Four different winners round off 90th anniversary celebrations at the North West 200
Racing eventually got underway on Saturday after a number of delays
It proved another memorable year at the North West 200 with four races going ahead yesterday afternoon after a mixed start to Saturday’s race schedule.
The weather gods failed to trouble the main events as the damp conditions cleared which allowed racing to get underway, after short delays due to a helicopter bringing down an electricity line and another non-racing related incident around the circuit
Each of the respective classes got out on track to round off the 90th anniversary celebrations; however, deteriorating weather conditions and a lack of visibility around the 8.9 mile circuit meant that the feature North West 200 Superbike was abandoned.
On the third attempt, the Supersport race got underway at 1.30PM. Despite a depleted grid, the 600cc race did not disappoint the spectators that braved the elements and delays. Mullingar’s Derek McGee battled up front with the Milenco Honda pairing of Davey Todd and Conor Cummins. Magherafelt rider Paul Jordan steered the Logan Racing Yamaha to fourth with Christian Elkin completing the top five.
In the Superbike class, Glenn Irwin clinched victory over Quattro Plant Kawasaki team mate James Hillier to the post, launching a great move into the Juniper Hill chicane on the last lap to clinch the win. Hillier competed in the Superbike class on his Superstock machine and the ZX10R-R machine proved fit for Irwin’s machine. The front three fought tooth and nail around the Triangle for the four laps but Irwin proved why he is the man to beat in the premiere class in the end.
It was a frustrating week for North West 200 record wins holder Alastair Seeley. A crash on Thursday night set the tone for proceedings and after machine trouble in the Supersport race earlier today, Seeley’s challenge rested on the Superbike class. The Carrickfergus rider pushed the PBM Ducati but a lack of grip hampered his chances of running at the sharp end. This was the first year since 2008 that Seeley has failed to win around the Triangle.
Manxman Conor Cummins claimed his second podium of the day for Clive Padgett’s team with a steady third place whilst accomplished National road racer Derek Sheils came home in fourth for the Burrows/RK Racing team.
North West newcomer Richard Cooper finished sixth in the Superbike class but his best result came in the Superstock class as he registered a strong second place finish in his debut at the event. James Hillier was the runaway winner in the race leaving Cooper and Davey Todd to battle it out for the best of the rest. Glenn Irwin was also in the mix but he dropped back towards the end of the race.
Jeremy McWilliams capped off a frustrating week with a win for KMR Kawasaki by winning the final Supertwin race from Christian Elkin and Michael Rutter. Matthew Rees and Joe Loughlin rounded out the top five in what proved to be the final action of the day.
Event organisers and riders will dust themselves down in the coming days before preparations get underway for next year’s event.