By Glenn Irwin’s retention of the feature Superbike crown made him the first rider since Steve Plater in 2006 to record back to back big bike victories at the North West 200.
Intriguingly in contrast to what you might have expected, Be Wiser Ducati’s Irwin was only 12th fastest through the University speed trap in the blue riband race, reaching a top speed of 191.8 mph.
Photo by Tommy Vennard
Fastest speed trap times respectively across all races, were as follows:
Supersport Race 1: James Hillier 179.5 mph
Superstock Race 1: Michael Dunlop 197.5 mph
Super Twins Race 1: Jointly Adam McLean/Martin Jessopp 157.7 mph
Supersport Race 2: Lee Johnston 177.2 mph
Superbike Race 1: Lee Johnston 198.6 mph
Super Twins Race 2: Joe Thompson 157.7 mph
Superstock Race 2: Michael Dunlop 196.3 mph
Feature Superbike: Michael Rutter 198.6 mph
Following their respective victories within the opening Superstock, Super Twin races, Peter Hickman and Martin Jessopp have now combined 10 international road race wins.
Sole Suzuki mounted rider to finish the second Superstock race was Cookstown BE Racing’s Davey Todd, who’s 13th place finish helped him onto deservedly, becoming the leading newcomer of this years NW200.
The only Yamaha to finish the second Superstock race was Triangle stalwart Marty Lennon, the 25th and final finisher of the six lap encounter.
Joe Thompson’s brace of podium finishes in the Super Twin races were the first top three finishes by a Paton machine at an Irish roads meetings in the 2010’s.
Lee Johnston’s third place finish within the feature Superbike race, provided Honda Racing with a first international roads rostrum finish since the 2016 Pokerstars Senior TT were employee at the time, John McGuinness finished third.
Photo by Tommy Vennard
In total 11 riders wrapped up rostrum finishes, the only rider to stand on the NW200 rostrum for the first time was Team ILR’s Joe Thompson.
A perhaps slightly worrying statistic in my opinion for the event organisers, is that only 24 riders started the feature seven lap Superbike race.
This stat has arose due to a number of factors, the closeness of the event to TT 2018, a few riders ruled out through injury and some non qualifiers but the fact remains, a starting grid of just over 20 competitors is most definitely not enough for a race of this stature.
More positive news for the worldwide popular event was the fact that alongside lead newcomer Davey Todd, in total seven debutants, lapped the Triangle course at over the 110 mph mark.
Words by Stevie Rial
