By Not surprisingly there was a lengthy delay to the Junction Retail & Leisure Park Supersport race, at the 90th anniversary North West 200, as inclement wet weather embarked upon the Triangle course.
Then alongside the wet, damp conditions, racing was further delayed following an incident during the race warm up lap involving Daley Mathison, who parted company with the WH Racing Yamaha at Black Hill.
Once race action got underway though, the racing despite the conditions was of the absolute highest quality, prior to red flags emerging on lap 2, as David Murphy slid off at Black Hill.
Further delays to competitive action followed, this time due to a mix of problems, including a helicopter catching a power line. Once the persistent issues were resolved, it wasn’t long till the hardy road race fans around the Triangle course, saw more world class, top quality Supersport competition.
In treacherous conditions, EHA Racing’a Alastair Seeley hit the front, with Derek McGee, Davey Todd, Peter Hickman all in close pursuit.
Soon though Seeley was out of contention, as his YZF R6 Yamaha mount’s engine let go at University.
Due to Seeley’s machine potentially dropping oil, the red flags unfortunately again entered the horizon.
Would the North West 200 organisers have better luck, for the third running of the Junction & Leisure Supersport race? The answer thankfully was yes.
With the likes of Seeley, Harrison, Hillier, Johnston, Hickman, Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop all non starters, this paved the way for original race re start pace setters Todd and McGee, to contend again for race honours.
Joined by Ulster GP qualifying record holder Conor Cummins, and Logan Racing Yamaha mounted Paul Jordan, Todd and McGee were part of a race long four rider dice for victory.
Despite the conditions been still not ideal, the standard of racing was superb, as the aforementioned competitors gave it everything in pursuit of joining the North West 200 winners circle.
Photo by Rod Neill
Ultimately after six pulsating laps, it was Milenco by Padgetts Davey Todd, who claimed his first International roads victory, just keeping at bay reigning Duke Road Race Rankings McGee, with Padgetts team mate Cummins finalising the rostrum finishers.
Paul Jordan finished fourth, Christian Elkin placed fifth, whilst lead newcomer Joe Loughlin (6th) Preston’s Darren Cooper (7th), BE Racing In Conjunction With Richardson Kelly Racing’s Tom Weeden, Marty Lennon and Michael Rees all enjoyed productive Triangle course voyages, on route to rounding out the top ten finishers.
Overall just 13 riders finished the second Supersport encounter of this years North West 200, which took over five hours to complete! Remaining race finishers behind the first ten finishers, were Alan Johnston, Paul Mackey and Italy’s Francesco Curinga.
Words by Stevie Rial
