Alastair Seeley put in a sensational ride to win the opening Supersport race at the North West 200 this evening, the Gearlink Kawasaki rider coming through from the fourth row of the second wave to pip Michael Dunlop by 1.3s.
Wet but slightly drying conditions meant tyre choice was split across the field with some riders going for full wets and some opting for an intermediate rear and it was John McGuinness who grabbed the holeshot as HM Plant/Padgetts Honda team-mate Bruce Anstey survived a huge slide round the left hander at Primrose Hill.
Dunlop was on a mission though and grabbed the lead into the Mathers Cross chicane and promptly opened up a gap, crossing the line clear of Guy Martin, Anstey and McGuinness although it was Seeley who slotted into second, 2.6s behind Dunlop. Gary Johnson on the MV Agusta had also started from the second wave and was up to sixth whilst William Dunlop had a terrible start and dropped back to 18th. Stuart Easton also suffered at the start and was 13th at the end of the lap.
Up front and Dunlop extended his lead over Seeley to seven seconds at the end of lap two with Martin still in third from Anstey, Lee Johnston and McGuinness with Dean Harrison now up to seventh as Johnson pulled in to retire. Some of the big names were struggling though with William Dunlop, Cameron Donald, Simon Andrews and Conor Cummins all struggling to get in the top 15.
As the race wore on, the track continued to dry and Seeley was now up to an amazing seventh on the road, right on the tail of Anstey's group. Going into the last lap, he was still 5.5s adrift but a stunning last lap saw him get the better of Dunlop who was beginning to slide around on his full wets.
At the chequered flag it was Seeley who took first, his ninth NW200 win, with Dunlop and Martin rounding out the podium. Anstey held on for fourth from a charging Easton with Harrison not too further back in sixth. McGuinness, Dan Cooper, Johnston and James Hillier rounded out the top ten.
