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2015 NW200: 12 things you didn’t know…

The last Kawasaki to win a North West 200 race was in 1977 when Mick Grant was victorious. Grant also won in 1975 on a Kawasaki setting a new lap record of 122.62mph for the then circuit and will bring back memories of forty years ago when he participates in a special parade lap on the ‘Green Meanie’.

There have only been three overseas winners at the North West 200 Stuart Avant won the 500cc race in 1982, Robert Holden won the second Superbike and Supermomo races in 1995, Bruce Anstey has ten wins between 2002 and 2014. All three are New Zealanders.

Joey Dunlop, 13 times a winner has an amazing feat of standing on a North West 200 podium at least once for seventeen years out of twenty one from his first in 1976 until his last in 1996.

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Bruce Anstey has stood on the podium at least once in the thirteen years since his debut in 2002. He has also finished in the first three of a Supersport race eleven years out of twelve from 2003 until 2014

Three sets of brothers have won North West 200 races: Ernie Lyons won the 500cc class in 1939 and Alan Lyons won the 250cc class in 1955. Joey Dunlop and Robert Dunlop have amassed 28 race wins, Robert on 15 and Joey on thirteen to claim first and second on the all-time winners list. William and Michael Dunlop have eight wins between them from 2008 to 2014.

Two fathers have been joined by their sons as North West 200 winners: Tony Rutter scored nine wins while his son Michael has thirteen. Robert Dunlop’s sons William and Michael began their winning ways at the North West in 2008 and 2009.

25 Years ago - Robert Dunlop scored a hat trick of wins riding the John Player Norton to two Superbike victories his other win coming in the 125cc race riding Patsy O’Kane’s Honda.

Liz Skinner became the first female competitor at the North West finishing twenty-seventh in the second 250cc race.

50 Years ago –Tony Woodman was dicing with John Cooper and Len Ireland for the lead in the 350cc race when he crashed heavily at Henry’s Corner bike and rider ending on the harbour jetty Woodman receiving serious injuries.

Dick Creith won the 500cc race coming from dead last, still pushing as the field streamed into Henry’s Corner, taking the lead on the third lap to win comfortably riding the famous Ryan Norton.

Phillip McCallen in 1992 became the only competitor ever to win five races in one day at the North West 200. He won both Superbike races, Supersport, 400cc and the first 250cc race. He then slipped off at University Corner dicing for the lead of the second 250cc race.

Only one dead heat was recorded at the North West 200 – in the 1977 350cc race when Ray McCullough and Tony Rutter flashed across the finish line side by side.

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