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Few events boast such rich history, allure as roads scene ‘Major’, the Briggs Equipment Northwest 200.
The bulk of international road racing’s goliaths are Coleraine bound next week. With eleven times successive Superbike class winner Glenn Irwin, now retired from real roads outings, the door is a jar for potential new big-bike victors.
Runner-up x3 in 2024 to Irwin, King of The Roads Champion Davey Todd returns with a point to prove.
Todd racing for his and team-mate, expected SBK class rival Peter Hickman’s, factory backed 8TEN Racing BMW squad, stated recently:
“I really wanted to beat Glenn Irwin in the Superbike races. That was the big attraction for me.
I’ve been watching all the footage from last year and there was so much talk about how riders like Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison were at a disadvantage because they were on stockers against Glenn, but nobody commented on the fact that I was on a stocker as well!
I am excited to be on a full superbike this year which will make me even stronger than I was last year.
Mervyn (Whyte) and the NW200 team have been doing a fantastic job as well with lots of the track resurfaced now.”
NW200 wins record-holder Alastair Seeley (SMS/Nicholl Oils Racing – M1000RR BMW) aiming to make a tumultuous Triangle course return, Honda Racing UK’s Dean Harrison join Todd, TT & Ulster GP lap-record holder Hickman as stern contenders for the podium.
It’s same vibes and some towards TT wins record holder Michael Dunlop.
‘Maverick’ showed at Cookstown that he’s already looking pretty-handy, with new M1000RR BMW apparatus, besting his own existing Orritor Circuit lap-record on route to a first Grand Final race triumph since 2013.
Others with designs on trips to the podium include Conor Cummins (BE/RK Racing BMW), NW200 returnee, twice BSB Champion Josh Brookes (Jackson Racing – Honda), Jamie Coward (KTS Racing Powered by Stanley Stewart – BMW), the MLav Racing BMW duo of Ian Hutchinson and Michael Browne.
David Johnson (Platinum Club Racing) topping the Kawasaki UK challenge, John McGuinness MBE (Honda Racing UK), Michael Rutter (Bathams AJN Racing – BMW) all return.
The quality of the SBK entry-list is continuous, there’s additionally Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing – Honda), Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles – Honda), Gary McCoy (Mad Bros Racing – BMW), Michael Sweeney.
Julian Trummer (Lion Heart Moto Racing – Kawasaki), Sam West, Phil Crowe, 2022 Macau GP winner Erno Kostamo (RVS Motorsport – BMW).
French aces Amalric Blanc (Team Gazzz 58), Optimark Road Racing’s Jonathan Goetschy, Eddy Ferre.
Craig Neve (Bathams AJN Racing – Honda), Kevin Keyes (Daracore Racing – Yamaha), Laurent Hoffmann (Hoffmann by MRP), newcomers including Barry Burrell (PHR Performance/Halliwell Jones BMW), Mitch Rees (Milenco by Padgetts – Honda) and Joe Yeardsley (Scott Racing – Aprilia).
Overall, another quite brilliant entry for the NW200 Superbike encounters of 2025.
Road racing fans new, experienced, super experienced are brimming with excitement for more joyous, pulsating SBK coast roads action.
Quotes courtesy of Stephen Davison
Photos by Derek Wilson, Tommy Vennard
Photo courtesy of Stephen Davison
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
Todd racing for his and team-mate, expected SBK class rival Peter Hickman’s, factory backed 8TEN Racing BMW squad, stated recently:
“I really wanted to beat Glenn Irwin in the Superbike races. That was the big attraction for me.
I’ve been watching all the footage from last year and there was so much talk about how riders like Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison were at a disadvantage because they were on stockers against Glenn, but nobody commented on the fact that I was on a stocker as well!
I am excited to be on a full superbike this year which will make me even stronger than I was last year.
Mervyn (Whyte) and the NW200 team have been doing a fantastic job as well with lots of the track resurfaced now.”
NW200 wins record-holder Alastair Seeley (SMS/Nicholl Oils Racing – M1000RR BMW) aiming to make a tumultuous Triangle course return, Honda Racing UK’s Dean Harrison join Todd, TT & Ulster GP lap-record holder Hickman as stern contenders for the podium.
It’s same vibes and some towards TT wins record holder Michael Dunlop.
‘Maverick’ showed at Cookstown that he’s already looking pretty-handy, with new M1000RR BMW apparatus, besting his own existing Orritor Circuit lap-record on route to a first Grand Final race triumph since 2013.
Others with designs on trips to the podium include Conor Cummins (BE/RK Racing BMW), NW200 returnee, twice BSB Champion Josh Brookes (Jackson Racing – Honda), Jamie Coward (KTS Racing Powered by Stanley Stewart – BMW), the MLav Racing BMW duo of Ian Hutchinson and Michael Browne.
David Johnson (Platinum Club Racing) topping the Kawasaki UK challenge, John McGuinness MBE (Honda Racing UK), Michael Rutter (Bathams AJN Racing – BMW) all return.
The quality of the SBK entry-list is continuous, there’s additionally Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing – Honda), Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles – Honda), Gary McCoy (Mad Bros Racing – BMW), Michael Sweeney.
Julian Trummer (Lion Heart Moto Racing – Kawasaki), Sam West, Phil Crowe, 2022 Macau GP winner Erno Kostamo (RVS Motorsport – BMW).
French aces Amalric Blanc (Team Gazzz 58), Optimark Road Racing’s Jonathan Goetschy, Eddy Ferre.
Craig Neve (Bathams AJN Racing – Honda), Kevin Keyes (Daracore Racing – Yamaha), Laurent Hoffmann (Hoffmann by MRP), newcomers including Barry Burrell (PHR Performance/Halliwell Jones BMW), Mitch Rees (Milenco by Padgetts – Honda) and Joe Yeardsley (Scott Racing – Aprilia).
Overall, another quite brilliant entry for the NW200 Superbike encounters of 2025.
Road racing fans new, experienced, super experienced are brimming with excitement for more joyous, pulsating SBK coast roads action.
Quotes courtesy of Stephen Davison
Photos by Derek Wilson, Tommy Vennard
Photo courtesy of Stephen Davison
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
