Record-breaker Irwin continues NW200 Superbike run

Glenn Irwin celebrates his 10th consecutive NW200 Superbike success

Glenn Irwin became the most successful Superbike rider in the history of the North West 200 as he took victory in both of Saturday's races in the premier class.

Having won Thursday's four-lap big bike sprint on his PBM Ducati, Irwin again twice edged out Milwaukee BMW rival Davey Todd at a sundrenched Triangle circuit to make it a hat-trick of big bike wins this week.

The Northern Irishman's triumphs saw him extend his remarkable winning sequence in the Superbikes to 11 races and pull two clear of the previous benchmark achieved by Michael Rutter and the late Joey Dunlop.

Irwin, 34, has now won every Superbike race from race two in 2017 until the present day.

As was the case on Thursday, the Carrickfergus racer and Yorkshireman Todd were involved in a ding-dong battle throughout Saturday's first race, Irwin eventually prevailing by 0.382 seconds at the chequered flag.

Last year's British Superbike runner-up led for all but one of the previous five laps and only tenths of a second separated the pair at the end of each circuit.

"This means so much, I've worked so hard for this," said a delighted Irwin after breaking the Superbike record.

"I felt comfortable in the race, I knew Davey was strong but we can still go to another level.

"This is my favourite event in the world and to be the most successful Superbike rider is very special."

Michael Dunlop completed the rostrum places despite being penalised 10 seconds for not stopping after overshooting the start-finish chicane.

James Hillier, Michael Rutter and Finn Erno Kostamo rounded out the top six.

In the day's second race, Irwin again dualled at the front in the sun, both riders enjoying spells at the head of the field before Irwin won by a mere 0.46 seconds.

Dean Harrison made up the top three after staying in touch with the pacesetters on his Honda Fireblade, followed by Dunlop, then Paul Jordan and Rutter.

Todd completes treble

Davey Todd celebrates his Supersport success with his team

Todd clinched his fourth Supersport win over the Triangle by coming home ahead of Thursday's 600cc winner Richard Cooper by 0.46 seconds.

Riding his Powertoolmate Ducati V2, the English rider had his Yamaha-mounted rival on his wheeltracks over the six laps, Cooper being pipped at the end despite leading going into the final lap and during part of lap five.

Dunlop was third and set the fastest lap of the race on his final circuit with a speed of 117.709mph.

Mike Browne was fourth, Conor Cummins finished fifth and Jordan ended the race sixth.

Later in the day Todd made it a Superstock double, a hat-trick for the meeting and six career wins at the event with 1.5 seconds to spare over runner-up Hickman in race two in that class.

John McGuinness, 52, was a hugely popular third-place finisher after Dean Harrison retired out of second position.

For McGuinness, it was his first appearance on the rostrum since 2012 thirty years after he made his debut at the race in 1994.

Dunlop was an absentee from the grid after failing to take part in the sighting lap after an initial attempt to run the race was red-flagged on the first lap.

Hickman grabs Supertwins double

Peter Hickman edged out Richard Cooper in both Supertwins races

The opening Supertwins race turned into a titanic tussle between leading English riders Hickman and Cooper, with the former emerging the victor by just half a second to take his third North West win.

There was initially a three-way battle at the front as Jeremy McWilliams gave chase to the front duo but the 60-year-old was unable to keep up with the pace of his rivals.

Kawasaki rider Cooper led after each of the first three laps but Hickman made his move at Metropole on the final circuit and extended his lead on the coast road section on his Yamaha R7, setting the fastest lap of the race.

Browne edged out McWilliams to take the final rostrum place.

Hickman, who also had a win in the Twins class at the Isle of Man TT last year, commented afterwards: "The R7 went really well. I always enjoy racing with Richard but i know I'm fast over the coast road so knew if I got into Metropole first I should be ok."

The second race followed a very similar pattern as Cooper led until Metropole on the last circuit, when Hickman again made his move and pulled away on the closing section, having a 0.855 second advantage at the flag.

McWilliams stayed with the top two in the early stages to make it a three-way joust and although he fell off the pace the 60-year-old took third.

Saturday's race results

Superbikes race two of the week - 1 Glenn Irwin (Ducati); 2 Davey Todd (BMW); 3 Michael Dunlop (Honda); 4 James Hillier (Honda); 5 Michael Rutter (BMW); 6 Erno Kostamo (BMW)

Fastest lap: Irwin 124.854mph

Superbike race three - 1 Glenn Irwin (Ducati); 2 Davey Todd (BMW); 3 Dean Harrison (Honda); 4 Michael Dunlop (Honda); 5 Paul Jordan (Honda); 6 Michael Rutter (BMW)

Fastest lap: Irwin 124.988mph

Supertwins race one - 1 Peter Hickman (Yamaha); 2 Richard Cooper (Kawasaki); 3 Mike Browne (Aprilia); 4 Jeremy McWilliams (Paton); 5 Christian Elkin (Kawasaki); 6 Barry Furber (Yamaha)

Fastest lap: Hickman 111.539mph

Supersports race two of the week - 1 Davey Todd (Ducati); 2 Richard Cooper (Yamaha); 3 Michael Dunlop (Triumph); 4 Mike Browne (Yamaha); 5 Conor Cummins (Honda); 6 Paul Jordan (Honda).

Fastest lap: Dunlop 117.709mph

Superstocks race two of the week - 1 Davey Todd (BMW); 2 Peter Hickman (BMW); 3 John McGuinness (Honda); 4 James Hillier (Honda); 5 Erno Kostamo (BMW) ; 6 Paul Jordan (Honda).

Fastest lap: Hickman 123.881mph

Supertwins race two - 1 Peter Hickman (Yamaha); 2 Richard Cooper (Kawasaki); 3 Jeremy McWilliams (Paton); 4 Mike Browne (Aprilia); 5 Christian Elkin (Kawasaki); 6 Barry Furber (Yamaha).

Fastest lap: Hickman 111.570mph