Seeley takes first win of the week after misfortune for Irwin

Tyco Suzuki rider Alastair Seeley has his taken his first win of the weekend at the North West 200, taking victory in the supersport class to close in on Robert Dunlop’s record tally of fifteen wins as he wins his thirteenth.

However, his win only came after misfortune for newcomer Glenn Irwin, with the Gearlink Kawasaki putting on an impressive performance. He took the fight right to Seeley, charging hard until mechanical problems on the fourth lap of six left him spectating from the sidelines.

Bruce Anstey was an early podium man in third behind the duo, but a late charge from first Michael Dunlop and then Lee Johnston demoted the Padgetts Honda rider down to fourth at the flag.

Speaking afterwards, Seeley said: “Glenn was putting me under a bit of pressure there – and fair play to him on being up there with us on his first time around here! I’m sure he’s learned a fair bit sitting in there too. Track knowledge and experience did it for me though – Glenn was using the entire road!

“Fair credit to my team and the crew – it’s the latest development of it and it can certainly go! I kept expecting to get slipstreamed, but every time we got onto the straight there was no one there!

“I was getting great board signals from my guys, and I was able to keep pulling away the gap and counting down the laps. That’s another one in the bag, eh?”