By Not long after the end-race controversy of the second Superbike race, the second Supersport encounter of NW200 race week (Tides Restaurant title sponsored) began.
As we neared 1:00 PM, middleweight category speedsters sprinted off the start-line.
A visibly, determined looking Davey Todd swiftly slotted into first, followed by fellow front-row attainers, Dean Harrison and Richard Cooper. Harrison then led, Cooper then led, it was slip-stream city!
By Church Corner, the front five, Cooper, Todd, Harrison, Michael Dunlop, Peter Hickman had opened a near two second gap to the chasing pack.
Todd nudged inside Cooper at the start of lap two to lead. Roles were reversed on the trek down to university, then like magic, Dunlop and the V2 Panigale Ducati were in front.
Positions continued to alter, vary, Harrison then had a narrow run in first, only for Todd to strike back. After two laps, below 0.8 of a second, separated the front pack.
Close competition continued in earnest on lap three, then as lap four opened, the race was red flagged due to incidents at Church Corner and Mill Road Roundabout.
Organisers then announced, that the race would be re-started, with a four-lap distance.
Race Take 2:
Once action resumed, the same faces duked it out for podium positions.
Post frantic opening laps, the top four order was Harrison, Cooper, Todd, Dunlop.
Fifth positioned Hickman, who encountered an issue at Magherabuoy Chicane on lap 1, was 4.5 seconds in arrears to the lead group.
On lap three, Cooper and Harrison pulled slightly away but soon Ballymoney’s Michael Dunlop was right back with the Russell Racing, Honda Racing UK competitors.
With one lap to go, any of the front three, looked strong candidates to strike victory gold.
At university, Dunlop hit the front, illustrating again the sheer grunt, performance of his Milwaukee Ducati.
Cooper soon retook the race-lead and led into Mather’s Chicane.
Over Metropole, Black Hill, Cooper retained P1 but Harrison, Dunlop were right there.
At the BetMcLean Chicane Cooper went onto the grass, Harrison almost did. Ultimately it was Cooper clinching P1, with Harrison registering a thirteenth NW200 podium finish, finishing second, 0.14 behind.
Todd, Hickman wrapped up the top five behind Dunlop as Alastair Seeley (CD Racing/MSS Performance Kawasaki), Josh Brookes (Jackson Racing Honda), Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Honda), Ian Hutchinson (MLav Racing Yamaha), Kevin Keyes (Daracore Racing) captured sixth to tenth place finishes.
Tides Restaurant Supersport Race Result:
1st – Richard Cooper
2nd – Dean Harrison
3rd – Michael Dunlop
4th – Davey Todd
5th – Peter Hickman
6th – Alastair Seeley
7th – Josh Brookes
8th – Paul Jordan
9th – Ian Hutchinson
10th – Kevin Keyes
11th – Nathan Harrison
12th – Mauro Poncini
13th – AJ Venter
14th – Andrea Majola
15th – Michael Gahan
16th – Jamie Cringle
17th – Ilja Caljouw
18th – Rhys Hardisty
19th – James Chawke
20th – Dan Ingham
21st – Yann Galli
22nd – David Brook
23rd – Wayne Bourgeais
24th – Liam Chawke
25th – Dennis Booth
26th – Paul Cranston
27th – Stephen Degnan
28th – Craig Kennelly
29th – Austen Webster
Photo credit: Tommy Vennard
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
