By Saturday afternoon’s CP Hire supported NW200 Superstock race, was as with previous races blessed by good weather, prominent conditions all round for those riding.
National Superstock 1000 Championship leader Davey Todd quickly took the race initiative, thanks to a textbook launch from the start-line. Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison though bagged the race lead on the run towards the Mill Road Roundabout.
Todd and the Milwaukee BMW were back to P1 before Church Corner with thirteen times TT winner Peter Hickman (PHR Performance BMW) accruing third from WTF Racing’s James Hillier. Red flags then arose following an incident at (TBC).
Post a small delay, racing was confirmed to re-start with a full six-lap distance minus to the trackside crowd’s dismay Supersport, Super Twins lap record holder Michael Dunlop.
Davey Todd made another proficient start closely followed by Dean Harrison, Peter Hickman, and James Hillier.
Todd, Harrison, Hickman, Hillier was the order as lap two beckoned with John McGuinness MBE, Ian Hutchinson fifth, sixth respectively.
Across lap two, the top four order remained stagnant but one could clearly tell the pace was being increased ten-fold.
With four laps remaining, Todd led Harrison by 0.534 of a second, Hickman in turn was 0.308 further back.
Hillier in fourth place, dropped four seconds behind race leader Todd.
As lap four dawned, Todd astride the Milwaukee BMW was keeping up a metronomic, consistent pace, leading Bradford ace Harrison by close to one second.
Although just past 1.2 seconds covered the top three with two laps to go, it did seem baring mistakes that Todd would make it victory no.3 from this year’s Briggs Equipment Northwest 200.
This prophecy turned out to be true as the King of The Roads Champion from 2022, finished 1.579 seconds in front of Hickman.
John McGuinness MBE took an emotional third place finish after issues for Honda Racing team-mate Harrison.
2013 Lightweight TT victor Hillier placed fourth, 1.3 seconds plus behind popular rostrum returnee McGuinness MBE.
Erno Kostamo sealed fifth with Paul Jordan, Dominic Herbertson, Craig Neve, Amalric Blanc, Sam West attaining placings sixth to tenth.
NW200 – CP Hire Superstock Race Result:
1st – Davey Todd
2nd – Peter Hickman
3rd – John McGuinness MBE
4th – James Hillier
5th – Erno Kostamo
6th – Paul Jordan
7th – Dominic Herbertson
8th – Craig Neve
9th – Amalric Blanc
10th – Sam West
11th – Michael Evans
12th – Nathan Harrison
13th – Gary McCoy
14th – Ryan Gibson
15th – Jonathan Goetschy
16th – Ryan Whitehall
17th – Brian McCormack
18th – Emmet O’Grady
19th – James Chawke
20th – Phil Stewart
21st – Marty Lennon
22nd – Liam Chawke
23rd – Dan Forbes
24th – Jean Pierre Polet
25th – Craig Kennelly
26th – Donald MacFadyen
27th – Brad Clarke
28th – Stephen Degnan
Photo credit: Derek Wilson
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
