NW200: Jessopp 'lost for words' after maiden North West wins

Martin Jessopp was lost for words after clinching his first Vauxhall International North West 200 victory in yesterday’s Supersport race before following it up with another commanding win in the Supertwin class.

Having been competing on the 8.9 mile course for ten years, Jessopp stood on the podium twice last year but bettered himself in yesterday’s glorious conditions to take honours in two of the evening’s three races.

Strong in both outings from the off, Jessopp controlled the lead of the Supersport race to hold off a hard charge from McAMS Yamaha’s Ian Hutchinson and James Hillier on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki.

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The confidence from his debut win can only have helped in the final race of the day, where he came out on top after a scintillating battle with 13-time North West winner Michael Rutter on the Supertwin.

“I’m lost for words,” Jessopp said after the race. “I’ve been trying to win a race here for ten years and now I’ve done it. In Supersport I tried to ride my own race and open a gap on the rest of the field towards the end and it pretty much worked.

“On the twin I pushed hard all race and was taking it a little bit easier on the last lap as I’d seen I had a six second lead on my board. But I looked back at the roundabout and saw Rutter behind me so had to get my head down again!” 

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