William Dunlop proved once again at the KDM Hire Cookstown 100, why many consider him the leading supersport exponent on the roads, with back to back supersport victories.
The supersport invitational race, saw William starting from fifth on the grid. Gaining a good start, he was soon near the early pace setters Derek McGee and Malachi Mitchell Thomas.
By lap four the reigning Irish road race superbike champion had moved into race lead, on lap five the race was red flagged due to Malachi Mitchell Thomas slipping off.
William was declared the race winner, to make it three supersport 600 victories in successive years, around the Orritor circuit.
Onto the feature supersport race, and again the Ivan Curran/CD Racing racing rider, made a quite brilliant start from fifth on the grid.
Photo by Rod Neill
An enthralling race would see William battle his way to the sharpest point of the field, establishing a firm grip on the race on lap five.
At the end of the sixth and final lap, he crossed the line to make it a supersport double, on the Ivan Curran/CD Racing YZF R6 Yamaha.
Alongside his supersport exploits, he clinched fifth and sixth place finishes in the open superbike and grand final races, following highly accomplished display’s on MSS Colchester backed superstock ZX10R Kawasaki.
Next meeting on the horizon for William, is the first international road race of the year, the Vauxhall International North West 200.
Words by Stevie Rial