NW200: Dunlop takes victory in shortened Supersport race

Michael Dunlop took victory in Saturday’s North West 200 Supersport race although heavy rain meant conditions were treacherous and the result declared at the end of the second lap after four riders crashed out, fortunately without injury.
 
“A win’s a win, I guess,” said Dunlop “but it was hard going and there’s no grip at all. I tried to take Station Corner flat out and was completely sideways.”
 
After a cloudless, sunny day on Friday, competitors were greeted with the complete opposite on Saturday morning with constant, heavy rain – and cool temperatures – leaving many of the field unhappy about the prospect of going racing, William Dunlop perhaps summing up everyone’s feelings after the warm-up lap, saying “It’s ridiculous out there and a joke. I was upright in fourth gear and still aquaplaning whilst there’s no visibility at all.”
 
However, the race got underway and it was Bruce Anstey who led at the end of the first lap albeit just 0.12s ahead of Michael Dunlop with Alastair Seeley, again starting from the fourth row of the second wave, slotting into third from Lee Johnston, John McGuinness and Guy Martin. The leading duo began to edge away on the second lap with Dunlop taking over at the front on the run to University and Johnston taking over third on corrected time.
 
The leaders were just approaching University Corner on their third lap when the red flag came out after three riders fell at Primrose Corner and another at Church and although it was hoped to restart the race, the constant rain led to a number of delays before eventually being declared a result.
 
Result – Supersport – 2 laps
1 Michael Dunlop
2 Bruce Anstey
3 Lee Johnston
4 Alastair Seeley
5 Guy Martin
6 John McGuinness
7 William Dunlop
8 James Hillier
9 Daniel Cooper
10 James Cowton