Glenn Irwin is quick off the mark and gets himself in front, with James Hillier also moving past Peter Hickman into second.

Irwin looks briefly as if he might streak away from his rivals, a la last year's Superbike races, but Hillier reels him in with the help of a wonderful slipstream and it's tight at the top again.

Hickman runs inside Irwin to regain top spot and briefly finds himself in the dirt but maintains his position.

It's Hickman, Irwin, Harrison and Hillier in that order as they finish the first lap. All within one second.

So Hickman went pretty close to the lap record in qualifying this morning.

Two from two for the Englishman this morning or are Glenn Irwin, now seemingly back in the groove, or perhaps Lee Johnston, with one win already under his belt today, going to top the podium?

Here we go with Superstock Race One!

Strong set up. You'll need to refill that mug soon enough though.

Do it quickly too, because the sighting lap is underway.

Where are you tuning in from then?

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Lee Johnston ends a four year winning drought at the North West 200, coming out on top after an nail-bitingly tight six lap race.

So let's talk Superstock.

Peter Hickman is on pole as he seeks to repeat the feat of 2018, when he took his first North West 200 win in the Thursday Superstock race.

Another very strong field sits behind him with a host of experienced racers poised to bring out the best in each other.

Also, a reminder that Alastair Seeley isn't racing in the Superstocks this year. probably for the best as he is no doubt sore from the crash in the Supersport class.

Image source, BBC Sport

What a brilliant race to start us off this year.

Seeley pulled of a classic move to go in front but just ran himself too wide into the grass and off the bike.

Johnston led for a large chunk of that one and was a worthy winner there.

No champagne for the three podium racers, who are all back in action on the Superstocks very shortly.

Image source, BBC Sport

Alastair Seeley is up and walking back to his team.

His pride will no doubt be hurt but thankfully he appears to be ok.

Alastair Seeley takes the lead but he is OFF AT JUNIPER CHICANE HAVING FOUND THE GRASS.

Lee Johnston then takes the win from Dean Harrison and James Hillier.

Johnston's fourth win at the North West 200.

That's such a shame for Paul Jordan, whose bike has a problem as he slows to a stop. He was right in the mix there.

And then there was four.

Lee Johnston has led for the majority of this one and has been engaged in a tense battle with Alastair Seeley. Johnston gets a run through black hill to surge past Seeley and he leads going into the last lap.

Johnston, Seeley, Harrison, Hillier.

Who are you backing?

Oh James Hillier, what a move that is.

From fourth to first with the absolutely perfect slipstream. Right past Johnston, Seeley and Harrison and briefly in front before Johnston once more goes ahead.

Paul Jordan is staying with the leading pack and we are still absolutely none the wiser as to who of these five will win our first race.

Hillier and Harrison are both seeking their first win at the North West by the way, this would be some race so to it in.

Seeley leads from Johnston and Hillier at the end of the fourth lap, but oh boy is it tight.

Seeley finds the slipstream but Johnston is not making it easy for him to get round.

Harrison, Hillier and Paul Jordan have caught up with with front two and are right in the mix once more.

It's Seeley, then Johnston, then Seeley.

This is going to go to the wire, surely.

0.188 seconds is Johnston's lead over Seeley as we reach halfway.

Conor Cummins's race is over at Miller's cross chicane.

Paul Jordan closes the gap to the front four as Johnston looks to pull himself out in front but Seeley keeps pace with the leader and is right on his tail.

Hillier and Harrison battle just behind them and this, as predicted, is a tight old race.

Seeley finds the right line to go around the outside of Johnston but the Fermanagh man fights back. Neither offering any suggestion that they will blink first. There's a bit of a gap back to Hillier and Harrison now as they get onto the coast road.

Johnston still in front over the line.

Six laps in this race remember.

Lee Johnston streaks down the inside at the first corner to momentarily take the lead but Alastair Seeley is too long in the tooth to let that phase him as he regains first place.

He's ahead but not away with Johnston and Hillier hot on his heels as they head towards the University. The lead is changing hands a number of times, but it's all about the slipstream.

The three aforementioned riders swap the lead between themselves and create a bit of a gap along with Dean Harrison, with Johnston in front after the first lap.

The teams are off the grids. The riders are on their own and racing at the 90th North West 200 is about to begin.

The engines are revving their way around the circuit, which is looking rather resplendent in the summer sun, on their sighting lap.

No need to worry about rain tonight (cue torrential downpour out of absolutely nowhere), it'll be a balmy 13 degrees up on the north coast tonight.

So warm is it that Phillip McCallen has done away with his BBC Sport NI jacket and is chewing the fat on the grid with Stephen Watson and Steve Plater right now. You can watch them and, of course, all the action, at the top of this very page.

Racing has been ever-so-slightly delayed by a rogue blue car parked on the course. It has now been towed away, so if you parked a blue car on the triangle circuit earlier... it might have been towed...