By Supersport races always produce close, exciting, entertaining and thrilling action at the North West 200 and this year is no different.
Jackson Racing are all set to run 21 times TT winner John McGuinness and runner up in 2014 senior TT Conor Cummins on top spec CBR 600 Honda’s.
Both John and Conor are confident in the potential of the Honda’s in supersport class as they look to give Jackson Racing their first North West 200 victory since 2010 when Keith Amor was victorious in superstock race.
James Hillier competing for Quattro Plant Kawasaki looks set to be amongst the leading Kawasaki mounted riders.
2013 lightweight TT winner James is fully established now as one of the top international road racers in the world, he’s more than capable of securing high quality results in supersport races as is 11 times Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop.
Michael is all set to compete on his own teams YZF R6 Yamaha. Most recently at Cookstown 100 Maverick set the fastest lap in feature supersport race before retiring.
As always he will start one of the pre race favourites as will Valvoline Racing by Padgetts Motorcycles Bruce Anstey.
TT and Ulster Grand Prix lap record holder Bruce is regarded by many as a pure road racing genius.
Photo by Rod Neill
Already 29 times an international road race winner more wins could be on the cards in supersport races at Vauxhall International North West 200.
Bruce’s team mate Dan Kneen goes into the opening international road race of the season in confident mood that he has the machinery to fight for race victories.
Dan in recent years has gone up a level and the reigning Irish road race superbike champion could well surprise many people in supersport races.
Photo by Rod Neill
William Dunlop goes into North West 200 the in form rider in supersport class.
Having secured back to back supersport race wins at Cookstown 100 and most recently supersport success at Tandragee 100 the Ivan Curran/CD Racing rider is tipped by many to be the one to beat in supersport class.
William is extremely happy with the performance of the team’s high spec YZF R6 Yamaha going into action around the triangle.
Dean Harrison is joined in the Mar Train Racing Yamaha team for supersport races by two times TT winner Gary Johnson.
The duo will be amongst the pre race favourites, arguably Mar Train Racing’s line up for supersport races is the strongest with the combination of Dean Harrison’s huge talent and the proven quality of Gary Johnson.
MV Agusta has a strong presence in the form of Tsingtao Racing running eight times TT winner Ian Hutchinson.
Hutchy could well be a dark horse as he bids to add to his current tally of two race wins at the North West 200.
Lee Johnston looks set to be leading 675 Daytona Triumph mounted rider in supersport races.
The East Coast Racing rider has already tasted success around the triangle and there’s no doubt he’s capable of more race victories at the iconic road race.
Keith Amor, Ivan Lintin, Russ Mountford, Jamie Hamilton, Daley Mathison are all extremely talented riders all in the running for results of the highest quality as is reigning Duke road race rankings champion James Cowton.
James is competing on his own teams CBR 600 Honda which recently he piloted to fourth place finish in supersport invitational race at Cookstown 100.
Two time junior Manx Grand Prix winner Michael Sweeney is another rider in the running for standout results as he competes on Martin Jones Racing backed R6 Yamaha.
Third place finisher overall following feature races at Spring Cup National Road Races Tom Weeden is excited about returning to action at the North West.
Tom is set to compete on his own teams 675 Daytona Triumph as he targets top results.
Further quality to the entry list is added by Seamus Elliott, Davy Morgan, Jamie Coward, KMR Kawasaki’s Connor Behan, Paul Shoesmith, Colin Stephenson and Dan Cooper.
Whilst BikebitsNI Racing’s Derek Sheils goes into the North West full of confidence following superb results at Cookstown 100.
One of the main exciting aspects in supersport races around the triangle this year is Glenn Irwin making his debut.
Glenn who is set to compete for Gearlink Kawasaki has already stated that he believes he can fight for race victories in his first year of competition at the Portstewart based road race.
Glenn’s team mate Ben Wilson is making his pure road racing debut at the North West 200.
Ben is looking forward to competing for the first time on the roads and it will be fascinating to see who will be quicker on their debut out of him and Glenn.
Derek Mcgee is tipped by many to finish leading newcomer in supersport class as he competes on Wilson Craig Racing’s CBR 600 Honda.
Already a race winner this season in super twin’s race at Tandragee 100 the reigning Irish road race supersport champion has the talent, ability and ambition to record high quality results.
Photo by Rod Neill
2014 newcomers A Manx Grand Prix winner Billy Redmayne is set to make his North West debut. Having dazzled on his Tandragee 100 debut securing 10th, 6th and 5th place finishes the Manxman goes into the meeting full of confidence.
Craig Neve competing on Call Mac Scaffolding backed CBR 600 Honda and Sam West competing on Homer Racing backed ZX6 Kawasaki are another two top riders making their triangle debut’s.
Two scintillating supersport races are in prospect at the 2015 Vauxhall International North West 200.
We’ve mentioned here pretty much all of the main contenders apart from one Alastair Seeley. The multiple times North West 200 winner hasn’t announced yet his choice of machinery for supersport class but is tipped to be GSXR-R 600 Suzuki mounted.
For many people William Dunlop is the man to beat in supersport races, he’s enjoyed a great start to the season and has top class machinery, the combination of William’s growing confidence and an ultra quick YZF R6 Yamaha will be hard to beat.
But the competition is immense and any one of multiple riders is extremely capable of standing on the top step of the podium in both races.
