Vauxhall North West 200
Triangle Circuit, Northern Ireland
May 14, 2015
Supersport Race One Results:
1. Alastair Seeley (Suz GSX-R600), 6 laps, 27:43.982, 116.136 mph
2. Michael Dunlop (Yam YZF-R6), -7.583 seconds
3. Lee Johnston (Tri Daytona 675R), -14.766
4. Bruce Anstey (Hon CBR600RR), -17.868
5. Dean Harrison (Yam YZF-R6), -25.356
6. Conor Cummins (Hon CBR600RR), -34.325
7. Keith Amor (Hon CBR600RR), -34.961
8. James Hillier (Kaw ZX-6R), -41.349
9. Jamie Hamilton (Hon CBR600RR), -41.519
10. John McGuinness (Hon CBR600RR), -43.902
SuperTwin Race Results:
1. Ryan Farquhar (Kaw 650), 4 laps, 19:59.741, 107.243 mph
2. Jeremy McWilliams (Kaw 650), -1.268 seconds
3. Jamie Hamilton (Kaw 650), -9.851
4. Christian Elkin (Kaw 650), -30.011
5. Derek McGee (Kaw 650), -32.365
6. Michael Sweeney (Kaw 650), -35.160
7. Martin Jessopp (Kaw 650), -67.974
8. Jamie Coward (Apr 550), -70.842
9. Darren James (Kaw 650), -71.494
10. Ian Morrell (Suz 650), -72.146
More, from a press release issued by Pacemaker Press International on behalf of event organizers:
Alastair Seeley equals Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter’s record of 13 wins at 2015 Vauxhall International North West 200.
After dominating practice for the 2015 Vauxhall International North West 200, Alastair Seeley won the opening EventServ Supersport race in front of huge crowds on his Tyco Suzuki.
The 34 year old has now won 13 North West races, placing him on equal terms with the late Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter with 13 wins on the 8.9 mile Triangle circuit.
The Carrickfergus rider set a new 600cc lap record of 117.077mph as he beat off challenges from North West newcomer Glenn Irwin on the Gear Link Kawasaki and Michael Dunlop on the MD Racing Yamaha to take the victory.
“Some people don’t rate the Suzuki but I like it,” Seeley said afterwards. “It was a close race and Glenn was putting me under a bit of pressure there – and fair play to him on being up there with us on his first time around here! I’m sure he’s learned a fair bit sitting in there too. Track knowledge and experience did it for me though – Glenn was using the entire road!”
The young British Supersport championship contender had shown that he meant business when he said that he could win on his debut at the seaside event by breaking through from the second row to lead at the start of the race. Seeley got the Suzuki’s nose in front before Irwin passed the Tyco man into Juniper Hill chicane on the second lap. Seeley retook the lead on the exit from the start and finish chicane but what appeared to be going to be a great dogfight of a race came to an abrupt end when Irwin went out of the race between Station and University with an engine problem.
It was left to Michael Dunlop to make a race of it with Seeley on his MD Racing machine but the Yamaha didn’t have the pace to stay with the Suzuki, finishing 7.5 seconds adrift.
Lee Johnston put a poor practice on his ECC/Burdens Triumph behind him to take the final podium position after catching and overtaking Bruce Anstey on the Padgetts Valvoline Honda.
“To be fair, everything worked really well,” Seeley reflected afterwards. “The Metzeler tyres were good and we weren’t sliding much – we’re testing a new tyre this week and I’m really happy with it. I was able to come out of places like Metropole, spin it and hook it first, the thing was so stable. That meant in places like the chicanes and on the Coast Road we were able to just pull out a little bit every time.”
Ryan Farquhar made it a double for the local riders as the Dungannon man took victory in the Supertwins event. Staring from pole Farquhar steered his SGS/KMR Kawasaki into a lead that he held until Metropole on the final lap when his team mate Jeremy McWilliams dived up the inside.
But wily Farquhar went underneath the former Grand Prix star and held on until the chequered flag to win on his comeback to full-time racing.
“I knew Jeremy was going to have a go – I just didn’t know where,” Farquhar laughed as McWilliams celebrated in the winners’ enclosure. “It was a fantastic race and just to get on the podium is good, but it’s a dream come true – and having Jeremy beside me is just fantastic!”
Anticipation was high for the final Spidi Superstock race amongst the hordes of fans enjoying the evening sunshine. Sadly the race came to an abrupt end after just one lap when Sandor Bitter crashed the T&R Motorsport BMW at Ballysally roundabout. The Hungarian was taken to Causeway hospital for a check up although he did not sustain any serious injury in the crash. With the roads having to re-open at 8.45pm there was insufficient time to re-start the race which the organisers have announced will now be run on Saturday.
More, from a press release issued by Ryan Farquhar’s publicist:
Fairytale win for Farquhar at North West 200
Ryan Farquhar took a fairytale win at the International North West 200 road races on Thursday when the SGS International/KMR Kawasaki rider stormed to his fifth victory around the 8.9-mile circuit in superb style. And to cap a brilliant day, Jeremy McWilliams crossed the line just behind in second to give the team a dream 1-2 result.
With Tuesday’s qualifying session seeing wet weather and Thursday’s run in dry, sunny conditions an alternative grid saw Ryan line up in pole position and Jeremy in fifth for the four lap race. The evening saw perfect conditions all around the course and although one of the expected challengers, James Hillier, was a non starter, it was expected to be a tight race – and so proved.
Ryan grabbed the lead from the outset and led former Grand Prix winner McWilliams by almost two seconds at the completion of the first lap with Martin Jessopp in third and Jamie Hamilton in fourth although Jessopp was hit with a 60 second penalty for jumping the start. At the head of the field, Ryan still led but at half race distance the gap was down to 1.5s and, going into the final lap, Jeremy was only a second adrift.
It would be a grandstand finish between the team-mates and bit by by Jeremy closed in on the final circuit, particularly on the brakes. He hit the front for the first time going into Metropole but Ryan retaliated immediately and, using his road racing prowess along the coast road, along with posting the fastest lap of the race at 107.938mph, he took the win by 1.2s.
There was further joy for the team when Canadian newcomer Darren James took an excellent ninth place.
Ryan Farquhar: “Where do I start? It really has been a fairytale for me to win today and it makes all the hours of work and effort over the winter months worthwhile. I was caught off guard when I made my comeback last year so I’ve been working really hard to develop the bike and it’s certainly paid off today. I got a good start but made a bit of a gamble with the gearing and although I was struggling to pull the gearing I needed, everything went well in the race.”
“I knew Jeremy wouldn’t be far away and also knew at what sections of the course he’d be strong. The top end of his bike was slightly better than mine but the difference in the gearing we were running made a massive difference. As soon as he came by me on the brakes, I got back up the inside and knew that I was stronger from there on in on what I’d call the road racer’s section of the course. I’m more at home between the kerbs and walls and gave it my all along the coast road to come home for the win.”
“To take a 1-2 is brilliant for the team and for Darren to take a top ten finish on his debut too caps things off. It’s been good to have him involved with the team and having an International rider come here, ride well and enjoy himself sends a good message to the other side of the world.”
Ryan has a busy day in store on Saturday with outings in the Superbike, Superstock and Supertwins races.