By Tight, gripping, to close to call, are perennial phrases attributed to the Supersport class at the Briggs Equipment Northwest 200.
A virtual who’s who of international road racing is set to duke it out, for middleweight category honours next week.
Winner of three of the last four NW200 Supersport races, two times National Superstock 1000 Champion Davey Todd switches back from Powertoolmate Ducati equipment to Milenco by Padgetts Honda apparatus.
Expecting more no quarter, no given competition, he stated recently:
“There are so many guys in the mix in the Supersport class and I know there is a certain level of expectation now on me at the Northwest.
But that expectation is there because I have put it there. I’ve been battling for NW200 wins every year since 2022 and I love it round here because it suits my style.
Late braking is part of that but there are lots of other guys in the mix like Michael Dunlop, Alastair Seeley coming back and my team-mate, Peter Hickman, it promises to be an exciting week of road racing.”
Opening Supersport race winner in 2024, Richard Cooper aligns again with Alister Russell’s, Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing team.
Already a five-time NW200 winner, Cooper has the undoubted calibre, temperament, accurate race craft to unlock another Supersport zenith.
Team-mate, also YZF-R6 Yamaha vaulted Michael Browne, proved last year he’s not intimidated by the esteemed opposition.
Should everything piece together nicely, front-running explorations could be on the horizon.
Added podium finishing, race winning prospects to name but a few include:
The legendary Michael Dunlop, now astride V2 Panigale Ducati metal, Jamie Coward (KTS Macadam Triumph Factory Racing), NW200 wins record carrier Alastair Seeley (CD Racing by MSS Performance Kawasaki), top five Daytona 200 finisher in March Peter Hickman, Adam McLean (Performance Racing Achterhoek Yamaha).
Jackson Racing’s Josh Brookes and Paul Jordan, Conor Cummins (BE/RK Racing Ducati), Honda Racing UK’s Dean Harrison, Ian Hutchinson (MLav Racing).
Others hoping to dice it out for first-rate finishes include PHR Performance’s Pierre Yves Bian, Gary McCoy (Mad Bros Racing), AJ Venter (TH Racing Honda), Brian McCormack (Roadhouse Macau), Christian Elkin, Michael Evans.
Michael Sweeney, Darryl Tweed, Kevin Keyes (Daracore Racing), Craig Neve (Bathams AJN Racing Triumph), James Chawke (TH Racing Honda), Sam West.
Triangle course newbies to watch closely include Joe Yeardsley, Jamie Cringle (Parker Transport Racing Yamaha), David Brook and quickest Manx GP newcomer of 2024, Johnny Stewart.
To win a Supersport NW200 encounter you need relentless speed, spot on race tactics, determination personified, some luck and perhaps most of all, an uncompromising sheer will to win.
These attributes apply to various racers featuring within the truly world class field, which is certain to guarantee this month more breath-taking pure road racing.
Quotes courtesy of Stephen Davison
Photo credit: Derek Wilson
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
