Plater's NW200 double

Steve Plater stole the show at today’s heavily interrupted 80th anniversary International North West 200 dominating proceedings to take two wins out of two. The HM Plant Honda rider was in imperious form and held off close challenges from Bruce Anstey in both races to increase his tally of wins around the 8.9-mile circuit to eight.

However, with strong gusting winds and frequent rain showers playing havoc with the entire day, only five of the scheduled seven races were completed with the feature Superbike and second Supersport races being cancelled entirely as track conditions were deemed to unsafe for racing to continue. Three of the five races were also stopped by red flags and subsequently re-started over shortened race distances putting further pressures on the already stretched schedule.

Plater opened his account for the day with victory in the Superbike race with the result declared at two laps after John Walsh crashed heavily on the exit of the Magherabuoy chicane on the third lap. The Lincolnshire rider overhauled initial race leader team-mate John McGuinness to seize control although Anstey was right on his tail pipes when the red flags came out thus depriving the 100,000+ crowd of a grandstand finish.

It was a similar story in the opening Supersport race, the red flags coming out this time on the first lap after Alastair Seeley ran in to the back of Keith Amor and crashed out at close to 150mph, fortunately without injury. Plater led from the line in the re-start and managed to pull away although he was gradually reeled in on the final lap by Anstey and Michael Dunlop. The Kiwi drew alongside on the final run along the coast road but Plater, always so strong on the brakes, held him off for his second win of the day.

Seeley regrouped to take the Superstock race which saw the worst of the conditions with heavy rain falling at the end of the 3rd lap. The race was also stopped and the result taken back to the end of the 2nd lap, which made it cruel misfortune for Ryan Farquhar who had seized control as the leaders went out on to their fourth lap. However, the count back method in use saw Seeley (Relentless by TAS Suzuki) take the class victory for the second year in succession ahead of Farquhar (KMR Kawasaki) and Amor (Wilson Craig Honda) who recorded his first ever NW200 podium

William Dunlop took a two-stroke double, leading the 125cc race from start to finish and then taking advantage of a final lap crash involving brother Michael and Christian Elkin to win the 250cc race, the latter named sustaining a broken leg.

Greenline 250cc race (3 laps)
1 William Dunlop (Honda)
2 Chris Palmer (Honda)
3 Phil Harvey (Honda)
4 Mark Lunney (Honda)
5 Denver Robb (Honda)
6 John McGuinness (Honda)

DeWalt Superbike race (2 laps)
1 Steve Plater (Honda)
2 Bruce Anstey (Suzuki)
3 John McGuinness (Honda)
4 Cameron Donald (Suzuki)
5 Conor Cummins (Kawasaki)
6 Guy Martin (Honda)

Clinton Enterprises Supersport 600cc (4 laps)
1 Steve Plater (Honda)
2 Bruce Anstey (Suzuki)
3 Michael Dunlop (Yamaha)
4 John McGuinness (Honda)
5 William Dunlop (Yamaha)
6 Ian Hutchinson (Honda)

McKendry Fabrications 125cc race (4 laps)
1 William Dunlop (Honda)
2 Chris Palmer (Honda)
3 Olie Linsdell (Honda)
4 Mark Lunney (Honda)
5 Stephen Savelkouls (Honda)
6 James Ford (Honda)

CP Hire Superstock race (2 laps)
1 Alastair Seeley (Suzuki)
2 Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki)
3 Keith Amor (Honda)
4 Cameron Donald (Suzuki)
5 Guy Martin (Honda)
6 Ian Hutchinson (Honda)