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2016 North West 200: Seeley wins controversial second Supersport race

Alastair Seeley’s run at the North West 200 showed no signs of ending on Saturday morning with the Gearlink Kawasaki rider dominating the Supersport race with a six second win over Martin Jessopp as Peter Hickman claimed a fine third place after Lee Johnston was handed a penalty by race direction.

The little Irishman has put in a protest over the decision, which demoted him from a podium spot to sixth, as he feels he was taking avoiding action as Ian Hutchinson put in a pass into Juniper Chicane and now it is down to the stewards as Johnston said he stopped and put his foot down as is stated in the rules.

“It’s unreal,” said Seeley afterwards, as he celebrated his 17th win. “Things are all clicking into place at the moment and I came here with confidence after some good BSB rides so it’s all falling into place. The bike hasn’t changed much since I rode it in the British Supersport Championship and it’s really dialled in. The temperature’s good, the crowds are massive and at half race distance, I decided to get my head down, put in a couple of qualifying laps and see if I could open up a gap.”

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With perfect conditions once more, it was Seeley who grabbed the holeshot but it didn’t last long as Jessopp swept up the inside at Primrose with John McGuinness having a great start to move up to third. Four abreast on the run into University, it was Michael Rutter who moved to the front but by the end of the lap it was Lee Johnston who was leading from Jessopp, Rutter and Seeley.

The top two remained the same second time around but William Dunlop was on the move and slotted into third with Seeley, Ian Hutchinson and James Hillier completing the top six. McGuinness was down to 11th and Rutter had retired.

Lap three and Dunlop took the lead at Mathers Cross as Seeley began to make his move, the Carrickfergus rider taking second at Magherabuoy and then the lead at Metropole. Hutchinson spotted that Seeley was planning on making a break and he took third and then second a lap later.
Seeley’s lead at the end of the fourth lap was up to 1.5s but Dunlop was out and then on the fifth lap, Hutchinson slowed between the Ballysally Roundabout and Mathers Cross allowing Seeley to have a clear run to the flag.

His eventual winning margin over Jessopp was 6.5s and with all the retirements, Peter Hickman moved up to third for his maiden NW200 podium. A brilliant ride by newcomer Malachi Mitchell-Thomas saw him take fourth with Dean Harrison in fifth and Johnston, third across the line, in sixth.

Hillier slipped back to seventh with McGuinness, Christian Elkin and Paul Jordan completing the top ten.

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