09-05-2025
Home fans celebrate on opening night of race action at the Briggs Equipment North West 200
MICHAEL Dunlop gave the home crowd the result they wanted with a brilliant double during the opening night of racing at the Briggs Equipment North West 200 on Thursday.
The Ballymoney man, who hadn't won a race at Portrush since 2016, took victory in the Fraser Homes Supersport race on his Milwaukee V2 Ducati and steered his MD Racing BMW to a second Thursday night triumph in the Amici Ristorante Superstock event.
"It's nice to win in Northern Ireland again at international level!' the Ballymoney rider smiled after leading Richard Cooper (Russell Racing/BPE Yamaha) home by 0.378 sec in the Supersport encounter with Davey Todd 0.121 sec behind on the Milenco Padgett's Honda.
'I knew I could win here again and the local fans are fantastic so I really enjoyed it. We struggled a bit with the bike at the beginning of the week and there's still more to come from it but having been on the wrong end of things in the past I pulled my finger out to make sure I was in the right place at the right time this time around.'
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BACK ON THE PODIUM: Dunlop hadn't won at the NW200 since 2016 and the fans loved seeing him back on the podium after winning the Fraser Homes Supersport Race
Credit: Stephen Davison
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GOOD SPORT: Northern Ireland First Minister, Michelle O'Neill joins Fraser Homes Kim Cunningham with Briggs Equipment North West 200 Supersport race winner, Michael Dunlop, runner-up Richard Cooper and third placed Davey Todd on the podium on Thursday evening
Credit: STEPHEN DAVISON
Dunlop came off his Ducati at the Magherabouy chicane during a qualifying session earlier in the day, but showed no signs of that getting in the way of victory.
He was joined on the Supersport race rostrum by Northern Ireland's First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, who was making her first visit to the north coast races.
'The slipstream here means you can pull people back with a couple of good sectors.' Dunlop explained.
'I was strong in the second half of the race, which I needed to be as Davey (Todd) and Richard (Cooper) are good riders and on good bikes.'
Cooper, who won the same race 12 months earlier, reflected on what might have been.
''I felt I had to be at the front at all times so I could keep my cards close to my chest especially as a four-lap race is quite short. I could hear the big Ducati behind me but I wasn't prepared for the speed of it when it came by me at Magherabouy. That was pretty special and it felt like a superbike! My Yamaha was fantastic though and whether the result is first, second or third, I always give everything and always enjoy the battles. I need to mention the boys who passed away at Oulton at the weekend. I would have loved to have won it for them as I worked with Shane and it's a tough time for Hannah and the kids and the whole family. As racers, we're selfish and you push these things to the back of your mind but it's not that we're not thinking about it."
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SUN KISSED: A huge crowd enjoyed the action on the opening night of racing at the Briggs Equipment North West 200
Credit: STEPHEN DAVISON
"Third's not the position I wanted especially having fought for the win for the majority of the race.' a disappointed Davey Todd said.
'To end in third is disappointing but a couple of bikes out there are pretty fast and when that Ducati came past, I couldn't even stay in the slipstream. The Padgett's Milenco Honda was superb so we'll have to try again in Saturday's race."
Dunlop was elated to make it a double in the final race of the evening as he claimed victory from Dean Harrison by 2.659 seconds on the Honda Racing Fireblade.
And third placed Ian Hutchinson, who finished a further 5.815 seconds back, gave Michael Laverty's new road racing team- MLAV Racing BMW- it's first between the hedges rostrum result.
"I rode hard for that one and I think I deserved the win.' Dunlop said.
'It was tough at the beginning and I could see Davey (Todd) getting away so I'm delighted to get another win. We had a little setback with the spill this morning and we've had an issue with the Superbike which hopefully the boys back in Germany can sort but it's great to get another win. It's been so long since winning around and it's felt like a kick in the teeth year on year whilst there's always been meetings where I haven't been fit. Winning again takes a bit of the weight off my shoulders."
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TAKING STOCK: Michael Dunlop on his way to win the MICI Superstock race
Credit: Stephen Davison
Dean Harrison, who was appearing on the podium for the second time during the evening as he continues to chase his first win at Portrush, said he was happy to finish runner-up after making a bad start to the race.
'I was down in eighth at the beginning but Peter Hickman overshot Magherabouy and Davey ran on at University so I was able to pick my way through. We missed half of the practice session and I was struggling to shift through the first three gears in the race and I had nothing left at the end.'
For Hutchy, who was making his first trip to the NW200 rostrum since 2017, third place was a morale boosting result.
"Michael Laverty gave me a call in November about getting involved in the project but it's literally only come together these last four weeks! It's my first podium here since 2017 and I've had a nightmare since then but I never stopped believing in myself and just kept going. I hope my daughter's watching back home as daddy can still ride!"
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FIRST NW200 SUPERBIKE WIN: Davey Todd wins from Dean Harrison and Peter Hickman during the Mikwaukee Superbike at Briggs Equipment North-West 200 on Thursday
Credit: Rod Neill/Pacemaker Press
It was a brilliant day for Monster Energy athletes as Davey Todd won the opening Milwaukee Superbike race, his first NW200 victory in the premier class, and his team-mate, Peter Hickman was third.
Joining them on the podium was Dean Harrison while fellow Monster athelete Dunlop was fourth on this occassion.
'A Superbike win is the one that's been eluding me for quite a while so to finally get it done is really special, especially with Pete on the podium as well.' Todd smiled.
'The team's been set up in the space of about eight weeks so a massive shout out to all the boys and the sponsors for making it happen and they've pulled it out of the bag. A first and third is a good way to start. I've been struggling to get off the line with the bike which is unlike me as that's normally one of my strengths, but I nailed it in the race which is when it counts. I wanted to lead from the front, so I set a steady pace and was ready to push harder at the end if need be. This one's special.'
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AND THEY'RE OFF: The opening Milwaukee Superbike Race during Thursday evening's North West 200
Credit: Stephen Davison
Hickman lost ground after making a mistake at York Corner on the opening lap, running wide.
'I wasn't too bothered though and was happy with what I was doing.' Hickman said.
'But Dean bridged the gap to Davey quicker than I was able to do. I'd caught them up by the last lap but then lost the rear at Church and whilst a 1-2 would have been nice for the team first time out on the roads, we've got to be happy with a 1-3. I get quicker as the race goes on so with Saturday's races being longer maybe that will play into my hands.'
'Peter overshot York on the first lap which pulled me wide as well but I managed to drag Davey back in although I struggled to pull out of his slipstream.' Harrison explained.
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'As soon as I did I was being buffeted all over the place. I was also struggling to get the drive out of Black Hill and then ran deep into Juniper but I'm happy with second.'
Before the opening Superbike race of the evening was flagged off all of the competitors in the event observed a minute's silence in honour of VE Day.
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RESPECT: Briggs Equipment North West 200 competitors observe a minute's silence in honour of VE Day before racing commenced on Thursday evening
Credit: STEPHEN DAVISON
