By Following riveting Super Twin, Superbike, Supersport NW200 tussles, it was time for the CP Hire Superstock race.
An all-star bunch of five, Davey Todd (8TEN Racing BMW), Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK), Alastair Seeley (SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW), Michael Dunlop (MD Racing BMW), Peter Hickman (8TEN Racing BMW) quickly asserted their authority on the race.
As we neared mid-race distance, the front five had moved over four seconds in front of MLav Racing’s Ian Hutchinson.
Early race retirements included Conor Cummins, Neil Kernohan and Luca Gottardi.
By lap four, we were still no clearer in forecasting the race’s outcome albeit Todd in first place, looked in great touch.
At Mather’s Chicane on lap four, it was an 8TEN Racing BMW 1-2, with Hickman moving into second behind Todd.
All was to change though at Church Corner as Hickman ran wide, allowing Harrison and Seeley through.
With two laps to go, Todd finding an extra dash of speed, moved 0.82 clear of Harrison.
On lap five Dunlop retired allowing Seeley to take fourth behind Hickman, who was nearing record setting Superstock lap pace.
By the Mill Road Roundabout on lap six, Todd looked to have obtained a key gap to Harrison and Hickman.
1.343 to the good out front, the country music fan’s eighth NW200 victory was soon tied up.
At the line, the gap to runner-up again Harrison was 0.586 of a second. Hickman in turn, finished 0.237 behind.
NW200 wins record-holder Seeley placed fourth with Hutchinson, Paul Jordan bagging fifth, sixth.
Rounding out the first ten finishers were Erno Kostamo, John McGuinness MBE, Michael Evans and Michael Sweeney.
CP Hire Superstock Race Result:
1st – Davey Todd
2nd – Dean Harrison
3rd – Peter Hickman
4th – Alastair Seeley
5th – Ian Hutchinson
6th – Paul Jordan
7th – Erno Kostamo
8th – John McGuinness MBE
9th – Michael Evans
10th – Michael Sweeney
11th – Josh Brookes
12th – Nathan Harrison
13th – Mitch Rees
14th – David Johnson
15th – Maurizio Bottalico
16th – Laurent Hoffmann
17th – Phil Crowe
18th – James Chawke
19th – Barry Burrell
20th – Ryan Whitehall
21st – Jonathan Perry
22nd – Andrea Majola
23rd – Michael Gahan
24th – Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams
25th – Ilja Caljouw
26th – Amalric Blanc
27th – David Brook
28th – Jean Pierre Polet
29th – Liam Chawke
30th – Tiziano Rosati
31st – Paul Cassidy
32nd – Brad Clarke
33rd – Stephen Degnan
34th – Julian Trummer
Photo credit: Derek Wilson
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
