North West 200: Irwin earns record Superbike win as Todd takes treble

Glenn Irwin became the most successful Superbike rider in the history of the North West 200 by taking victory in the first of Saturday’s two races in the premier class.

Having won Thursday’s four-lap big bike sprint on his PBM Ducati, Irwin again edged out Milwaukee BMW rival Davey Todd over six scintillating laps at a sunkissed Triangle circuit.

The Northern Irishman’s success saw him achieve his 10th Superbike success at the event and pull one clear of the tally achieved by Michael Rutter and the late Joey Dunlop.

Remarkably, Irwin’s triumphs have come in succession, the 34-year-old having won every Superbike race from race two in 2017 to the present day.

As was the case on Thursday, the Carrickfergus racer and Yorkshireman Todd were involved in a ding-dong battle throughout, Irwin eventually prevailing by 0.382 seconds at the checked flag.

Last year’s British Superbike runner-up led for all but one of the previous five laps and only tenths of a second separated the pair at the end of each circuit.

“This means so much, I’ve worked so hard for this,” said a delighted Irwin.

“I felt comfortable in the race, I knew Davey was strong but we can still go to another level.

“This is my favorite event in the world and to be the most successful Superbike rider is very special.”

Michael Dunlop completed the rostrum places despite being penalized 10 seconds for not stopping after overshooting the start-finish chicane.

James Hillier, Michael Rutter and Finn Erno Kostamo rounded out the top six.

Todd clinched his fourth Supersport win over the Triangle by coming home ahead of Thursday’s 600cc winner Richard Cooper by 0.46 seconds.

Riding his Powertoolmate Ducati V2, the English rider had his Yamaha-mounted rival on his wheeltracks over the six laps, Cooper being pipped at the end despite leading going into the final lap and during part of lap five.

Dunlop was third and set the fastest lap of the race on its final circuit with a speed of 117.709mph.

Mike Browne was fourth, Conor Cummins finished fifth and Paul Jordan finished the race sixth.

Later in the day Todd made it a Superstock double, a hat-trick for the meeting and six career wins at the event with 1.5 seconds to spare over runner-up Hickman in race two in that class.

John McGuinness, 52, was a hugely popular third-place finisher after Dean Harrison retired out of second position.

For McGuinness, it was his first appearance on the rostrum since 2012 thirty years after he made his debut at the race in 1994.

Dunlop was an absentee from the grid after failing to take part in the sighting lap.

The opening Supertwins race turned into a titanic tussle between leading English riders Hickman and Cooper, with the former emerging the victor by just half a second to take his third North West win.

There was initially a three-way battle at the front as Jeremy McWilliams gave chase to the front duo but the 60-year-old was unable to keep up with the pace of his rivals.

Kawasaki rider Cooper led after each of the first three laps but Hickman made his move at Metropole on the final circuit and extended his lead on the coast road section on his Yamaha R7, setting the fastest lap of the race.

Browne edged out McWilliams to take the final rostrum place.

Hickman, who also had a win in the Twins class at the Isle of Man TT last year, commented afterwards: “The R7 went really well. I always enjoy racing with Richard but I know I’m fast over the coast road so I knew if I got into Metropole first I should be ok.”

Superbikes race two of the week – 1 Glenn Irwin (Ducati); 2 Davey Todd (BMW); 3 Michael Dunlop (Honda); 4 James Hillier (Honda); 5 Michael Rutter (BMW); 6 Erno Kostamo (BMW)

Fastest lap: Irwin 124.854mph

Supertwins race one – 1 Peter Hickman (Yamaha); 2 Richard Cooper (Kawasaki); 3 Mike Browne (Aprilia); 4 Jeremy McWilliams (Paton); 5 Christian Elkin (Kawasaki); 6 Barry Furber (Yamaha)

Fastest lap: Hickman 111.539mph

Supersports race two of the week – 1 Davey Todd (Ducati); 2 Richard Cooper (Yamaha); 3 Michael Dunlop (Triumph); 4 Mike Browne (Yamaha); 5 Conor Cummins (Honda); 6 Paul Jordan (Honda).

Fastest lap: Dunlop 117.709mph

Superstocks race two of the week – 1 Davey Todd (BMW); 2 Peter Hickman (BMW); 3 John McGuinness (Honda); 4 James Hillier (Honda); 5 Erno Kostamo (BMW) ; 6 Paul Jordan (Honda).

Fastest lap: Hickman 123.881mph