2017 NW200: Superstock win and lap record for Seeley
Alastair Seeley increased his record number of wins at the North West 200 to 18 on Thursday when he dominated the first Superstock race on his Tyco BMW, eventually winning by 12.6s from Lee Johnston and Dean Harrison.
Despite hitting a false neutral on the second lap and overshooting, dropping him back to third, a new lap record of 122.898mph enabled him to retake the lead a lap later and from that moment on he romped clear, equalling Phillip McCallen’s record tally of podiums at 28.
“When I got to the front, I was able to make a bit of a break but then I hit a false neutral at the roundabout and had to run on,” Seeley said afterwards. “I picked the bike up, found a little footpath and then the grass to get back on track and I was able to reel the boys back in. We found a really good set up in qualifying so I knew I had a good pace and on the last lap, I tried to stay as calm as possible and kept it all smooth.”
It was Michael Rutter (Bathams/SMT Racing BMW) that led off the line before Seeley took the lead on the run to Metropole as Harrison, Peter Hickman and Johnston slotted in behind. However, Hickman’s race was soon over as he also hit a false neutral coming into the start and finish chicane and had to take to the slip road.
At the end of lap two, Rutter was back in the lead by 0.6s from Seeley who quickly regrouped with Harrison and Johnston close behind. It was becoming a race of attrition though as Michael Dunlop (MD Racing Suzuki) pulled in to retire, Horst Saiger overshot and then Rutter retired at the Mathers Cross chicane on lap three.
By then, Seeley had clear road ahead of him which he utilised to great effect and all eyes fell on the battle that was raging for second between Harrison and Johnston with a similar battle going on for fourth between Ian Hutchinson (Tyco BMW) and Martin Jessopp (Riders Motorcycles BMW).
As Seeley swept to a commanding victory, Johnston nipped ahead of Harrison on the final lap to take second although for the latter he was still able to take his first NW200 podium.
Hutchinson overhauled Jessopp on the final lap with James Hillier (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) getting the better of Derek Sheils (Cookstown BE Racing Suzuki) for sixth. William Dunlop (Temple Golf & Country Club Yamaha) had a lonely ride into eighth with Dan Cooper (BMW) taking ninth on the final lap from Sam West (PRL Worthington BMW).
