Glenn Irwin choked back the tears as he recorded back-to-back Superbike wins at the North West 200 on Saturday.
Irwin was a class apart as he guided his Honda Racing Fireblade to victory in the two blue riband events.
It also saw Irwin make it SIX North West Superbike wins on the bounce.
Read more: North West 200 LIVE updates from Saturday's racing
Alastair Seeley also recorded a win in the Superstock class to complete his hat-trick for the week and extend his record number of wins to 27.
Richard Cooper won both Supertwin races, but he was later disqualified from both over a technical infringement.
Meanwhile, home favourite Lee Johnston raced to victory in the Supersport class.
Here are the full results including reaction from the winners and podium finishers:
Milltown Service Station Supertwin Race result
Richard Cooper romped to a dominant win in the opening race of the day.
Cooper took command on the opening lap to open up a four-second lead and he never looked back.
He went on to win by over 8 seconds ahead of Frenchman Pierre Yves Bian and Paul Jordan in third.
What they said...
Richard Cooper: "Every time I've got on this bike we've made small improvements, there's so much more to come from it worryingly for these people and if we can repeat that this afternoon it will be quite a special day. I like to thank everyone for getting me here. Hopefully we can continue the day like we just have. It is a spcial feeling. I've had a tough two years. I severely broke my leg in 2020 and I took a back step. I didn't rush back but it's good to be back now."
Pierre Yves Bian: "I am super happy. It is a dream for me. I love this track. Before this race my target was top 10, but when I saw I was two on the grid I said 'oh, maybe on the podium'. I did my best and I'm super happy for the team."
Paul Jordan: "Two weeks ago I didn't think I would make it here. It was a battle out there. The pack was so much faster and I thought I might get caught on the last lap. I just wanted to get that first podium at the North West. It is a nice feeling getting waved in here (winner enclosure)."
Result
- Richard Cooper
- Pierre Yves Bian +8.431 secs
- Paul Jordan +8.698
- Lee Johnston +13.160
- Jeremy McWilliams +13.499
Amended result after Cooper's disqualification
- Pierre Yves Bian
- Paul Jordan +8.698
- Lee Johnston +13.160
- Jeremy McWilliams +13.499
- Jamie Coward +14.492
Tides Restaurant Supersport race
Lee Johnston emerged on top following a thrilling duel with Davey Todd in the Supersports.
The pair diced for the lead throughout the six laps but it was Johnston who made the defining move along the coast road on the last lap to finish just 0.079 seconds ahead of Todd.
Michael Dunlop came home in third followed by Dean Harrison, Jamie Coward, Joe Loughlin and Paul Jordan.
What they said...
Lee Johnston : "Really fun race to be part of, I am chuffed to bits. Two laps before I had a go and could see I had something on Black Hill, but Davey closed the door and I had to go again. I had got away but I made a mistake so I was a bit frustrated. I should have kept my rhythm. It is amazing to see al the people out waving today."
Davey Todd: "I just tried to get my head down from the start and stretch the field. Lee and I had a look behind and said 'let's go', and the last few laps were hectic. I went across the grass at Matherd and Lee had a big moment at York. I am gutted not to get it. I maybe tried too hard over Black Hill. But it was a helluva race and credit to Lee."
Michael Dunlop: "I got a good start but didn't get the break and their two bikes are very quick. One lap I just ran on which was stupid. I got to the point where I could smell them but I couldn't pull them in. It was a good race and the boys are strong at the front of the British Championships and I haven't done a pile lot os it was good to keep up with them."
Results
- Lee Johnston
- Davey Todd +0.079
- Michael Dunlop +9.817
- Dean Harrison +30.504
- Jamie Coward +40.125
Anchor Bar Superbike race
Glenn Irwin proved the Superbike king once again as he edged out Davey Todd to win Saturday's opening blue riband race.
The Honda Racing star became the first rider to win five NW200 Superbike races on the bounce with a thrilling win on Saturday.
He finished just 0.253 seconds ahead of Todd who was nudged into runners-up spot once again.
Richard Cooper continued his fine day with a podium finish.
What they said...
Glenn Irwin: "That's what I come here for. But that's the hardest I have ever ridden round here. Fair play to Davey. I thought it would be Hickey on me but it was him. There are few things we can improve on. We had some new brake pads and I couldn't stop wheeling at all. The pace was mental and programmes going everywhere on the last lap. Metropole was just BSB and Davey is one of my good mate's in the paddock. It is a special feeling. I might skip the Stock race because I want to win the big one. The fans are the best in the world. They deserve a huge pat on the back for coming out."
Davey Todd: "I had a couple of days testing on this bike. Credit to the team for building a bike I can hop on and feel comfortable on. I didn't think I would be there in this class but that was an awesome race. I think experience maybe told in the end, ut we will have another go later on in the day. I hope we can do the same sort of thing again it would be another fun battle later. Hopefully just swap positions next time."
Richard Cooper: "I am happy. Qualifying went well and I was out on my own. However, I have not been with any other bikes on track. When Hickey went straight on it left me on my own to watch the leaders battle. We closed in but I lost my rear brake on about the fourth lap and I need that. Really happy for the BuildBase team. We didn't expect to podium on the Superbike. To beat the lap record at one point, I think we're doing alright."
Results
- Glenn Irwin
- Davey Todd +0.253
- Richard Cooper +11.491
- Josh Brookes +25.334
- Alastair Seeley +34.713
John M Paterson Supertwin race
Richard Cooper surged to another convincing victory in the second Supertwins race of the day after almost being banned from riding in the event.
A protest was lodged over a fairing bracket on Cooper's bike which he won on earlier in the opening Supertwins.
But after an appeal launched by team boss Ryan Farquhar Cooper was allowed to ride in the second race, with an investigation set to be launched afterwards before his disqualification.
What they said...
Richard Cooper: "Little bit revved up to be honest. My team are an amazing team and when they're put under pressure we perform. The bike has been faultless and it is a pleasure to ride. When you see the programmes being waved on the last lap it is special. I can't fault this little Kawasaki. If I could take it home with me I would. My team were put under pressure at a time they shouldn't be, just before a race, but hopefully it has been resolved."
Ryan Farquhar: "There's been a protest over a technicality over a fairing bracket. And they told us we were disqualified. I fought my corner because you are allowed to change the brackets and attachments for mounting a fairing. It's just a load of b******* really. I have put an appeal in against it. They weren't even for letting Richard out and I just walked away. We put an appeal in and that's where we're at. I don't know what's happening. If it was that big an issue there's no way Richard would have been out there. The bike has been through scrutineering all week and there's been no issues. You can see what's holding the fairing on. On the grounds of safety I have done the fairing bracket this way. There's n performance gained from it whatsoever. If they do disqualify us it will purely be a case of sour grapes."
Joe Loughlin: "I tried to keep with Richard at the start but he is super fast. He just pulled away and I just tried to keep the gap on the boys behind me. I am lucky to get the ride because we had an oil leak after the first race. But we got it stopped and away we went. The boys pulled it out for me. We only had it going about 20 minutes before the start."
Lee Johnston: "Credit to Jeremy. He is riding so well. First time out for this little bike and I am chuffed to bits. It sets us up well for the TT. You have to be more tactical on these bikes, and I had a plan. But then Jamie came through as well. But we got there in the end."
Result
- Richard Cooper
- Joe Loughlin +11.241
- Lee Johnston +16.332
- Jeremy McWilliams +16.625
- Jamie Coward +17.132
Amended result after Cooper's disqualification
- Joe Loughlin +11.241
- Lee Johnston +16.332
- Jeremy McWilliams +16.625
- Jamie Coward +17.132
- Michael Sweeney +21.252
CP Hire Superstock race
Alastair Seeley completed his hat-trick with a brilliant win in the CP Hire Superstocks.
Seeley watched a number of his rivals make errors, including Glenn Irwin, Davey Todd and Michael Dunlop who all lost time after missing the braking at University and York corners.
Todd ended up in a grass ditch but at one point was lapping four seconds quicker than Seeley as he threatened a miraculous comeback.
His challenge would soon fade, allowing Seeley to ease to a commanding 11-second win over Fermanagh's Lee Johnston, with Dean Harrison third.
What they said...
Alastair Seeley: "When I saw Davey and Glenn going straight on I thought it would take an immense job from them to catch. It was probably a blessing I rode the Stocker int eh Superbike race. I watched my boards and saw +3 and then +1 and wondered who was catching me. I had to have a wee look and thought 'that's not one second that's bigger'. So I just kept pushing."
On extending his win record to 27 this week, Seeley added: "25 was the number I was looking at coming here. I would like to reach my race number (34) but it will be tough. It's a hat-trick, and when you get two or three wins each year the record keeps going up and up. I don't even know if I will go out in the final Superbike race."
Lee Johnston: "I got a horrendous start. My fault for not doing a practice start all week. We definitely passed a good five or six people in the race. Credit to the team because I don't ride this bike too often."
Dean Harrison: "It is nice to be in here. I struggled all week and we kept chipping away with the new bike. It was good to get it dialled in and thanks to the team. You never say never and I tried really hard in that race. We will try again in the Superbike race. We had a couple of tyre issues."
Result
- Alastair Seeley
- Lee Johnston +11.742
- Dean Harrison +12.721
- Michael Sweeney +31.405
- John McGuinness +31.665
Merrow Hotel and Spa Superbike race
Glenn Irwin ended the day in style as he clinched another Superbike win in the final feature race.
A number of riders had to withdraw from the race after safety issues were found with the Dunlop Superbike-spec slick tyres.
The resulted in all riders using the Dunlop tyres - including Michael Dunlop, Davey Todd and Peter Hickman - having to sit out the race.
Irwin finished 2.4 seconds ahead of Richard Cooper, with Josh Brookes a distant third.
Irwin held back the tears as he spoke of his latest success on the Triangle circuit, and his sixth successive Superbike triumph.
What they said...
Glenn Irwin: "The last two laps the crowd were going nuts the whole way round the track and I wanted to start waving but a light came on on my dash and I felt something was going on! Station Corner was flat out but it was too easy to be flat out and I was going, 'No!' But two Superbike wins, I love it here and I love this team - they've really rebuilt me. Bit overwhelming, isn't it? This was always the job to do and I got it done. I think the engine is probably burned out! My great aunt, I dedicate that to her. I love it here. It's overwhelming."
Richard Cooper: "I've done the hard bit at home, I haven't shown my face around much but that doesn't mean I'm not hungry for it. I never believed I was capable of doing it. In my mind I knew I could do it, but after my injury it was almost a career-ender. To come back with two Supertwin wins and two Superbike podiums, that's amazing. As the meeting gets closer, we all get excited. If there's an opportunity I'll have to be seriously thinking about coming back and racing at this amazing circuit.
Results
- Glenn Irwin
- Richard Cooper +2.494
- Josh Brookes +28.957
- Ian Hutchinson +59.570
- John McGuinness +1:02:928
Read more: Glenn Irwin on the North West 200 icons he looked up to
Read more: Glenn Irwin ready to thrive off 'twelfth man' on Saturday
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