By Few events boast such rich history, allure as roads scene ‘Major,’ the Briggs Equipment Northwest 200.
Once again, the bulk of international road racing’s goliaths travel next week to Coleraine.
Road racing fans new, experienced, super experienced are brimming with excitement for more joyous, pulsating SBK/SSTK 1000 coast roads action.
Eleven times consecutive SBK category winner Glenn Irwin (Nitrous Competitions Ducati), is back in NW200 racing mode and only one type of result for the Triangle course lap-record holder matters, race wins!
“I want to pick up where I left off last time. I love it up on the north coast, it feels like my back garden for a reason, and I will be chasing three North West Superbike wins again. I will feel my way back into it again and hit the ground running.”
SBK/Superstock winner x3 last year, there is a question mark surrounding Davey Todd’s participation, after injuries sustained from a qualifying incident in March at the Daytona 200.
Working extremely hard to get back to optimum race fitness, few would be surprised if he reaches the NW200 start-line and despite minimal pre-event track time, shows his obvious talent and fights for sterling results.
8TEN Racing BMW team-mate/co-owner Peter Hickman, super wanting a first NW200 SBK race triumph, respected rival, Honda Racing UK’s Dean Harrison still patiently awaiting event winners’ membership, Michael Dunlop MBE armed with works backed V4 Panigale Ducati, Cookstown 100 lap-record breaking SSTK BMW metal all have designs on big bike domination.
Josh Brookes leading DAO Racing’s roads scene comeback, should also be a front running factor as will last minute 1000cc races entrant, Oliver’s Mount Bob Smith Spring Cup winner, seven times NW200 victor Richard Cooper.
Cooper who’s last 1000cc action across the coast roads in 2022, saw him on record breaking pace, score three rostrum finishes, SBK/SSTK apparatus is National Superstock 1000 Championship front-runners SMS/Nicholl Oils team’s BMW (M1000RR model).
“It’s a real late deal. I had a run out on the bike a few weeks ago and I was pretty comfortable. We are going to take it step by step and hopefully be there when it counts.”
Others in the realm of potential podium finishers include Ian Hutchinson (Team RST – BMW), Conor Cummins (Conrod Motorsport – BMW), John McGuinness MBE (Honda Racing UK) and Finland’s top pure road racer Erno Kostamo (RVS Motorsport – BMW).
David ‘Davo’ Johnson (Platinum Club Racing) headlining again the Kawasaki UK charge, Michael Rutter (Bathams AJN Racing), Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles – Honda) all return.
The sheer quality of the SBK, SSTK entry-lists is endless, there’s additionally Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Powered by Prosper2 – Honda), Michael Sweeney (Martin Jones Racing – BMW), Julian Trummer (Smith Racing – BMW), Mitch Rees (Milenco by Padgetts – Honda), Dominic Herbertson (KTS Racing – BMW).
Armoy ‘Race of Legends,’ Steve Henshaw Gold Cup winner Michael Browne (Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing – Honda), Kevin Keyes (Daracore Racing), Barry Burrell, Marcus Simpson (WH Racing – Honda).
Gary McCoy (Mad Bros Racing), Eddy Ferre (Optimark Road Racing – Honda), Amalric Blanc (Never Be Clever Racing – Yamaha), Cookstown Man of The Meeting Darryl Tweed (JLR Racing by Ability Energy Ltd – Honda), USBK series leader Carl Phillips.
ESR (European Series Road Racing) riders Laurent Hoffmann (Hoffmann by MRP – BMW), Fedrik Matthys (Hoffmann by MRP – BMW), 2023 IRRC Superbike Champion Lukas Maurer (Maurer Racing – Yamaha).
Newcomers, notably BSB winner, Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing – Ducati/Alpha Racing by GRYD – BMW), Rob Hodson (SMT Racing – Honda), Mark Hewitt, Franco Bourne (Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments – Honda) and Senior Manx Grand Prix winner Caomhan Canny (Scott Racing – Aprilia).
Quotes courtesy of Stephen Davison.
Photos by Tommy Vennard, Derek Wilson.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
