Summary

  • Video & audio coverage starts at 10:30 BST

  • Session 1 - Newcomers

  • Session 2 - Supersport

  • Session 3 - Superbike

  • Session 4 - Supertwin

  • Session 5 - Superstock

  1. That's a wrappublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    That's all from us from what has been an exciting first day of practice for the North West 200.

    Alastair Seeley set the pace in the Superstock and Supersport sessions, while Michael Dunlop was quickest in the Superbikes and Richard Cooper was fastest of the Supertwins.

    We'll be back with more coverage of the practices on Thursday morning, then racing on Thursday evening and Saturday.

    Bye for now.

  2. Superstock practice leaderboardpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    1. Alastair Seeley (BMW), 121.924mph

    2. Michael Dunlop (Honda), 121.170

    3. Peter Hickman (BMW) 121.141

    4. Davey Todd (Honda) 119.549

    5. Lee Johnston (Honda) 118.809

    6. Dean Harrison (Kawasaki) 118.534

    7. Josh Brookes (BMW) 117.851

    8. Conor Cummins (Honda) 117.487

    9. John McGuinness (Honda) 117.095

    10. James Hillier (Yamaha) 115.849

  3. Seeley hits the front againpublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    Alastair Seeley has put in a stunning late lap of 121.924mph to take provisional pole on his BMW.

    His time of 4:21.769 was just one second outside the class lap record set by Davey Todd last year - 4:20.640 - 123.895.

    Seeley holds the fastest ever qualifying lap on a 'Stocker - 123.203, set in 2017.

  4. Hickman leads 'The General'published at 14:51 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    There are changes at the top of the leaderboard!

    With eight minutes of the session remaining, it's now Peter Hickman who is 'top dog' courtesy of a lap speed of 121.924.

    The Lincolnshire rider has really upped the pace, but close in attendance is Lee Johnston on 121.17 and Alastair Seeley with 121.141 as the riders take full advantage of the drying conditions.

  5. Guess who?published at 14:47 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    Not for the first time today, Alastair Seeley has propelled himself to the top of the timesheets with a lap of four minutes 26.565 seconds - an average speed of 120.094mph.

    Seeley did the double in the Superstocks last year on a Yamaha. This time the 'Wee Wizard' has a Synetiq by TAS Racing BMW under him that he competes on regularly in the British Superstock series.

    The 27-times winner leapfrogged Peter Hickman, a winner in this class in both 2018 and 2019, who had headed the standings at 118.745 on his BMW.

  6. Taking Stock....published at 14:28 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    It's time for the final practice session of the day - the Superstocks having been allocated a reduced 30-minute session.

    The bikes have left the grid and the fans around the circuit are anticipating some more thrilling high-speed action to round off the day...

    The competitors will be wary of damp patches in various parts of the circuit however so will be taking it canny on their first sighting on this opening lap...

  7. Steam rising from the trackpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    The mixture of sunshine and rain showers has made for some interesting conditions at the North West 200 today.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Steam rising from the track

  8. Supertwins final practice leaderboardpublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    1. Richard Cooper (Kawasaki) 111.723mph

    2. Jeremy McWilliams (Paton) 110.418

    3. Paul Jordan (Kawasaki) 108.80

    4. Adam McLean (Kawasaki) 108.503

    5. Michael Dunlop (Kawasaki) 107.924

    6. Lee Johnston (Aprilia) 107.575

    7. Michael Sweeney (Kawasaki) 107.420

    8. Stefano Bonetti (Paton) 107.257

    9. Peter Hickman (Yamaha) 107.155

    10. Joe Loughlin (Kawasaki) 104.946

  9. 'It's raining again!'published at 14:16 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    The rain is starting to fall again here but the hope is that it will just be another passing shower...

    The Superstocks are next up but first you'll be wanting to know who posted the best times in the Supertwins session....the final practice leaderboard coming your way imminently...

  10. Schoots hoping to score a high placingpublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    Dutch rider Nadieh Schoots feels she is well prepared and in a good position to secure some good results at this year's North West 200.

    Schoots has set the fastest lap speed ever recorded by a female competitor over the Triangle circuit - 113.223mph in a Superstock race back in 2018.

    Media caption,

    Fastest woman around the NW200 Nadieh Schoots

  11. Cooper goes top....published at 14:09 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    Richard Cooper throws in a lap of 110.418mph to move to the top of the practice leaderboard on his sixth circuit of the session on his Ryan Farquhar-prepared KMR Kawasaki.

    What a story it would be if the Nottingham rider was to make up for his elimination from the results for a technical infringement 12 months ago by winning at least one of this year's Supertwin races.

    McWilliams is second quickest, then Jordan, McLean, Dunlop, Johnston, Sweeney, Bonetti and Hickman.

  12. 'Work in progress'published at 14:01 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    Six-time North West 200 Superbike winner Glenn Irwin gives his reaction after recording the eighth fastest time in today's Superbike qualifying.

    Some technical changes to his Ducati appear to be necessary before he takes to the track again on Thursday.

    Few would bet against his PBM team finding just the right setting to take the Carrickfergus rider to further victories on the north coast on Saturday.

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  13. McWilliams fastest so farpublished at 13:56 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    Jeremy McWilliams, the most successful North West 200 Supertwins rider with three previous successes, has set the fastest time of this session so far....

    Continuing to bely his relatively advanced years, the 59-year-old has posted a speed of 109.416mph on his Paton.

    Next up is Richard Cooper on 107.177, then Paul Jordan at 102.618.

    Michael Dunlop, Lee Johnston and Michael Sweeney round out the top six up to this point.

  14. Sunshine on the horizon....published at 13:50 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

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  15. Paton powerpublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    They may be lower capacity than any of the other bikes competing this week but you can feel the ground shuddering beneath you as the Italian Patons among the field blast past us here at the start and finish.

    Like all the races at this year's North West, there's a truly international feel to the entry for this one. A total of 21 nationalities are represented on the grid encompassing all four classes.

  16. Postpublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at the North West 200

    The sun is back out again around the paddock and the circuit doesn't seem too bad after a couple of showers.

    The Supertwins are out on circuit now and are the ideal bike to be on if there are any damp patches given they have the least power of the four classes.

  17. Action stations....published at 13:35 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    The rain has subsided for now and an oil spill that caused a delay to the Supertwin session has been cleaned up.

    The distinctive drone of the Supertwins leaving the grid can be heard in the distance from our position in the media centre and those bikes are now out on circuit....

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  18. Seeley tops Supersport timespublished at 13:31 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    Alastair Seeley is fastest of the Supersports on his Ducati ahead of Thursday's second practice.

    Seeley boasts the most pole position starts of any rider at the North West. He has occupied the prime spot on the grid on no fewer than 19 occasions. Will he add to that tally this year?

    Alastair Seeley took pole in the opening Supersport practiceImage source, Pacemaker
    Image caption,

    Alastair Seeley took pole in the opening Supersport practice

  19. 'On the pipe...'published at 13:28 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    Michael Dunlop rounds the final bend towards the finish line in typically spectacular fashion on his way to setting the provisional pole position speed in Superbike qualifying.

    Michael Dunlop during NW200 Superbike practiceImage source, Pacemaker
    Image caption,

    Michael Dunlop during NW200 Superbike practice

  20. Identical Twins?published at 13:21 British Summer Time 9 May 2023

    The Supertwins class used to be almost the exclusive domain of Kawasakis but in recent years Paton has very much got in on the act with Suzukis, Aprilias and Yamahas also on the grid.

    As it stands, Kawasaki boast 13 NW200 wins and Paton 3. The remainder of the manufacturers have yet to register their first victory in the category.