Dunlop wins at Cookstown and then crashes unhurt

Michael Dunlop racing on his Honda Fireblade machine at the Cookstown 100

Michael Dunlop took victory in the Superbike Open A Invitation race at the Cookstown 100 road races, before crashing out unhurt in the Supersport race.

Dunlop, a late entry for the meeting, won the Open eight-lapper on his Honda Fireblade by 15 seconds from Dominic Herbertson, with Michael Sweeney completing the top three.

The 35-year-old had qualified second fastest for the class, having been narrowly slower than English rider Herbertson in Friday's timed practice.

Dunlop was quickest Supersport qualifier over the 2.1-mile Orritor circuit on his Triumph machine, ahead of Darryl Tweed, Sweeney and Burrows Engineering/RK Racing pilot Herbertson.

The restarted subsequent Supersport Invitation event saw Skerries rider Sweeney take the chequered flag in a thrilling finish from Herbertson and Tweed over a reduced distance of four laps after Dunlop had come off without injury.

Dunlop also headed Supertwin practice on his McAdoo Racing Kawasaki.

Last week the Ballymoney rider took part in the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race in France as a member of the TRT27 Racing team, finishing 16th overall and seventh in the Superstock class.

He is building up to the forthcoming North West 200 and Isle of Man TT international road races in May and early June.

Michael sits on 25 wins, one behind his uncle Joey in the all-time TT winners' list going into this year's event.

Dunlop also took in the Cookstown races last year, winning the Supertwins event in his first appearance at the meeting since 2018.

Friday night's success means he now has 12 victories to his name at the event, for which he is the lap record holder.

Fifteen further races are scheduled for Saturday at the county Tyrone course.