NW200: Irwin decimates field for Superbike double

Glenn Irwin was in a class of his own as he stormed to a remarkable double superbike victory at this year’s Vauxhall International North West 200.

At no point in either of the Superbike races did anyone but Irwin lead with the Be Wiser PBM Ducati rider stretching out a 9.962 second lead over rival Michael Dunlop in the afternoon’s feature race.

Another strong start for Irwin saw him lead the pack once again on the opening lap, but he’d have to do it all again when the red flags came out on the first lap after an incident at the Ballysally roundabout.

Nailing the start once again, Irwin led Harrison by 3.5 seconds at the end of the opening lap before stretching his lead out lap by lap.

Hickman ran on at Mather’s chicane handing second to Michael Dunlop at the mid-point, who led a valiant charge after Irwin to build himself a comfortable buffer in the runner-up spot. Hickman retired with technical trouble at the end of lap three.

That left a five-way battle for third between Lee Johnston, Martin Jessopp, Conor Cummins Dean Harrison and Michael Rutter, but it would be the Honda Racing rider who came out on top to mark the end of a tough 12 months for the Louth-based squad.

Martin Jessopp fought through the pack towards the end of the race to finish fourth ahead of Conor Cummins while Dean Harrison eventually rounded out the top six.

Michael Rutter crossed the line seventh ahead of Gary Johnson with James Hillier and 24-time North West 200 winner Alastair Seeley finishing a disappointing tenth place.

Ian Hutchinson enjoyed a strong run out on the Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade despite only riding a motorcycle for the first time two weeks ago to finish 11^th.