Latest news with #NW200
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Coward returns to England after NW200 accident
English rider Jamie Coward has returned home following an accident at the NW200 on was taken to hospital in Coleraine after a crash in the opening Supertwins race at Quarry Bend on wife Sally Coward confirmed on social media that he was returning home to England "battered and bruised with some injuries but still smiling"."Lots of rest needed but we know Jamie," she continued in a post on X, external."Can't thank everyone enough, especially all the medical team and hospital staff, forever grateful."
Belfast Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Davey Todd takes the plaudits as he claims top billing with North West 200 Superbike glory
The race was stopped by a red flag when leaders Todd and Harrison were on their sixth and final lap. A rider crashed at Quarry Hill and was taken to hospital by air ambulance, although their injuries were not understood to be life-threatening. A result was declared based on positions at the end of lap five, giving 29-year-old Todd the win by 0.398s from Harrison, who finished as the runner-up for the Honda Racing team. Todd won his maiden Superbike race at the North West 200 on Thursday after previously finishing second behind Glenn Irwin five times. Alastair Seeley returned to the podium for the first time since 2023, taking third on the SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW, 3.4s adrift. Michael Dunlop – who clocked the fastest lap of the race at 125.480mph – went out of the lead on his factory BMW machine on the fourth lap. Dunlop had caught and passed Todd and was a few tenths ahead when he pulled out at Mathers chicane. Another key contender, pole-sitter Peter Hickman, retired on the first lap with an issue on his 8TEN Racing BMW at University. Josh Brookes made amends for some disappointing results by taking fifth on the Jackson Racing Honda with the evergreen John McGuinness in sixth (Honda Racing UK). The event ended on a slightly disappointing note with the red flag crash, but eight-time NW200 Steve Plater said the drama, controversy and excitement yesterday had been a 'great day for the sport'. 'It's an incredible day's racing, a lot of drama, a lot of things going on in the paddock and parc ferme afterwards, but what a great day for the sport, it really is,' said Plater. 'The crowds have been fantastic and certainly there was some massive cheering for that local man (Michael Dunlop). 'In the Thursday night Superbike race he rode really well and he rode really well in the first Superbike race today.' Assessing Todd's performance, Plater said the Saltburn man would have been 'very happy' with his big victory in the finale. 'He had a problem, lost power when he had his eight-second lead and dropped back (in the first Superbike race), so he'll be very happy with the result in the last race. 'Dean Harrison was the bridesmaid again and he's riding so well in the British Championship and of course on the roads, but his day will come, it really will.' Plater was also impressed by Michael Dunlop, whose treble has moved him onto eight wins. The Ulsterman's Supersport and Superstock victories on Thursday were his first since 2016 at his home race. 'When he comes to the North West, Michael's usually getting ready for the TT and using it as a little bit of a test, and never really shows that much aggression,' said Plater. "But this year he's had the bit between his teeth and that boy is riding well – he's certainly going to have a good season.' With the start of the Isle of Man TT coming up later this month, legendary Irish road racer Phillip McCallen believes the main protagonists will be confident of their prospects at the iconic Mountain Course meeting. 'Michael Dunlop will certainly leave here happy with his bikes, the 8TEN team have got to be happy because those bikes were put together as they arrived here – they were testing stuff every day – so they're going to be happy,' McCallen said. 'I think Dean Harrison will definitely be going to the TT ten times happier than he was last year and in previous years when he was on the Kawasaki, which was 10 or 15mph down on Peter Hickman. 'Michael's triple has to be (the highlight) because he hadn't won here for nine years, so he was cool and calm – mentally he's very strong and physically when he got off those bikes there was no problem.'
Belfast Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Nothing was going to deny me Supersport success, roars Richard Cooper after last lap drama
Cooper was left frustrated after his defeat against Michael Dunlop in Thursday's race and was determined to come out on top in the restarted race. The Nottingham rider was leading along the Coast Road on the last lap but came under pressure from Honda Racing's Dean Harrison, who was hard on the brakes on Cooper's inside into the all-action Juniper chicane. Cooper went deep on the brakes but picked his BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha up and ran across the grass. Harrison, too, ran over the grass after he was unable to make his apex. Dunlop had a grandstand seat behind the battling leaders but could not capitalise on their mistakes, closing out the race in third on his factory Ducati V2. Cooper roared over Quarry Hill to take his second victory of the day by just over a tenth of a second from Harrison, who yet again had to settle for the runner-up spot. Dunlop was 0.294s behind in the last rostrum place, with Davey Todd over ten seconds further adrift on Clive Padgett's Honda. Cooper, who has increased his tally of NW200 wins to seven, said: 'Lap one I was like 'I'm having this'. 'Michael beat me fair and square in race one, he had that one, this one there was no way. 'Whoever got through that chicane in one piece, in my eyes the win was for taking. 'I just held on, there was no other option and I had to run straight. I managed to get out the other side and controlled myself, and it takes a brave man to pass someone at the last corner. 'It's special to win in front of those fans.' Harrison was left to rue what might have been after putting himself in the picture for his first win around the 8.9-mile course. 'I knew from the start of the race it was going to be difficult to be honest,' he said. 'As soon as anyone passed me, I was straight back past them and I was constantly in the slipstream. 'The middle of the corner I felt I had (Cooper), to be fair. 'It's good for everyone to see.' Dunlop said the outcome was always destined to be decided at Juniper. 'The two boys knew they weren't making the turn. The two of them ran on but I made the chicane – they made a clear advantage,' said the Ballymoney man. 'I ran on earlier (in the Superbike race) but didn't get an advantage from it. I'm not going to cry about it, what do you say about it. Unless the organisers look at it, I don't know. 'It was great racing. It's always going to go down to that last chicane.' The race was held over four laps instead of six after a red flag following two separate crashes at Mill Road roundabout and Church corner. Jeremy McWilliams went down at Mill Road roundabout but the 61-year-old later lined up for the second Supertwin race, although he pulled out after the first lap. Peter Hickman finished fifth on the Trooper/PHR Triumph while 13-time Supersport winner Alastair Seeley was sixth on the MSS/CD Racing Kawasaki.
Belfast Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
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.
Belfast Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Richard Cooper toasts ‘fantastic' fifth Supertwin victory at North West 200
Cooper had to settle for the runner-up spot twice in 2024 after losing out to Peter Hickman, but he was back on the top step at the north coast road race after his sixth win in total at the event. The opening Supertwin race was red-flagged on the last lap just as the leaders finished the race. Yorkshire's Jamie Coward was involved in an accident at Quarry Hill but was not believed to be badly hurt. Cooper, riding the KMR/Jack Reid Cars Kawasaki, passed McLean on the final lap on the blast to Portrush and although he ran in hot on the brakes into Metropole, the 42-year-old was able to keep Tobermore man McLean (Flitwick Yamaha) at bay, winning by 0.280s. Jeremy McWilliams wrapped up the podium places in third on the J McC Racing Aprilia, eight seconds behind. 'It was a fantastic race with Adam McLean there,' said a delighted Cooper, who qualified on pole for the opening race of the day. 'His bike was working really well and I actually just settled into it and let him lead a lap or so and figured out where I could possibly make the move. 'I learnt a lot from Peter Hickman last year when he did that to me! I have noted that down and we made the win. 'To start the day off with a win, very happy.' McLean is competing in the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) for the second season but is glad he pencilled in the NW200 after taking an excellent second place on his Yamaha. 'I think I showed my hand a wee bit early. It was tricky with the strategy,' said McLean, who recorded the fastest lap of the race at 110.927mph. 'Richard played his cards well, I was expecting that and he is tough to beat, but I'm more than happy to be on the podium. A big thanks to the team. I'm happy to finish second.' Cooper led from the start but made a big mistake at the end of the opening lap, running onto the grass at the start/finish chicane. That allowed McLean to take the lead but as the four-lap race unfolded, Cooper tucked in behind the Ulster rider and made his move when it mattered on the final lap for another win around the 8.9-mile course. Three-time Supertwin winner McWilliams was satisfied to be back on the podium after an impressive ride by the 61-year-old. 'I wasn't sure what happened to Peter Hickman,' said the Glengormley man. 'I could have done with him as he might have brought me back into the mix! He pulled out at Juniper and it was a lonely ride.' Michael Sweeney finished fourth on his Aprilia ahead of Barry Furber (DC Autos Kawasaki) and AJ Venter, who completed the top six on his TJ Racing Kawasaki ahead of 14-time NW200 winner Michael Rutter (Bathams Yamaha).
