Alastair Seeley took the win in today’s Vauxhall North West 200 Supersport race after a breathtaking three-way battle with Glenn Irwin and Lee Johnston which all came down to a last lap shoot-out.
The lead changed hands frequently but at the final Juniper chicane, Johnston overshot and Irwin took to the grass which allowed Seeley to come home for his 14th NW200 victory.
It was Irwin who took the lead going into York Corner on the opening lap and at the end of the first 8.9 miles he led from Seeley, Johnston, Michael Dunlop and Bruce Anstey but it was already becoming a three-way battle as Johnston went ahead on the approach to University. Just 0.3s covered the top three at the end of the second lap but Michael Dunlop and Conor Cummins both retired to the pits and Dan Kneen stopped at the Metropole.
Seeley, Johnston and Irwin were three abreast at 165mph but the latter was proving to be the quicker along the coast road and he led at half race distance as William Dunlop moved up to fourth and John McGuinness fifth. However, a heavy rain shower at University saw a major shuffle in the order on the following lap and Seeley led by 1.6s at the end of the lap with Keith Amor coming up to fifth as McGuinness and James Hillier eased off slightly.
Johnston and Irwin had soon reeled Seeley in though and going into the last lap it was anyone’s race. Indeed, with six changes in the lead, the result was in doubt and as they came into Juniper, they were again three abreast with Johnston on the inside. However, he was too quick and had to overshoot whilst Irwin had his feet down as he took a trip through the grass.
It allowed Seeley to take the win from Irwin by 2.5s and although Johnston received a 10 second penalty for not stopping after his overshoot, he was still able to hold onto third. William Dunlop had a lonely ride in fourth with Amor just holding off Dean Harrison, showing no ill effects from his earlier Superstock spill, for fifth. McGuinness took seventh from Hillier, Ben Wilson - who continues to impress on his debut - and Michael Rutter.
