10-05-2025
Emotional Paul Jordan over the moon to clinch first ever North West 200 victory
It was Jordan's maiden success at the road racing showpiece on the sun-drenched Causeway Coast and the Magherafelt man could scarcely believe it afterwards.
Cooper – who won the first Supertwin race on the KMR/Jack Reid Cars Kawasaki – and Tobermore rider McLean (Flitwick Motorcycles Yamaha) were reported to be up on their feet after the incident, which happened as they disputed the lead at Juniper chicane on the third lap of four.
Jordan picked up the pieces and found himself with a commanding advantage over southern Irishman Michael Sweeney with only one lap to go.
The Jackson Racing rider safely negotiated his final lap around the 8.9-mile course on his Aprilia machine and crossed the line to become a NW200 winner in front of the packed grandstands.
Jordan, who had 9.8s in hand over Sweeney (MSR Aprilia) at the flag, said: 'It's unbelievable, we didn't have the best practice to be fair and we had problems with the bike – even in the first (Supertwin) race we had a problem.
'In the race I was struggling to stay with them, but it's still a North West 200 win and I'll take that any day of the week regardless of what the circumstances are.
'I hope the two lads are okay, but Paul Jordan – North West 200 winner!
'A Northern Irishman wins so what more could we ask for, it's just amazing – I can't thank the team enough.
'After Sweeney's crash here, I'm well made up for him.'
Sweeney suffered a catalogue of injuries in a crash on his Supertwin machine at the North West in 2023, which ruled him out of action for a year.
The popular Skerries man struggled to compose himself after the race as he recounted his struggle to fight his way back to fitness.
'In 2023, I thought that was going to be the end of it with the crash and then to come back… I never dreamed of standing here,' Sweeney said.
'This is something really special. I have always dreamed of winning a podium at an international and today we have done it.
"I'm just so happy, particularly with what happened a few years ago. To come back here and do it in the same class than what left me in a bad way.
"This is a dream. I came around the last lap and it was like a national road race."
Shropshire's Barry Furber also celebrated his first podium finish at the event, taking third on his DC Autos Yamaha.
'It took me by surprise,' said Furber.
'I saw the two lads down, but at that point I didn't know where I was.
'We come here and try to do well but we never expected this. We'll take it however it comes.'
AJ Venter (TH Racing Kawasaki), Darryl Tweed (Novo Gen by FAO Racing Aprilia) and French rider Jonathan Goetschy (Optimark Racing Aprilia) completed the top six.
Three-time winner Jeremy McWilliams pulled out on the J McC Racing Aprilia.
McWilliams came off in the earlier Supersport race at Mill Road roundabout after taking third in the opening Supertwin race in the morning.
