from the last three Superbike races is brilliant. It was difficult with not riding in the other races like all the other riders but it never showed and he got his head down from the start to deliver two brilliant win.”
More, from a press release issued by Bathams Racing:
Rutter claims 32nd North West 200 podium
Bathams Racing’s Michael Rutter claimed his 32nd podium at the International North West 200 on Saturday when the Bridgnorth rider took an excellent third place in the opening seven-lap Superbike race, also setting a new personal best lap of 122.162mph around the high-speed 8.9-mile circuit.
With perfect conditions once more on the Causeway Coast, the Superbike race was Michael’s first outing of the day and a good start saw him slot into second place and although Glenn Irwin opened up a sizeable lead, eventually winning, the battle for second saw no less than five riders in contention for the podium places.
By lap three, Michael had been pushed back to fourth but Alastair Seeley, who was running in second place, had picked up a five-second penalty for jumping the start and although positions changed regularly, the Northern Irishman’s real position on corrected time dropped him back down the order. Subsequently, although Michael crossed the line at the end of the seven laps in fourth place, the adjusted positions put him in third, just behind Dean Harrison.
It was his 32nd North West 200 podium in total and he also set a new personal best lap fourth time around of 122.162mph, further proof of how well he was riding and how well the BMW S1000RR was performing.
Next up was the Superstock race, held over six laps and a perfect start saw Michael take the lead in the early stages before Seeley pushed him back to second on the second lap. However, on the fourth lap, Michael found a false neutral going into the Juniper Chicane, which dropped him back to seventh and with the issue cropping up again that, coupled with his own mistake at University as he tried to claw back the lost ground, saw him finish an eventual 13th, not at all the result he deserved.
That just left the feature seven-lap Superbike race and again Michael ran with the leading pack throughout. Irwin again took a comfortable win but Michael was part of a six-rider battle for second and although he had to settle for seventh place, it still capped another strong day of racing around the Triangle circuit.
Michael Rutter: “I was delighted to get onto the podium in the Superbike race and I wasn’t sure where I’d finished to be honest as it wasn’t clear if Alastair had picked up a penalty or not. I’d have been happy with fourth as I felt like I rode well and the bike was working well too so to finish on the podium again was a real nice bonus. We were in contention throughout though and whilst it was a hard race, we deserved a good finish.”
“The Superstock race started well and I felt like the podium positions would be wide open until the last lap but, unfortunately, I found a false neutral at Juniper which caused me to overshoot and lose time and then I made my own mistake at University as I was trying really hard to claw back the time. I found a false neutral again on the final lap so it was an eventful race and then in the Superbike race at the end, I just lost the tow a little bit and if that happens it’s hard work around here. Overall, it’s been another good week and to finish on the podium against the calibre of teams and riders that were here is a great achievement for everyone at Bathams Racing.”
Michael and the team now head to the Isle of Man TT Races with practice getting underway around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course on Saturday 26th May.
More, from a press release issued by Smiths Racing:
Victory For Hickman And Smiths At NW200
Peter Hickman clinched both his and the Smiths Racing BMW team’s first ever International North West 200 victory when he came out on top of a thrilling Superstock race on Thursday evening which he followed up with a runner-up place in today’s second race.
Hickman’s win came after a titanic three-rider battle during the opening six-lap race around the Causeway Coast track which saw the Lincoln rider dicing with fellow BMW riders Alastair Seeley and Michael Dunlop for the entire race distance.
It was Hickman and Seeley that held first and second for the majority of the race and although Seeley, the record race winner at the closed roads track in Northern Ireland, looked like he’d done enough to get the win, Peter had other ideas and a late braking manoeuvre at the Juniper Chicane on the final lap saw him get the verdict by just over half a second.
Today’s race, which again saw perfect conditions all around the 8.9-mile circuit, followed a similar pattern with the same riders battling for supremacy. At one time, just two seconds covered the first eight riders but in the closing two laps, it was Hickman and Seeley that again looked the most likely to succeed on their respective BMW S1000RRs.
Along with Dean Harrison, the duo both took turns to lead and although Peter grabbed the lead at the Metropole on the final lap and led all along the coast road, Seeley did what Peter had done to him on Thursday at Juniper to take the win with the Smiths BMW rider having to settle for second this time, albeit just 0.186 seconds adrift.
The 31 year old was also out in both of today’s seven-lap Superbike races for the Gloucester-based team, but it was a case of what might have been as rear tyre problems forced him to retire from the leading pack in the first encounter and then a punctured radiator pipe, caused from a stone flicking up from the rider in front of him, in the second race.
Unfortunately, a controversial decision by the organisers meant that he was unable to start either of the two Supersport races on the Smiths Racing Trooper Beer Triumph with only four and a half of the designated qualifying laps completed, which was a disappointment for all concerned.
Peter Hickman: “I’m naturally delighted to have won my first NW200 Superstock race and the team deserved it as much as me as they’ve worked incredibly hard and given me a great bike. I timed it perfectly in the first race and thought I’d done the same in the second as I tried to get a gap only for Alastair to brake later than I thought possible at the final chicane. In both Superbike races, I made really good starts but had a few issues with the dash in the first race and then a problem with the rear tyre that forced me out. Then in the second, a stone got flicked up and it went through the fairing and then through the radiator pipe which was incredibly unlucky. The biggest disappointment was not getting out in either Supersport race though as everyone had put a lot of effort in getting the bike ready but overall, it’s been a solid enough meeting ahead of the TT.”
Darren Jones, Team Co-ordinator: “Obviously, the two Superstock races were the undoubted highlights of the week and it was great for both Peter and the team to take their first North West 200 victories. We worked hard on the engine braking and had no problems at all in the races so Peter’s feeling very happy and confident with the machine. It was disappointing not to get out in either of the two Supersport races and although we didn’t get the results we deserved in the Superbike races, Peter was as fast as anyone and it was only freak issues that forced us out. It’s been good preparation for the TT and we’re happy enough with the position we’re in.”
More, from a press release issued by EHA Racing:
FULL HOUSE IN THE SUPERSPORT CLASS FOR EHA RACING & THE WEE WIZARD AT NORTH WEST
Alastair Seeley and EHA Racing made it a Supersport class double at the International North West 200, with yet another stunning performance earlier today. Today’s race win being backed up by a new class lap record on his EHA Racing YZF-R6 [117.913mph / 4min 33.864sec].
En route to a new class lap record aboard the ‘Team Turquoise’ EHA Racing Yamaha at the NW200
Starting from pole position, Seeley again took control from the word go, and while his rivals had spells at the front periodically, the EHA man worked his way methocically through a game-plan, that saw him storm to a comfortable 5.5-second win after breaking clear in the last 11 miles of pure road racing.
The result completed a perfect North West 200 for Seeley and the EHA Racing team, converting a pole position into two wins [one on Thursday and one today], two fastest laps and a new class lap record.
Speaking afterward, the Carrickfergus ace, who also picked up the Man of the Meeting award, said: “From the very first day that I spoke to the team about coming to the North West 200 with EHA Racing it has gone to plan: the Castle Combe test was a perfect start and the Kirkistown test just last week saw us well under the lap record.
That allowed me to come here in a great frame of mind, as I knew the package was perfect for the job. The plan today was similar to Thursday night where I settled in, in the early laps, assessed the pace and who was going to be challenging, then pulled the pin. I’m delighted to increase my Supersport win record to 12 and overall we now have 24 wins, coming in eleven consecutive seasons at the NW200.
I love riding Supersport machinery and I was pretty excited to be getting to ride Yamaha’s new YZF-R6, and in EHA Racing trim we again proved today how good the package really is. I actually quite think I suit turquoise and would love to ride the bike again for Edward and Gail and the boys. Let’s see what happens.
Thanks to the whole EHA Racing team for such a big effort and also to my team behind the scenes, who keep me going through a busy schedule here at the North West 200. I’d really like to come back and keep on winning at the North West 200, as I love the event and I feel I have plenty of more wins in me. Let’s hope that’s with this team as they are a great bunch of people.”
Top of the podium for the second time in a week. Alastair Seeley who was presented his trophy by three-time World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea .
Gail Allingham, Team Manager, said: “What Alastair and the whole team has achieved this week is like a dream come true for us at EHA Racing. To come and take the win on Thursday night had us on cloud nine, but to take both Supersport wins and a new class lap record; not forgetting we started on pole position, completed a perfect week in fabulous sunshine at the North West, is hard to put into words.
We really couldn’t have done this without our whole team and additional support from family and friends. Event Director Mervyn Whyte and his team helped us tremendously throughout, so full credit to them for a fabulous event, which we are all very proud of attending.
Last but certainly not least are our sponsors, who have really come out in force to lend their support trackside this week; many of whom we’ve been able to share the success with, which is very important to us. The fans have really embraced us as a team, both on track and in the paddock, and we have certainly gained a few more ‘Team Turquoise’ supporters behind the hedgerows this week.”
More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:
Honda Racing back on the North West 200 podium
North West 200
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Honda Racing returned to the International North West 200 podium today as Lee Johnston finished the final Superbike race of the day in third place aboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2.
In the opening Superbike race of the day Johnston narrowly missed out on the podium after crossing the line in fourth place. In a thrilling race at the 8.9-mile circuit in Northern Ireland, ‘The General’ started from tenth on the grid and soon started to gain places aboard the Fireblade.
Making his way into second place in the closing stages of the race, the 29-year old outbroke himself heading into Juniper Hill and crossed the line fourth having set the second fastest lap time of the race 4:24.173 (122.238mph).
The final feature Superbike race of the day saw Johnston quickly making up places and into the front pack. With blistering pace aboard the CBR he had the podium firmly in his sights and by the end of the second lap was into third. Holding off challenges from his rivals, Johnston crossed the line third just 0.185s from second place.
Meanwhile teammate Ian Hutchinson enjoyed a successful NW200 with the Honda Racing team, as he made his return to racing. Working throughout the week to optimise the settings on the Fireblade and after a retirement in the first race, ‘Hutchy’ showed good pace and progress in the final Superbike race, crossing the line 11th.
The team will now prepare for the Isle of Man TT races, which take place 26 May – 8 June, with first Superbike practice getting underway on Monday 28 May.
Ian Hutchinson 9
We’ve got a lot of positives to be had from a successful North West 200 and the results at the end of the week show the progress we’ve made with the set-up of the bike and also for my return to racing. The team and I have worked a lot on the set-up of the Fireblade to find a good feeling and in the final race I felt comfortable with the package we have. We can now turn our focus to the TT, where we hope to continue building the good work and getting up into sharp end. Thanks to all the team for their efforts out here!
Lee Johnston 13
I’m leaving the North West 200 happy and feeling really positive with the Fireblade and the package we have. The first Superbike race we came from tenth on the grid right up into second place on the last lap, but after some rider error we finished fourth! I just outbraked myself coming into Juniper Hill and lost the spot, otherwise we’d have taken second in the first race. The second race again we came from a little way back into third place. I almost took second place on the final lap, but came home third, which I’m really happy about. I’m feeling confident and good ahead of the TT and now just can’t wait to get going!
Jonny Twelvetrees
Team Manager
I think the North West 200 has been very successful for Honda. Lee scored podiums with both Padgetts and us in the Superbike race, and showed podium pace in the first race. He’s in a very good position heading to the TT, he’s confident with the Fireblade and has shown he’s competitive at the front. Ian has done exceptionally well, he’s made progress, he’s feeling good and all the changes we have made to the CBR have been positive. He’s happy and that is the main thing, I think he’s achieved more than anyone could have expected from him returning from injury, so he’s now prepared and in a good position going forward.
More, from a press release issued by RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki:
Another good day in Ireland for Johnson and RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki
Gary Johnson and the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki team enjoyed another strong day of racing at the International North West 200 on Saturday with the Lincolnshire rider claiming a best finish of fifth and three top eight finishes in total.
The highlight of the day came in the six-lap Superstock race when Gary only just missed out on a podium position on the Kawasaki ZX-10R. Ninth at the end of the opening lap around the high-speed 8.9-mile circuit, it was close between the leading pack and at the end of lap three, just 2.7s covered the leading eight riders with Gary up to seventh.
A lap later, this had become sixth as he lapped at 121.578mph, which, at the time, was the fastest lap of the race and when Dan Kneen ran straight on at Mather’s Cross on the final lap, it promoted him up the order to fifth, just over two seconds behind race winner Alastair Seeley.
The 37-year old also enjoyed a strong ride in the earlier Supersport race, slotting into third on his Triumph at the end of the first lap. He then promptly ran wide and onto the kerbs at the chicane but quickly regrouped and still occupied third place at the end of the fourth lap with just 1.7s covering the leading eight riders in what was a thrilling race. Unfortunately, a small technical problem on the final lap dropped him back to eighth at the chequered flag but it served warning to the opposition that he’ll be a major threat at the TT.
The Superbike races were also challenging affairs for the team but after cruelly being forced to retire from the opening seven-lap encounter on the last lap, when lying eighth, both Gary and the team bounced back to record the same position in the feature Superbike race with Gary setting more 121mph+ laps on the Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Gary Johnson: “All in all, today’s gone very well and it’s been nice to be back at the North West 200 and nice to battle with the leading pack and run competitive lap times in some good company. With not much track time prior to the event, we’ve made some huge steps forward this week and the team have worked absolutely brilliantly to give me bikes I was extremely happy with.”
“We always knew we wouldn’t be running our best Supersport engines here so to run in third place for much of the race bodes well for the TT whilst the Superstock bike was flying and at one stage I was the fastest man on track. A close fifth was a good result and although we had a few little niggling issues with the Superbike, the bike felt very stable at high speed and it was nice to get a decent finish in the last race. It’s been a good, solid North West 200 meeting and we’re not a million miles away so roll on the TT!”
Lee Hardy, Team Owner: “I’m more than happy with how the North West 200 has gone and really pleased with Gary’s performances across all of the classes and with the team’s effort. P5 in the Superstock race was a really strong ride and he was right on the back of the leading group whilst we’ve done a lot of work with the Supersport bike which could be seen in Gary riding at the front despite not having his fastest engine in the bike.”
“The Superbike was a bit more temperamental and after losing the first qualifying session on Tuesday, we’ve been playing catch up ever since! Gary ran inside in the top eight in both races though and we’ve gained some valuable data with a good idea of what direction we need to go in. After a couple of years away, it’s been good to be back at the North West 200 and whilst the weather obviously helps, a big thank you to Mervyn Whyte and his team for putting on a great event.”
The team now look forward to the Isle of Man TT Races with practice on the Mountain Course getting underway on Saturday 26th May.
More, from a press release issued by North West 200 Press Office:
IRWIN AND SEELEY CLAIM TWO WINS EACH AT SATURDAY’S VAUXHALL INTERNATIONAL NORTH WEST 200
Glenn Irwin and Alastair Seeley dominated the 2018 Vauxhall International North West 200 as both riders claimed double victories.
Irwin won both superbike races in perfect conditions with Seeley taking victory in the Supersport and Superstock events.
The initial start of the final feature superbike event was red flagged after just one lap. Irwin seized control of the restart, blitzing the opposition from the drop of the flag to lead by 3.5 seconds after the opening circuit.
“I regrouped and made sure I hit every apex.” the PBM/Be Wiser Ducati rider explained.
“It was the perfect lap so I knew if anyone was within half a second of me then they would be really on it! From then on I did what I wanted to do with the race.”
The expected big bike clash between Irwin, Seeley and Michael Dunlop failed to materialise as BSB star Irwin dominated. Dunlop eventually trailed in almost ten seconds behind the Carrickfergus man on his Tyco BMW with Lee Johnston third on the Honda Racing Fireblade.
Irwin had also led the earlier big bike seven lapper by six seconds before hitting trouble on the fourth lap.
“Sometimes when you are not pushing to the limit you don’t make the gear shift as firmly as you should and I hit a false neutral coming into Juniper chicane.” he explained.
“I thought I had thrown the race away.”
After that scare Irwin’s lead was cut to less than a second but he recovered to take the chequered flag from Dean Harrison (Silicone Kawasaki) with Michael Rutter third on the Bathams BMW.
Seeley failed to make the podium in either superbike race but he won the day’s opening Supersport event before going on to claim his 24th North West victory in a thrilling Superstock race.
The 38 year old smashed the 600cc lap record on the EHA Yamaha R6 during the first race of the day, setting a new mark of 117.913mph on the final lap to take his second Supersport success of the week following his Thursday evening victory.
“I was sizing everyone up during the first few laps and I changed my game plan from University on the last lap.” he explained.
“I tried to not make any mistakes on that lap because if you overshoot you just give your advantage right back.”
Seeley’s winning margin was 5.5 seconds from James Hillier (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) and Lee Johnston (Padgett’s Honda).
Seeley turned the tables in the Superstock race on rival Peter Hickman (Smith’s BMW). The Englishman won Thursday evening’s stocker battle with a stunning late braking manoeuvre on Seeley at Juniper chicane.
This time it was the Northern Irishman who outwitted his opponent, riding around the outside of Hickman on the approach to the same corner to take the lead on the final lap.
“We were jockeying around trying different lines and I tried to keep them guessing where I was going.” the North West 200’s most successful rider smiled.
“I wanted to try and get a good run out of Black Hill to have a chance of a slipstream. I didn’t know whether to choose left or right but I decided to go the long way round and I don’t think I could have got any more pressure on that front brake!”
Seeley’s hat-trick at the 2018 North West earned him the Man of the Meeting trophy which was presented by the late Robert Dunlop’s wife, Louise.
Davey Todd was the Best Newcomer winner and Victor Lopez took the Best Overseas trophy.
DRAMATIC END TO SUPERTWIN RACE
Juniper chicane was also the scene of a dramatic finale to the Supertwin event with James Cowton forcing his way past Joey Thompson on his McAdoo Kawasaki to take the win by 0.6 seconds.
20 year old Thompson looked certain to claim his first North West win on the Paton as he led Cowton and Jeremy McWilliams (KMR Kawasaki) along the coast road on the final lap. But a mistake by the youngster on the approach to Juniper was seized upon by Cowton and McWilliams also managed to squeeze through as the Paton rider floundered.
“It was all down to that last chicane.” Cowton said.
“You have to pick your lines and win the best you can.”
“Winning would have been the icing on the cake but two podiums will do.” McWilliams said but Thompson was distraught in defeat.
“I had the whole race planned out in my head.” he said.
“I knew exactly what I had to do, how I was going to defend. But unfortunately my plan didn’t work out!”
More, from a press release issued by Tyco BMW and TAS Racing:
TYCO BMW AND TAS RACING EXTEND NW200 PODIUM SUCCESS
Tyco BMW secured a race win and two podiums during the prestigious 2018 International North West 200, extending parent company TAS Racing’s NW200 tally to 28 race wins.
With perfect Irish weather gracing the 8.9 mile ‘Triangle’ circuit, the North Coast roads played host to some incredibly close racing, which saw Michael Dunlop secure a second place podium in the feature Superbike Race aboard the BMW S 1000 RR. The local Ballymoney rider looked spectacular on the Tyco BMW Superbike machinery as he continued his preparation for the forthcoming Isle of Man TT races [26th May – 9th June].
In the Superstock class Alastair Seeley continued his winning form with a race victory and a second place podium, increasing his record breaking race win tally to 24 at the Northern Irish event; fourteen of which are with TAS Racing.
Dan Kneen had a fantastic start in today’s Superstock 1000 race taking the lead in the first lap from a P5 grid start. However he was cruelly denied a podium finish after running on at Mather’s Cross in the final lap resulting in the Manxman crossing the line in sixth place. Dan will now be focusing on the next stage of his roads campaign at the Isle of Man TT in a week’s time.
Philip Neill – Team Manager: A fantastic showcase of racing on the beautiful North Coast and we managed to add to our race win record which now stands at 28. We did have a challenge this year with set up and a few niggly problems, but the Superstock race win for Alastair was superb and a second place for Michael in the feature Superbike race in his first major race with Tyco BMW was a fantastic end to the day’s racing. Dan was unlucky to overshoot when he was in a strong fight for a podium position. Overall we head to the TT with optimism and hope to reward our sponsors Tyco and BMW with further podium success.