NW200: Dominant Irwin scorches to Superbike win

Glenn Irwin took a dominant lights to flag victory in the opening Superbike race at this year’s North West 200.

The Be Wiser Ducati rider shot off the line and pulled a strong enough lead to be protected by the gaggle of rider’s fighting for the slipstream on the run in to station corner.

By the end of the first lap he’d stretched out a 3.7 second lead over Michael Rutter and Alastair Seeley, who was later hit with a five second penalty for jumping the start.

Rutter, Hickman, Seeley and Harrison had initially led the chasing pack, but Hickman would lose out as he ran on at Metropole re-joining 14^th.

While Irwin’s lead dropped as low as 0.8 seconds at the mid-way point, he would control the final few laps to cross the line 1.017 seconds ahead of Dean Harrison in second. Veteran Michael Rutter completed the podium.

Lee Johnston took an impressive fourth for Honda Racing after getting embroiled in the podium scrap early on, while Seeley could only manage fifth after his penalty.

Conor Cummins completed the top six for Padgetts Racing ahead of Martin Jessopp while Sam West enjoyed a strong ride to finish eighth.

James Hillier crossed the line ninth for JG Speedfit Kawasaki with Daniel Cooper completing the top ten.

Peter Hickman would eventually retire from the race with tyre issues with Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson also retired.