North West 200 will get underway with Dunlop and Seeley setting the tempo

2023 North West 200

With Ben McCook

The 2023 North West 200 is go! A profitable (and incident free) opening day of apply came about on the scenic, Northern Irish coastal occasion in the present day the place native males, Michael Dunlop and Alastair Seeley made all of the headlines.

Dunlop caught the Hawk Racing Honda Fireblade on provisional pole in Superbike earlier than a late quick lap banked him second place on the Stocker additionally.

Seeley was simply 1.9s behind ‘The Bull’ in SBK however went quickest in Superstock and Supersport. A very spectacular exhibiting from the pair.

Nottingham’s Richard Cooper then posted the quickest time within the Twins session to disrupt the native’s lockout of provisional poles.

The BSB main sizzling favourites; Glenn Irwin and Josh Brookes’ opening day didn’t fairly go to plan. Brookes accomplished only one lap within the SBK session and Irwin suffered with stability points.

Whereas Brookes had issues in Superbike he did handle seventh within the SuperStock session later within the day, forward of actual street specialists Conor Cummins, John McGuinness and James Hillier.

The morning bought off to a gradual begin. An engine blow-up throughout the opening ‘newcomers’ session brought on a 30-minute delay for the SBKs. Because the Solar beamed down on the assembled grid, there was some agitation inside the ranks because of an absence of communication on what was truly happening. It’s value noting that Dunlop and Seeley had been visibly relaxed at the moment and maybe that made the distinction as soon as the riders lastly bought out on observe.

Ultimately a session (reduce to half an hour) bought beneath approach. The opening session on the North West is at all times frantic because of the distinctive nature of the circuit, so a reduce session may solely up that ante. Many riders historically do a single lap earlier than stopping for changes as there isn’t any approach of realizing if the bike is even near being arrange proper earlier than hitting the lengthy four-kilometre straight that leads them into Coleraine at 320 km/h. This morning’s shortened session made each determination made in pitlane that little bit extra necessary than normal.

Brookes was so involved by the problems he was having that he instantly parked the FHO BMW simply minutes after the beginning.

Glenn Irwin posted, “FP1 at all times pleasant on the North Coast however not a lot when you’ll be able to’t go on a straight line… roll on Thursday for the boys will digest the info and we go once more.” Irwin obtained a brand new engine from Ducati particularly for the occasion however may it’s a poisoned chalice? It wouldn’t be the primary time a really highly effective Superbike arrived on the North West utterly unsuitable for the job.

The late Richard Britton had an terrible time a few years in the past making an attempt to tame Yukio Kagayama’s Rizla Suzuki. In principle it ought to have been probably the greatest bikes on the grid … however those that witnessed the large Suzuki weave and shake its head across the North West will testify that it was removed from it- Britton simply couldn’t get the factor to do straight. It will likely be fascinating to see if Irwin has higher luck getting his Beer Monster Ducati to behave. “A straightforward repair“ he reckons. Solely time will inform.

However take nothing away from Dunlop’s efficiency in the present day. He has put within the arduous work preparing for this occasion and it will seem he has the Honda effectively and actually disciplined. He appeared each decided and on level all session in the principle occasion and the followers had been delighted together with his exhibiting. He then timed his run completely within the Inventory session to financial institution a really late quick lap that put him second whereas his rivals took the chequered flag and headed again to the pits. He additionally got here residence fourth in Supersport and fifth within the Twins. A stable begin for the Ballymoney man.

The Honda SBK is clearly effectively suited to the circuit with half the highest 10 on Fireblades. Lee Johnston clocked the third finest time behind Seeley and forward of Hickman in 4th, with John McGuinness in fifth. Dean Harrison was sixth on the DAO Kawasaki and Davey Todd and Conor Cummins had been the opposite Hondas on the chief board both facet of Irwin in seventh and ninth. Newcomer, Mike Browne accomplished the highest 10; a really spectacular exhibiting on the ex- Ian Hutchinso Burrows BMW.

To date Seeley appears to be the person with all his I s dotted and T s crossed. On in the present day’s proof he needs to be in with an opportunity of successful each race. Any doubts that hung over his unfamilar Supersport Ducati V2 have been rapidly dismissed by in the present day’s pole. Some thought that perhaps the unfamiliar machine wouldn’t swimsuit Seeley or the circuit however clearly that’s not the case.

Nevertheless, as ever, Supersport can be anybody’s race and probably the most hotly anticipated of the day. Seeley has a gaggle of R6s snapping at his heals with Richard Cooper, Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop all inside touching distance.

It’s an identical scenario in Superstock, solely this time it’s Dunlop, Hickman and Todd in pursuit.

As ever the Supertwins class offered slightly flavour to the day. A area stuffed with Patons, Aprillias and R7 Yamahas imply that the bikes look and sound noticeably totally different to the opposite lessons. But it surely was a KMR Kawasaki that topped the timesheets in the present day.

Richard Cooper picked up the place he left off final 12 months. Easy and trendy as ever, you’ll be able to relaxation assured that his bike can be 100 per cent authorized this 12 months. Ryan Farquhar can have made positive that nothing has been left open to interpretation within the design of that little bike after final 12 months’s furore. To date Jeremy McWilliams and TT 2022 podium man full the highest three behind Cooper.

Not lengthy after the roads opened in the present day the heavens opened. Heavy showers have fallen at numerous occasions over the previous variety of days and the outlook for Thursday’s last session is unpredictable. It appears as if the organisers may effectively be taking part in cat and mouse with the climate for the remainder of the week. Nevertheless, that’s not one thing new for the North West and people in cost will know what to do when the time comes. Thursday’s last day time session is adopted by three night races earlier than Saturday’s major occasion closes out the assembly.

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2023 North West 200 Outcomes
Superbike First Qualifying Occasions

1. Michael DUNLOP Honda – Hawk Racing 4:22.658 122.943mph
2. Alastair SEELEY BMW – Milwaukee BMW Motorrad 4:24.587 122.047mph
3. Lee JOHNSTON Honda – Ashcourt Racing 4:28.887 120.095mph
4. Peter HICKMAN BMW – FHO Racing BMW Motorrad 4:29.922 119.635mph
5. John McGUINNESS Honda – Honda Racing UK 4:30.287 119.473mph
6. Dean HARRISON Kawasaki – DAO Racing 4:30.379 119.432mph
7. Davey TODD Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Bikes 4:30.740 119.273mph
8. Glenn IRWIN Ducati – BeerMonster Ducati 4:31.076 119.125mph
9. Conor CUMMINS Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Bikes 4:32.146 118.657mph
10. Mike BROWNE BMW – Burrows by RK Racing 4:33.796 117.942mph

2023 North West 200 Outcomes
Superstock First Qualifying Occasions

1. Alastair SEELEY BMW – SYNETIC BMW Motorrad 4:21.769 123.361mph
2. Michael DUNLOP Honda – MD Racing 4:23.729 122.444mph
3. Peter HICKMAN BMW – FHO Racing BMW Motorrrad 4:24.853 121.924mph
4. Davey TODD Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Bikes 4:26.409 121.212mph
5. Lee JOHNSTON Honda – Ashcourt Racing 4:26.502 121.170mph
6. Dean HARRISON Kawasaki – DAO Racing 4:27.280 120.817mph
7. Josh BROOKES BMW – FHO Racing BMW Motorrad 4:28.516 120.261mph
8. Conor CUMMINS Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Bikes 4:29.173 119.967mph
9. John McGUINNESS Honda – Honda Racing UK 4:30.499 119.379mph
10. James HILLIER Yamaha – OMG Racing 4:32.236 118.618mph

2023 North West 200 Outcomes
Supersport First Qualifying Occasions

1. Alastair SEELEY Ducati – Powertoolmate Ducati 4:36.589 116.751mph
2. Richard COOPER Yamaha – BPE by Russell Racing 4:36.983 116.585mph
3. Dean HARRISON Yamaha – BPE by Russell Racing 4:38.119 116.109mph
4. Michael DUNLOP Yamaha – MD Racing 4:38.281 116.041mph
5. Peter HICKMAN Triumph – K2 Trooper Triumph by PHR 4:39.471 115.547mph
6. Lee JOHNSTON Yamaha – Ashcourt Racing 4:40.499 115.123mph
7. Davey TODD Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Bikes 4:42.395 114.350mph
8. Mike BROWNE Yamaha – Burrows by RK Racing 4:43.301 113.985mph
9. Paul JORDAN Yamaha – PreZ Racing by Prosper2 4:44.063 113.679mph
10. Adam McLEAN Yamaha – JMcC Roofing Racing 4:45.841 112.972mph

2023 North West 200 Outcomes
SuperTwin First Qualifying Occasions

1. Richard COOPER Kawasaki – KMR Kawasaki 4:49.037 111.723mph
2. Jeremy McWILLIAMS Paton – JMW Bayview Racing 4:52.452 110.418mph
3. Paul JORDAN Kawasaki – PreZ Racing by Prosper 4:56.801 108.800mph
4. Adam McLEAN Kawasaki – JMcC Roofing Racing 4:57.615 108.503mph
5. Michael DUNLOP Kawasaki – McAdoo Kawasaki Racing 4:59.210 107.924mph
6. Lee JOHNSTON Aprilia – Ashcourt Racing 5:00.181 107.575mph
7. Michael SWEENEY Paton – Workforce ILR/Frog Racing 5:00.615 107.420mph
8. Stefano BONETTI Paton – Workforce ILR/Frog Racing 5:01.072 107.257mph
9. Peter HICKMAN Yamaha – PHR Efficiency 5:01.357 107.155mph
10. Joe LOUGHLIN Kawasaki – G2-Tech 5:07.701 104.946mph

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2023 North West 200 Schedule