NW200 Superbike, Superstock and Supersport Thursday race reports

news7g1 week ago

2 8 minutes read

NW200 Superbike, Superstock and Supersport Thursday race reports

2024 Northwest 200
Race day five

With Ben McCook

The race is taking place at the Briggs Equipment North West 200 in Northern Ireland and there was no shortage of drama on the opening night. After two days of continuous practice that saw the top athletes hit top speeds of 337km/h as they lapped existing lap records, it was time to get down to business on Thursday night. Year.

Glenn Irwin won his first Thursday night superbike race, taking his SBK tally to nine in a row. But the PBM Hager Ducati man didn’t get there as easily as many expected. Irwin was three seconds ahead of Davey Todd after final qualifying, which gave the impression that he was well ahead. But the three-second difference between the two men still doesn’t tell the whole story; Irwin wore a qualifying tire and Todd did not. Additionally, Todd had his clutch slipping during practice.

So with all things being equal, when the flag dropped to begin the four-lap opening race, Davey Todd’s No. 74 Milwaukee BMW took control. Todd led from the start but Irwin was immediately on his tail, just inches behind his rear wheel and that’s where he stayed.

Davey Todd took an early lead in Thursday night’s Superbike competition

Behind them a fierce battle broke out between TT stars Michael Dunlop, Dean Harrison and Peter Hickman. The trio eliminated and engaged throughout the race in a thrilling duel between heavyweights on the track.

Michael Dunlop chases Dean Harrison in the opening Superbike race

But everyone’s focus was on the front two as they left the field, trying to take the lead, right at the edge of the field. Irwin harasses and bothers Todd from behind every step of the way. The local hero was expected to retire and exert his dominance after his qualifying display, but the longer the race went on the more it became clear that this was a proper dogfight between the two drivers right at the start their game. It was the British Superbike leading team and the British Superstock leading team, and the crowd was enthralled. Glenn took the lead at the end of lap two but the BMW soon took the lead.

Glenn Irwin got the better of Todd at the end of the race

After almost 45km of racing, Irwin finally took the lead and pulled away at the most crucial moment; at Juniper just before they crossed the line to begin the final lap. However, any notion that Irwin was simply toying with Todd was soon dispelled as Davey comfortably assumed his new role as ‘chaser’.

The final lap was frantic, and as they approached Juniper for the final time (a road famous for its final lap passes), everyone held their breath. But the Ducati man judged correctly and passed unharmed. From there it was a drag up the hill and to the line as Irwin claimed his ninth Superbike win in a row, 2.5 seconds ahead of a disappointed Todd.

Michael Dunlop claimed the final podium spot, while Hickman edged Harrison. Conor Cummins had a great ride on Padgett’s Fireblade Milenco to finish in the top six.

Irwin’s win means he has now equaled Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter’s record of nine NW200 SBK wins. He has previously spoken about how much he wants the all-time record for himself.

Glenn Irwin

“Great race… Davey is one of my best friends here in the paddock. Honestly, riding hard with him is fun and not fun because you don’t want anything to happen to either of us. But obviously you want to win. Davey had a plan and we had to really make an effort to be there and get over the line first when there was a problem. Hats off to him, he’s going to win Superbike races here. I want to keep winning in 2024 but maybe I’ll see it next year.”

With two more superbike races on Saturday, that last statement makes you wonder if he gets past Joey Dunlop and Rutter this weekend, or if that’s the end of his run events on the road?

If so, it would be a terrible blow to the Northwest.

David Johnson finished 14th in his first outing on the Platinum Club Racing Kawasaki.

Briggs Equipment Superbike Race 2024

Glenn IRWIN Ducati – Hager PBM Ducati 17:06.551 125.336 mph
Davey TODD BMW – Milwaukee BMW 17: 09.096 125.026 mph
Michael DUNLOP Honda – MasterMac Honda Hawk Racing 17:23.337 123.320mph
Peter HICKMAN BMW – PHR Performance 17:23.781 123.267 mph
Dean HARRISON Honda – Honda Racing UK 17:24.837 123.143 mph
Conor CUMMINS Honda – Padgett’s Milenco 17:41.060 121.260mph
John McGUINNESS Honda – Honda Racing UK 17:41.724 121.184mph
James HILLIER Honda – WTF Racing 17:42.112 121.140mph
Paul JORDAN Honda – Jackson Racing by Prosper2 17:51.726 120.053mph
Erno KOSTAMO BMW – 38 Motorsport ny Penz13 17: 52.946 119.917mph

Super sporty

Next came the middleweight division and that’s when the real tragedy began. This race typically sees groups of seven or eight riders fighting for supremacy throughout the race. As the crew frantically left the line and negotiated with Primrose, it seemed like we were engaged in our annual Supersport bedlam.

But suddenly, as Todd took the lead from Mike Browne under heavy braking at York corner, Adam McLean suddenly came out at too much speed and overtook the race leader. Todd and his Powertool v2 Ducati companion fell heavily to the ground, while McLean was also effectively hiding under a scramble of limbs, helmets and motorbikes.

Browne had to take evasive action, and it was his teammate, pole-keeper Richard Cooper, who made the best of a bad situation and took a comfortable lead. When the rest had arranged themselves, the race as a contest was over.

Richard Cooper is clear and makes the most of it

While Cooper’s victory was a dead giveaway, behind him Michael Dunlop and Peter Hickman went head to head on their more or less identical Triumphs throughout the race. There was nothing between the pair, but as the race progressed it looked like Dunlop might have the measure of zero. 666 machine. However, Hickman pulled ahead as they entered the final lap as MD’s injury began to take its toll and in the end, the 765 trio supported by Hicky took 2nd place quite comfortable.

Peter Hickman overtook Michael Dunlop to take second place in the Supersport opener

Behind them was a mad five-way battle for fourth place then, with Conor Cummins, Gary McCoy, Jeremy McWilliams, Paul Jordan and Mikey Evans all involved. It’s quite possible that if the antics at York corner on lap 1 hadn’t happened, this would have been a race to win. However, the intensity of the competition is such that you cannot imagine that it is only for 4th place.

The day trip has to go to Mike Browne. The pint-sized dairy farmer was left behind in the race after taking evasive action during the melee at York Corner. But with nothing left to lose, he lowered his head and began to turn back time. Halfway through the distance, he took the lead from Dom Herbertson and Christian Elkin and was about to catch the 10-wheeler running ahead.

‘Browne’s got them’ startled onlookers as the all-blue Yamaha began to spend time with the Cummins group.

Suddenly, he was with them… and once he caught them, the rest had no chance as he took the checkered flag and 4th place with confident swagger. His lap positions are 14th, 10th, 8th and 4th… and you can’t help but think that his team-mate won’t get there as easily on Saturday if the BPE/Russell jockeys put their heads together run.

Fraser Homes Supersport Race 2024

Richard COOPER Yamaha – Russell Racing’s BPE 18:18.988 117.075mph
Peter HICKMAN Triumph – Trooper Triumph according to PHR 18:25.525 116.383mph
Michael DUNLOP Triumph – MD Racing 18:25.882 116.345mph
Mike BROWNE Yamaha – BPE by Russell Racing 18:44.228 114.447mph
Paul JORDAN Honda – Jackson Racing by Prosper2 18:45.291 114.338mph
Conor CUMMINS Honda – Padgett’s Milenco 18:45.598 114.307 mph
Michael EVANS Triumph – Smith Racing 18:46.467 114.219mph
Jeremy McWILLIAMS Yamaha – JMcC Roofing 18:48.242 114.039mph
Gary McCOY Suzuki – MadBros Racing 18:48.532 114.010mph
Craig NEVE Triumph – Bathams Racing 18: 49.049 113.958 mph

Super goods

Davey Todd picked himself up off the floor and changed back into his Milwaukee leathers for this one. If truth be told, he even showed determination in the warm-up lap as he led the field.

While Glenn Irwin will not compete in Superstock races (he only participates in blue-ribbon SBK races), SuperStock races will likely take place in the Northwest this year.

Honda racing only appeared with Stockers, as well as Peter Hickman. So this is a prestigious race, one where all the top road men have to fight on an even, 1000cc basis.

However, Todd led from start to finish despite the close tracking of Dean Harrison. While Hickman looked like he was really up for it when the group hit Mill Road on lap one, his race was short-lived.

Whether it was due to excitement or problems with the bike (at this stage remains unclear), Peter unfortunately went straight onto Mill Road and got lost. Minutes later, he was announced to have been eliminated from the race.

While Todd and Harrison were quite close, it wasn’t a battle with the same excitement as the previous Superbike encounter (Todd just looked in control) and in the end, Davey Todd came out on top to take the win. win in seven seconds.

A struggling Michael Dunlop finished third, the only driver to finish on the podium in all three races.

James Hillier, John McGuinness and Erno Kostamo complete the top six.

Afterwards, a beaten and bruised Todd spoke. “I tried not to make any mistakes and wasn’t sure how much distance I had. That’s a very small gap between overtaking and making a mistake when braking and continuing. There’s a lot more on the bike, I’m quite sore at the moment and I’m glad we have a day off but the race times this week have been crazy and we just have to keep going.”

2nd place Dean Harrison added. “On the moon, things went well all week. Let’s say there are some minor teething problems. But putting it in the box on Thursday night is a good start to the new week. That’s where we need to go.”

A heartbroken but satisfied Dunlop said, “We weren’t slow, I was the only rider to reach the podium in all three races. The pace is there, if we can match it. I just need to get through this week and go from there.”

South Australian David Johnson finished in 16th place.

Riders, teams, fans and officials will now enjoy a well-deserved day of rest after a packed 48-hour programme. It’s been a full schedule so far, but serious business will begin on Saturday. They have been racing on Thursday night at the event since 2012, but no matter how long it has been, Saturday will always be ‘race day’ here at the North West 200. It is a day of prestige , when legends are created and something everyone remembers. This year will be no different, and with favorable weather forecast we will be treated to some thrilling racing and new lap records.