Summary

  • If you're outside of the UK, click here to watch

  • Newcomers session completed

  • Glenn Irwin (4:18.553) fastest in Superbikes session

  • Richard Cooper (4:34.202) tops Supersport practice

  • Davey Todd (4:20.942) fastest in Superstock session

  • Supertwins next on track

  • Live video stream with Stephen Watson, Larry Carter, Phillip McCallen, Lee Johnston and Jenny Tinmouth

  • Commentary from Steve Parrish and Keith Huewen

  1. Postpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 8 May

    Lee Johnston
    Five-time winner at the NW200

    I think the biggest thing is Glenn Irwin and Davey Todd going head-to-head in that first Superbike session, it was really impressive. It bodes well for the rest of the week.

  2. Postpublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 8 May

    Richard Cooper speaking to BBC Sport NI:

    "Not sure what the stoppage is for, hopefully it's just a precaution.

    "The Supertwin is obviously very different to the Supersport bike that I have just been out on and some rule changes has made our bike very different to it has been. However, it still feels very competitive.

    "My plan is to always do a four or five lap run initially and this has interrupted that run, but hopefully we will be able to get back out and get more laps."

  3. red flag

    Red flagpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 8 May

    Red FlagImage source, BBC Sport
  4. First flying lapspublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 8 May

    The first laps are in and it's Jeremy McWilliams leading the way, narrowly ahead of Adam McLean, Sweeney and Christian Elkin.

    Peter Hickman, with a beautiful new livery, peels into the pits.

    Richard Cooper and Mike Browne have yet to set a time.

  5. Postpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 8 May

    Philip McCallen
    11-time race winner at the NW200

    If you want to predict a favourite it would be Richard Cooper, but there is some opposition out there.

    That Aprilia bike is a very, very good bike and a lighter bike and has 500 revs more. To a man on the street 500 revs is nothing, but to a racer 500 revs is like half a mile and that is massive, especially on a track like this with long straights.

  6. 'I've had some great memories'published at 14:36 British Summer Time 8 May

    Ryan Farquhar BEM speaking to BBC Sport NI:

    "There's lots of people sticking their oar in now to push me out. But it is what it is and from where the class first started, the 250s were dying off and this was the perfect class and, you know, I was there from the start and developed the bike.

    "There's two sides to racing, there is developing the bike and there's preparing the bike. This is pretty much the last class where you can tune and DIY, and it's the engineering bit I really enjoy.

    "Unfortunately that's probably coming to an end but over the years I have had some great memories and probably my best memory in racing was winning here in 2012."

  7. Green flagpublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 8 May

    Away we go for the final session of the day as the Supertwins hit the track.

    The roads will be open soon so this will likely be a fairly swift session to round out today's action.

  8. Postpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 8 May

    Eyes on the prize.

    How cool are the clear visors?

    It helped Dean Harrison, who was second in the Superstock session.

    Dean HarrisonImage source, Pacemaker
  9. 'So exciting to know we aren't far off those track records already'published at 14:21 British Summer Time 8 May

    Davey Todd speaking to BBC Sport NI:

    "Great first day here. I didn't expect much and just wanted to get comfortable out there and make sure the bikes were running right.

    "The team have done amazing out there, all three of my machines are absolutely awesome to ride and I can't believe the lap times already.

    "The track is a bit dirty and the weather has been good to us, but the track is still not where it will be for racing if the weather stays the way it is.

    "I think there is a lot more speed to come from the track yet and those lap times and it's so exciting to know we aren't far off those track records already."

    Davey ToddImage source, Pacemaker
  10. Postpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 8 May

    Maria Costello MBE speaking to BBC Sport NI:

    "I'll not lie I'm a bit nervous. I had a really tough year last year but it's really good to be back in Northern Ireland at the North West riding my Supertwin.

    "I think I'm the only female here this year, but we have had others in the past and it's great to see Jenny [Tinmouth] doing some commentary."

  11. Postpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 8 May

    Don't forget, the riders will be back out on Thursday morning to try and improve their times - and the spots on the grid.

    The Supertwins are warming up on the gird and will round out today's practice.

  12. 'Dean Harrison impressive'published at 14:14 British Summer Time 8 May

    Lee Johnston
    Five-time winner at the NW200

    Dean Harrison has looked really impressive he is not far off, hasn't really ridden this bike and taking into consideration Davey [Todd] won at Oulton Park.

  13. The top 10 timespublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 8 May
    Breaking

    It's the end of the Superstock session and Davey Todd leads the way from Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop.

    1. Davey Todd 4:20.942

    2. Dean Harrison +0.583

    3. Michael Dunlop +2.846

    4. Peter Hickman +4.009

    5. John McGuinness +5.017

    6. James Hillier +6.634

    7. Adam McLean +9.310

    8. Michael Sweeney +9.937

    9. Dom Herbertson +10.512

    10. Conor Cummins +10.975

    Superstock practice sessionImage source, Pacemaker Press
    Image caption,

    Superstock practice session

  14. chequered flag

    Chequered flagpublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 8 May

    Superstock practice

    NW200 practiceImage source, BBC Sport
  15. Get Involved - 'Johnston providing great insight'published at 14:04 British Summer Time 8 May

    Get in touch using #BBCBikes

    F10nninnit: Great shout by @BBCSPORTNI getting @Lee_johnston13 on the commentary. Already providing great insight. Speedy recovery Lee and looking forward to hearing more this week.

  16. Postpublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 8 May

    Peter Hickman has jumped into third place, behind Todd and Harrison who are leading the way.

    Michael Dunlop is fourth and James Hillier rounds out the top five as we head into the closing stages.

  17. 'We'll keep chipping away'published at 14:02 British Summer Time 8 May

    Kris Duncan speaking to BBC Sport NI:

    "I'm trying to get to grips with that new bike out there, we've had a few problems with handling in straights, but we're getting there and we'll keep chipping away.

    "Top 15 I would be happy with against the big boys"

  18. Seeley sequence will endpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 8 May

    Richard Petrie
    BBC Sport at the North West 200

    Whoever comes out on top in the Superstock races will be the first winner of a race in that class since the pre-Covid pandemic days in 2019 other than Alastair Seeley.

    Seeley took both wins in 2022 and repeated the double in 2023 but of course is a notable non-starter this year.

    There will be a new name on top of the podium this time out.

  19. Get Involved - Billy has the right idea!published at 13:56 British Summer Time 8 May

    Get in touch using #BBCBikes

    Billy the Artist screenshotImage source, @Billyartist