Ballymoney's Michael Dunlop has been declared winner of the opening Vauxhall North West 200 Supersport race this morning after it was stopped due to crashes and bad weather after two laps.
The Honda man had been battling with HM Plant Honda's Bruce Anstey for the lead when the red flags were brought out while Lee Johnston, riding with a broken leg, was awarded third place.
"Conditions were really bad out there and there was no grip at all but I just kept my head down and fair play to all the spectators for staying out there in the rain," said Dunlop.
"I heard a commentator on Thursday night saying I was licking my wounds after the result then but he should come and lick my champagne now I never give up and never lie down and I'll take the win.
"I'll take it - there have been races won over two laps here before. I just got my head down, the bike was running really well. I am glad I have two now. It was a great race with Bruce."
Anstey said: "I got a good start and took the lead so I was able to see where I was going but when Michael came by, I thought I'd let him go and preserve second. He wasn't getting away though and I pulled him back a bit but it was really tricky out there."
Johnston added: "The week's going surprisingly well and I'm delighted to be up here in third and with another trophy. After breaking my leg a few weeks ago, I've had hours in the oxygen chamber and the team have all been working so hard and it's nice to give them something back."
Results
1 SSP 6 Michael DUNLOP Honda - MD Racing a 2 10:05.646 105.804 5:01.558 107.084 2
2 SSP 2 Bruce ANSTEY Honda - HM Plant Honda by Padgetts a 2 10:06.583 0.937 105.641 5:02.621 106.708 2
3 SSP 18 Lee JOHNSTON Honda - Millsport Racing a 2 10:12.441 6.795 104.630 5:05.052 105.857 2
4 SSP 34 Alastair SEELEY Kawasaki - Gearlink Kawasaki b 2 10:12.505 6.859 104.620 5:06.063 105.508 2
5 SSP 4 Guy MARTIN Suzuki - Tyco Suzuki by TAS Racing a 2 10:20.979 15.333 103.192 5:10.334 104.056 2
6 SSP 3 John McGUINNESS Honda - HM Plant Honda by Padgetts a 2 10:23.032 17.386 102.852 5:14.155 102.790 2
7 SSP 9 William DUNLOP Yamaha - Milwaukee Yamaha a 2 10:28.846 23.200 101.901 5:11.663 103.612 2
8 SSP 37 James HILLIER Kawasaki - Quattro Plant Kawasaki a 2 10:29.507 23.861 101.794 5:13.464 103.017 2
9 SSP 20 Daniel COOPER Triumph 675 - Centurion Racing a 2 10:31.115 25.469 101.535 5:13.489 103.008 2
10 SSP 52 James COWTON Honda - H Kitchen & Son b 2 10:35.135 29.489 100.892 5:16.125 102.149 2
11 SSP 65 Michael SWEENEY Yamaha - Tracblast a 2 10:37.676 32.030 100.490 5:16.888 101.904 2
12 SSP 33 Paul JORDAN Kawasaki - Gearlink Buckley Racing b 2 10:39.747 34.101 100.165 5:24.131 99.626 2
13 SSP 5 Stuart EASTON Yamaha - Martrain Yamaha Racing a 2 10:39.976 34.330 100.129 5:19.626 101.031 2
14 SSP 44 Jamie HAMILTON Kawasaki - KMR Vauxhall Dealers NI a 2 10:40.539 34.893 100.041 5:16.734 101.953 2
15 SSP 14 Simon ANDREWS Honda - Ice Valley by Motorsave a 2 10:41.250 35.604 99.930 5:18.428 101.411 2
16 SSP 7 Gary JOHNSON MV Agusta 675 - Valmoto MV Agusta b 2 10:41.634 35.988 99.870 5:13.053 103.152 2
17 SSP 8 Dean HARRISON Yamaha - Ian Bell Motorcycles a 2 10:51.953 46.307 98.289 5:23.567 99.800 2
18 SSP 60 Derek SHEILS Honda - Murray Racing b 2 10:52.707 47.061 98.176 5:28.984 98.157 2
19 SSP 15 Ivan LINTIN Kawasaki - Taylor Lindsey a 2 10:53.130 47.484 98.112 5:26.832 98.803 2
20 SSP 28 Ben WYLIE Yamaha - Wylie Racing / Brenin Bikes a 2 10:53.824 48.178 98.008 5:24.659 99.464 2
21 SSP 98 Paul OWEN Yamaha - #98 Club b 2 11:01.830 56.184 96.822 5:33.146 96.930 2
22 SSP 22 Stephen McILVENNA Yamaha b 2 11:03.735 58.089 96.545 5:32.285 97.182 2
23 SSP 27 Mark MADSEN MYGDAL Yamaha - Tile Tec / Mann Made Group b 2 11:09.059 1:03.413 95.776 5:35.789 96.168 2
24 SSP 26 Colin STEPHENSON Yamaha - Road & Race Developments b 2 11:18.680 1:13.034 94.419 5:36.958 95.834 2
25 SSP 96 Neil GREGORY Triumph 675 - Trickbits / FBM Performance b 2 11:21.296 1:15.650 94.056 5:42.967 94.155 2
26 SSP 75 Peter HEIJMANS Yamaha - Lucky 13 b 2 11:22.252 1:16.606 93.924 5:41.170 94.651 2
27 SSP 23 Nuno CAETANO Kawasaki - KS Team of Portugal b 2 11:23.593 1:17.947 93.740 5:36.979 95.828 2
28 SSP 21 Paul CRANSTON Honda - P & J Fuel Haulage b 2 11:31.248 1:25.602 92.702 5:45.207 93.544 2
29 SSP 82 Xavier DENIS Yamaha b 1 6:02.763 1 Lap 87.627 6:02.763 87.627 1
30 SSP 84 Maria COSTELLO Triumph 675 - Bob Wylie Racing b 1 6:04.499 1 Lap 87.210 6:04.499 87.210 1
31 SSP 29 Phill ARCHER Yamaha b 1 6:06.086 1 Lap 86.832 6:06.086 86.832 1
32 SSP 17 Steve MARTIN Kawasaki - Martin Kawasaki Racing Team b 1 6:14.532 1 Lap 84.874 6:14.532 84.874 1
Fastest Lap
SSP 6 Michael DUNLOP Honda - MD Racing a 5:01.558 107.084 2
Not Classified
DNF SSP 10 Conor CUMMINS Yamaha - Milwaukee Yamaha a 2 10:45.166 39.520 99.323 5:30.404 97.735 2
DNF SSP 86 Cameron DONALD Honda - Wilson Craig Racing a 2 10:54.474 48.828 97.911 5:40.524 94.830 2
DNF SSP 24 John DEAN Suzuki a 2 11:28.772 1:23.126 93.035 5:46.546 93.182 2
DNF SSP 1 Ian LOUGHER Honda - W A Corless / Jackson Racing a 1 5:30.148 1 Lap 96.284 5:30.148 96.284 1
DNF SSP 55 Scott CAMPBELL Yamaha - Ian Bell Motorcycles a 1 5:32.772 2.624 95.525 5:32.772 95.525 1
DNF SSP 68 Gareth EVANS Suzuki - Joe Evans Garage/Race Logic b 1 5:47.324 17.176 91.523 5:47.324 91.523 1