Michael Dunlop wrapped up the 2014 International North West 200 meeting in spectacular style as he won a record-breaking feature Superbike race, seeing off the challenges of Josh Brookes and Alastair Seeley to take his second win of the day.
The BMW rider broke the lap record on the third lap and when long time race leader Brookes ran onto the grass at Mather's Cross, he took full advantage. The Australian set a new outright lap record on his final lap but he couldn't close the gap and the Ulsterman ran out victor by three seconds.
"The BMW was brilliant and the Metzeler tyres were lovely so I can't thank the boys enough," said Dunlop. "It goes to show how strong the BMW is and I pushed on the last lap to make sure no-one caught me but we've all worked really hard to get here. I'd never seen this bike before practice started but it worked like a dream whilst the fans were amazing. I could hear them cheering and see them waving their programmes and it feels special to win on home ground."
It was Michael Rutter who led off the line but Brookes took the lead at the Ballysally Roundabout and led the field round at the end of the first lap by 0.8s. Alastair Seeley had moved up to second with Guy Martin and Dunlop close behind whilst Gary Johnson, again starting from the second group, up to sixth on corrected time.
Brookes' lead was significantly reduced on the second lap and with Dunlop now up to third, there was less than a second between the trio. Seeley then hit the front for the first time on lap three, pulling off his regular Juniper chicane overtake. Dunlop was quicker still third time around at lamost 122mph and as they headed out on to their penultimate lap, the difference between first and third was just 0.4s. Rutter was back up to fourth ahead of Martin and new sixth placed rider Conor Cummins.
Brookes then took over at the front with a daring pass at Station Corner but he left his braking too late going into Mather's and went straight across the chciance and onto the grass on the exit dropping down to third in the process. A new lap record of 122.501mph for Dunlop meant he went into the final lap three seconds clear of Seeley as Brookes regrouped.
The Ulsterman had the situation under control and duly swept home to give BMW their first ever International Superbike victory on the roads whilst Brookes never gave up and had the small consolation of a new outright lap record, 122.958mph, as he came home second.
Seeley took a solid third with Rutter doing likewise in fourth whilst Martin and Cummins were secure in fifth and sixth. Martin Jessopp wrapped up his week with seventh whilst Dean Harrison and James Hillier ended the day positively with eighth and ninth as Johnson slipped back to tenth.
