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Belfast Live
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Gareth Fullerton

North West 200 results: Glenn Irwin overcomes rivals and late controversy to claim Superbike double

Glenn Irwin overcame his rivals and some late controversy to complete a brilliant Superbike double at Saturday's North West 200.

The Carrick rider claimed both blue riband races under red flags, making it a staggering eight Superbike wins on the bounce at the Triangle.

It is also his fourth with the Paul Bird Ducati team, with the other four coming with Kawasaki and Honda.

Read more: Davey Todd on his love for the NW200, 'hectic' speeds and NI fans

Irwin was a rider transformed following a disappointing qualifying stint on the BeerMonster Ducati earlier in the week.

He only qualified eighth, but yesterday's bike was a different beast.

Glenn Irwin after winning the Anchor Bar Superbike race (Stephen Davison/Pacemaker)

Irwin finished ahead of Davey Todd and Dean Harrison to win the Anchor Bar Superbike race, and was in front of Alastair Seeley and Harrison in the Merrow Hotel and Spa Superbike finale when a red flag brought an end to proceedings for the day.

Tempers flared in the paddock at the end of the race as the Irwin and Seeley camps contested who should have been awarded the win, with confusion surrounding where the final standings should have been taken from following the red flag.

But after a lengthy wait Irwin was declared the winner.

"We knew I was the winner. We just had to wait," Irwin beamed afterwards.

"It is an amazing feeling. This week has been really tough. I was excited to come here and I had a great package, but I just didn't feel comfortable on it.

"The team gave me a great bike today, and to win race one was a bonus.

"I want to win a complete race and see the chequered flag, everyone wanted to see that. But it wasn't to be.

The start of the Anchor Bar Superbike race (Stephen Davison/Pacemaker)

"But to win here in front of these fans is awesome. And my team have been fantastic. I was quite down in the dumps this week. So it is great to win here again."

Irwin added: "On Thursday I felt like I was riding like a maniac and couldn't win the race. Today I felt I was riding at 70 per cent at some corners, but I felt in control.

"I had some big expensive celebrations planned for later and cancelled them because of the way the week was going. I wish I had kept those plans. The crowd is awesome here."

There was some joy for Seeley earlier in the day when he extended his record number of North West wins to 29 with victory in the CP Hire Superstock race.

The Carrick man said: "Twenty-eight was nice; 29 is nicer. They keep coming."

Alastair Seeley leads the way in the Superstocks (Stephen Davison/Pacemaker)

Also on the day Saltburn rider Todd backed up Thursday's Supersport win with another thrilling victory in the class.

And Richard Cooper erased the nightmare of last year - when he was disqualified from his two Supertwin wins - by claiming a double in the same class.

Results

Milltown Service Station Supertwin Race
1. Richard Cooper
2. Paul Jordan
3. Adam McLean
4. Jeremy McWilliams
5. Peter Hickman
6. Joe Loughlin

Tides Restaurant Supersport Race
1. Davey Todd
2. Richard Cooper
3. Peter Hickman
4. Dean Harrison
5. Michael Dunlop
6. Alastair Seeley

Anchor Bar Superbike Race1
1. Glenn Irwin
2. Davey Todd
3. Dean Harrison
4. Michael Rutter
5. John McGuinness
6. James Hillier

J.M Paterson Supertwin Race
1. Richard Cooper
2. Jeremy McWiliams
3. Adam McLean
4. Paul Jordan
5. Stefano Bonetti
6. Joe Loughlin

CP Hire Superstock Race
1. Alastair Seeley
2. Michael Dunlop
3. Dean Harrison
4. Michael Ruter
5. James Hillier
6. John McGuinness

Merrow Hotel and Spa NW200 Superbike Race
1. Glenn Irwin
2. Alastair Seeley
3. Dean Harrison
4. Michael Dunlop
5. John McGuinness
6. Michael Rutter

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