Seeley takes supersport battle from Irwin and Johnston

Alastair Seeley has proven that there’s still life in Suzuki’s venerable GSX-R600 by taking victory in the supersport race at the North West 200 from newcomer Glenn Irwin, with Lee Johnston making it an all-Northern Irish podium in third.

The three diced all race long, trading places in the slipstream and reverting to late braking manoeuvres in the chicanes, until a late move caught out the chasing duo on the last lap.

Trying moves going into Juniper on the last lap, both Irwin and Johnston made mistakes, with the British Supersport title contender clipping the inside of the chicane and Johnston being forced into going straight through.

He re-joined in second, but handed a ten second penalty for the move, Irwin reclaimed second afterwards for a debut podium.

Speaking after, Seeley said: “It was an awesome race – like a British championship race! I’m sure it was good for the spectators, with all the do or die moves, but I think it was experience – knowing how late I could brake while still making the corner – that gave it to me.”