By Added to today’s schedule, the postponed from Thursday evening, Milltown Service Station Super Twins encounter opened feature race day at the FonaCAB & Nicholl Oils.
Stern favourite for many was pole sitter Richard Cooper, who during Tuesday’s opening qualifying stint, had bested the existing class lap record.
KMR Kawasaki’s Cooper got the swiftest getaway and led the field into York Corner.
On the run towards the Mill Road Roundabout, Bayview Hotel Paton runner Jeremy McWilliams had grabbed the lead with JMcC Roofing Racing’s Adam McLean up to second.
Soon Nottingham’s Cooper was back to second and quickly reeling in McWilliams.
As lap one finished, Cooper overhauled McWilliams for P1, moving 0.342 clear.
56 plate holder McLean third, was only a further 0.434 in arrears to McWilliams.
The top three pace setters remained closely congested throughout lap two.
Just as McWilliams, Cooper, McLean had crossed the finish line to start lap three, the race was red flagged following an incident at Dhu Varren.
Post a forty-five minute plus delay, race action re-opened with a full four-lap re-start in prospect for Twins exponents.
Pre-race favourite Cooper led McLean, McWilliams, Paul Jordan into Portstewart, York Corner.
The slip stream effect was soon in full flight with McLean vaulting to P1, then McWilliams took the advantage, closely pursued by Cooper.
Into the Magherabuoy Chicane and McWilliams held first but not for long as on the approach to Church Corner, Cooper went P1.
McWilliams would go onto regain the initiative out front, leading Cooper by 0.244 of a second, as opening lap proceedings finished.
PreZ Racing’s Paul Jordan after a near high-side was now one second behind the leading trio of McWilliams, McLean and Cooper.
Lead changes, back and forth first to second to third back to first, back to second summed up the battle between the front runners across lap two.
As lap three dawned, fastest NW200 newcomer in history Cooper, had moved 1.32 seconds ahead of Ulster GP, Post TT winner McLean and McWilliams now third, was 0.158 further back.
Aided by an incredible new class lap record of 4 minutes 47.677 seconds, race leader Cooper at lap three’s optimisation, was in excess of seven seconds in front of the closely matched McLean, McWilliams and Jordan.
To all intents and purposes, the race for first was now effectively over but who would win the duel for second?
Rolling off the pace a touch, a gleeful Cooper took the chequered flag, stylishly banking opening Super Twins race spoils.
Jordan got the better of McLean for second with former Moto GP pilot McWilliams, having to settle for fourth.
World’s fastest road racer Peter Hickman (PHR Performance Yamaha) occupied fifth, race winner last year Joe Loughlin placed sixth.
Wrapping up the top ten finishers were Kris Duncan, Jamie Williams, 2022 Junior Manx GP winner Francesco Curinga and American newcomer Cory West.
Milltown Service Station Super Twins Race Result:
1st – Richard Cooper
2nd – Paul Jordan
3rd – Adam McLean
4th – Jeremy McWilliams
5th – Peter Hickman
6th – Joe Loughlin
7th – Kris Duncan
8th – Jamie Williams
9th – Francesco Curinga
10th – Cory West
11th – Emmett O’Grady
12th – Ryan Whitehall
13th – Martin Morris
14th – Gareth Arnold
15th – Dave Madsen Mygdal
16th – Adam Child
17th – Andy Hornby
18th – Mark Johnson
19th – RJ Woolsey
Photo credit: Tommy Vennard
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
