Alastair Seeley held off a determined Bruce Anstey to make it two wins from two starts at the North West 200, with a win in this evening's Superstock race. With the best conditions of the day, the circuit was almost dry as the sun shone, the link road section the only wet part remaining and once he was happy with conditions, Seeley moved through from an early third to taken his tenth North West 200 win.
"That’s win number ten here and into fifth on the all-time winner’s league. It has been a tremendous evening in difficult conditions and I have to thank MSS and Gearlink Kawasaki for providing superb machines. Roll on Saturday," said Seeley.
It was John McGuinness who again grabbed the holeshot on the HM Plant/Padgetts Honda and he led at York Corner but by the end of the lap it was Gary Johnson who was in front on the Lincs Lifting Ltd Kawasaki, his advantage over Anstey a slim 0.2s. Seeley was in third ahead of Guy Martin with the surprise coming from Brian McCormack in fifth, the KMR Kawasaki rider having started from the second wave. McGuinness meanwhile, had dropped to tenth.
Second time around and there was still nothing to choose between Johnson and Anstey with Martin now up to third as Seeley slipped back slightly. Circuit newcomer Derek Sheils was having a great ride and was up to fifth ahead of Conor Cummins and James Hillier as McCormack slipped back to eighth with Josh Brookes moving up to 14th.
By lap three, Seeley was back up to third and set about closing the gap to the front pairing, which was now being headed by Anstey with Martin now in a lonely fourth as Sheils and Cummins continued to fight it out. Brookes was up to tenth as both McGuinness and Michael Dunlop retired.
Johnson was beginning to experience problems with his quickshifter and slipped back to third and the final two laps saw Seeley and Anstey go head to head, Seeley pulling away only for the Kiwi to immediately fight back, an overtaking maneouvre on the 150mph kink on the run to Magherabuoy particularly impressive.
However, Seeley wasn't to be denied and he just held on for another fine victory although Anstey proved once again, he's still at the top of his game. Johnson took his first ever NW200 podium with Martin completing a good day in fourth and Sheils holding off Cummins by 0.4s.
Brookes was the first of the riders in the second wave to finish, the Australian ace taking an excellent seventh with Michael Rutter, James Hillier and Jamie Hamilton filling out the remaining top ten places.
