By Alastair Seeley got a great start to lead the opening superstock race at 2014 Vauxhall international North West 200 on lap 1. Mar Train racing rider Alastair was over half a second in front at the end of lap 1 as Martin Jessopp competing on Riders motorcycles HP4 BMW held second place, Simon Andrews competing for Penz 13.com BMW held second place and Michael Dunlop wasn’t far of the pace in the top five.
Second lap saw Seeley break away further from the pack and the lead out front was growing and growing, Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp where battling over second place whilst Michael Dunlop was now in front of Simon Andrews.
Onto lap three and positions out front changed little but Rutter was beginning now in second place with a clear road in front of him to have the potential to challenge Seeley for race victory. Michael Dunlop wasn’t far behind Martin Jessopp whilst Horst Saiger was challenging Simon Andrews for fifth position.
Lap four saw Michael Rutter begin to eat into Alastair Seeley’s lead and soon Rutter competing for Bathams BMW was right behind Seeley as lap four neared its completion. Michael Dunlop was now into third position but with lots of work to do to reel in the leading trio.
However on lap five Dunlop was on a charge and the rider competing for his own MD racing team had soon within his sight Alastair Seeley and Michael Rutter. Rutter hit the front on lap five with Seeley close behind, Dunlop was now also right on them and so what a fight for victory we had in prospect as the final lap beckoned.
Michael Dunlop was cheered on by the large crowd at North West 200 today as the two time winner at the triangle surged to the front but the race was not over and soon Alastair Seeley and Michael Rutter where both right behind Dunlop.
But it was Alastair Seeley’s who worked out his plan of attack to pass Michael Dunlop with not long to go before the end of the race and soon Michael Rutter was into second place, who was going to win? we would all know the answers soon as the riders went down the coast road all together but Seeley had the lead over Rutter and Dunlop, at the line Alastair Seeley recorded his second race win of the day.
Plus Alastair’s win means he is now the fourth most successful rider in North West 200 history. Michael Rutter finished in a superb second place whilst Michael Dunlop produced a highly determined ride to finish in third place, Martin Jessopp was an excellent fourth whilst Horst Saiger broke the superstock lap record in finishing in a highly creditable fifth position.
Simon Andrews was sixth, Conor Cummins was leading Honda mounted rider home in seventh place for RAF Reserves Honda. Guy Martin finished in eighth position, Peter Hickman produced one of the rides of the race coming home in ninth place, a superb ride by Peter on his debut at North West 200. William Dunlop rounded out the top ten in what was another classic North West 200 race which second win of the day for Alastair Seeley and Mar Train racing.
