That's a blistering start to the lap from Cooper, he's burst clear of the slipstream and the chasing pack will be doing well to reel him in.

McLean and McWilliams are millimetres apart through Station but is the win now out of their hands?

Cooper leads as the top four are split by 1.8 seconds over the line.

Michael Rutter has pulled into the pits from 13th.

McLean hits the front into Mather's Cross as he powers past McWilliams. He's got good straightline speed this afternoon!

Cooper drafts past McWilliams into second and he's now into the lead as he goes ahead of McLean.

What a battle!

The trio are bunched right together again at University...actually, make that four as Jordan has drafted his way back into contention.

McWilliams, McLean, Cooper and Jordan are your top four.

McLean darts around the outside of Cooper on the exit of York and dives up the inside of McWilliams into Station!

Behind the leading quartet Peter Hickman is fifth ahead of Joe Loughlin and Brian McCormack, but they are some way off the leaders.

McWilliams holds the lead into Mather's as McLean slips up the inside of Cooper for second.

They are three wide into Metropole! Cooper leads into Portrush but McWIlliams hits back into Juniper.

Jordan had a big moment at Metropole and has slipped back from McLean in third.

It's a similar pattern as the first start but Paul Jordan has stayed with the top three.

McLean is into the lead through Station and is followed by Cooper, McWilliams and Jordan.

McWilliams blasts into the lead into University!

Cooper makes another good start and Adam McLean gets into second ahead of McWilliams!

Away we go!

After sitting at Metropole while waiting to be allowed back to the pits, Jeremy McWilliams is not happy the race will be restarted over the full four laps.

The bikes have completed their sighting lap and are back on the grid.

North West 200 event director Mervyn Whyte says Michael Sweeney, the rider involved in the red flag incident, has been taken to hospital as a precaution with "no serious injuries".

He also confirmed it is a four lap race.

The Supertwins are back on track for their sighting lap.

It was a thrilling two laps before the red flag. Will there be more of the same?

Steve Plater says the Supertwin race will be restarted over the full four laps.

Image source, Pacemaker

Two-time North West 200 winner Peter Hickman says the technical regulations for the North West should follow those adopted by the Isle of Man TT to achieve a uniform approach across the board for the two big international road racing events.

His comments follow the decision of the FHO Racing team to withdraw from the meeting on Thursday evening after the carbon wheels they were running on their Superstock machines were deemed to be illegal by the stewards of the meeting.

Race control have said there will be a 30 minute delay due to a red flag following an incident at the Dhu Varren section of the course.

McWilliams is back into the lead at Mather's Cross! This spare engine for McWilliams is holding up well!

Cooper tires to attack around the outside of Metropole but he's held off...and he's done it again on the coast road.

McWilliams, Cooper and McLean are your top three!

Cooper holds the lead into Mill Road and we get ready for another slingshot through Station on the run to Coleraine.

McWilliams is staying with Cooper and the front two are providing the perfect slipstream for McLean.

Cooper wins the braking battle but you can't write any of the top three off.