Michael Dunlop, Alastair Seeley and Dean Harrison lead the charge for Superbike supremacy at North West 200

Yahoo

06-05-2025

-Credit:STEPHEN DAVISON
Glenn Irwin's absence from the 2025 Briggs Equipment North West 200 means there will be a new Superbike winner at the Triangle circuit for the first time in eight years.
Irwin has dominated the class winning the last eleven Superbike races on the north coast but the Carrickfergus rider will not be participating in this year's event leaving the three premier class races at Ireland's largest road race wide open, with sunny weather predicted for the entire week with practice getting underway this morning.
Local hero Michael Dunlop has expressed his desire to reclaim victory on the 8.9 mile course, following his recent win on his new M1000RR BMW at the Cookstown 100.
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Dunlop, who hasn't tasted victory at Portrush since 2016, has made significant changes to his machinery for 2025. He has switched from a Yamaha R6 to a Ducati V2 Panigale in the Supersport class and chosen BMW power for the Superbike and Superstock classes.
The Ballymoney man is set to debut a superbike-spec version of the M1000RR when qualifying for the three-day event begins this morning. With the weather forecast promising a dry, sunny week, the competition is expected to be fierce as Dunlop faces tough opposition in his quest for victory.
Glenn Irwin celebrates his first NW200 Superbike win back in 2017 -Credit:Philip Magowan / PressEye
Alastair Seeley, the most successful rider in the history of the north coast event, is expected to be one of Dunlop's biggest challengers. He returns to the NW200 fray after a 2024 sabbatical as he was unable to secure suitable machinery.
The 45-year-old will compete in the Superbike and Superstock classes on an SMS/Nicholl Oils Racing M1000RR BMW, as well as the Supersport races on a CD Racing by MSS Performance ZXR 636 Kawasaki.
As the record holder at Ireland's premier road racing event, he is aiming for his 30th victory at the event where he secured his first win in 2008.
The Carrickfergus rider expressed his enthusiasm, stating: "Sometimes a year's wait can be worth it because it makes you even hungrier to put on a good show. I will be leaving nothing on the table now that we have bikes that are good enough to do the job."
Honda Racing's Dean Harrison, who has achieved five podium finishes at the NW200 in the past two seasons but has yet to secure a victory, will be competing in the Superbike, Superstock, and Supersport classes this year, with seven opportunities to make a breakthrough.
"I suppose not winning at the North West has been down to my lack of commitment on the coast road on the last lap," the Yorkshireman said.
"I need to be more aggressive, to get myself into the right place at the right time because you can be part of a big train slipstreaming on the straights and you can go from first to sixth on that last lap."
8TEN Racing's Peter Hickman and Davey Todd are also setting their sights on their first North West 200 Superbike victory. However, they face a race against time to get their new Superbike and Superstock-spec M1000RR BMWs ready for the high-speed showdown at Portrush.
Todd celebrated three victories in last year's Supersport and Superstock races, while Hickman took home two wins in the Supertwin races on a Swan Yamaha. This year, Todd will be riding a CBR600RR Honda in Milenco Padgett's colours in the smaller capacity classes, while Hickman will be on a Supersport-spec Triumph and a R7 Yamaha in the 'Twins class.
However, with the road racing season fast approaching, neither rider has had much time to test or race laps on their new 2025 mounts, which is far from ideal preparation for the NW200 speed fest.
Former North West winner Ian Hutchinson will join Cork's Mike Browne on another pair of BMWs in Michael Laverty's newly formed team. Known as the busiest man in bike racing, the former British Supersport champion from Toomebridge, who is now a MotoGP TV pundit, looks set to have his hands full at Portrush.
Former NW200 lap record holder and two-time British Superbike champion, Josh Brookes, is among the top contenders aiming to claim his first NW200 Superbike trophy. This year, Brookes will be riding a Jackson Racing Honda in the premier class events.
"I like the course, it's pretty easy to figure out and where the important bits are, but what I like the most is the mass start," said Brookes.
"That, for me, is what makes the NW200 both exciting and rewarding. I've been on the podium a few times and I've set lap records, but I want to win one and get that particular box ticked. It's a thorn in my side that I haven't won one. I like racing bikes and I like racing at the NW200, but I want to win as well so that's my focus for coming back in 2025."
The 2025 NW200 race is expected to be highly competitive with a wealth of talent and potential winners.
Richard Cooper, who has become a specialist of the Triangle course since his North West debut in 2019, is another name to watch.
The 42-year-old added a maiden win in the Fraser Homes Supersport race on Alastair Russell's R6 at last year's NW200 to his four previous Supertwin victories at the north coast event with Ryan Farquhar's KMR team and he is staying put with the same teams for 2025.
Jamie Coward is set to make a triumphant return to the north coast with his KTS Racing squad after a three-year hiatus. Having previously secured a podium finish at Portrush, Coward will be eyeing a similar outcome in the Supersport and Supertwin classes.
Conor Cummins, the Manxman, is gearing up to make an impression as he debuts at NW200 with the RK Racing/Burrows squad team on BMW and Ducati machinery. Meanwhile, Finland's Erno Kostamo is tipped as a contender in the big bike events.
MIchael Rutter, seen here leading James Hllier and Erno Kostamo at last year's Briggs Equipment North West 200, has 97 race starts at the north coast event and is set to hit the 100th milestone during 2025 race week -Credit:David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press
John McGuinness and Michael Rutter, two seasoned veterans, have certainly earned their NW200 stripes. Rutter is aiming for his 100th race start at this year's event, having competed in 97 races since his debut in 1992.
Only Alastair Seeley and 15-time winner Robert Dunlop have had more success at the North West 200 than Rutter, who will ride a BMW in the Superbike races and a R7 Yamaha in the Twins class this week.
Honda Racing's McGuinness, who made his debut two years after Rutter, will be hoping to replicate last year's success when he received the day's loudest cheer as he ascended the rostrum after finishing third in the CP Hire Superstock race.
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