North West 200

International North West 200

Venue	The Triangle
Location	Northern Ireland
First race	1929
Most wins (rider)	Alastair Seeley (29)
Most wins (manufacturer)	Honda (96)

The International North West 200 is a motorcycle road race first held in 1929 on a 8.970 mi (14.436 km) street circuit known as the Triangle between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush in Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. It is the largest annual sporting event in Northern Ireland, with the race weekend attracting over 150,000 visitors from all over the world.^[1] The course is one of the fastest in the world, with average speeds of 120 mph (190 km/h) and top speeds in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h).^[2]

Originally intended to be held somewhere in the north west of Ireland^[3] and organised by the City of Derry & District Motor Club, the initial event was moved to the north coast but the name was never changed. Since 1964 the event has been organised by the Coleraine and District Motor Club. In 2010, the meeting featured daytime practice on the Thursday for the first time.^[4]

The 2011 event took place on Saturday 21 May. There were significant delays due to a hoax bomb alert and then an extensive oil spill on the track caused racing to be cancelled after the completion of only one race.^[5]

In 2022 the event returned as the fonaCab & Nicholl Oils North West 200. It was the first time the event has been held since 2019 after being cancelled for two consecutive years due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

On 9 February 2023, an announcement was made by the Motorcycle Union of Ireland with regard to the running of the 2023 event. This followed a significant increase in the insurance premium required to cover the event and consequently placed the 2023 race schedule under threat of being cancelled.^[6]

However on 15 March 2023, the event's organisers, the Coleraine & District Motor Club issued a statement via their Facebook page stating that in the wake of a sizeable donation by a prominent businessman and a revision of the quotation in connection with the insurance premium, that the 2023 International North West 200 would be taking place.^[7][8]

Race format[edit]

The North West 200 was originally run over two hundred miles as a handicap race, before changing to its current format of several separate races, each running 4–6 laps during Saturday afternoon. Practice is held on the Tuesday and Thursday evenings before the race. Both the practice and races are held on closed roads, but unlike the Isle of Man TT races which are run in a time-trial format, all riders compete together as with normal circuit racing.

Over the years the number and the classes of races has varied according to the latest regulations. From 1990 until 2010, there was always a 125 cc race and since 1992 the North West 200 race has been for Superbikes.

From 2012, all practice sessions will take place during the day, and the racing programme has been extended to include two races on the Thursday evening. All races will be held over six laps, except for the newly introduced Supertwin event.^[9]

The course[edit]

The street circuit is made up almost entirely of public roads (A2, B185 & A29) but does include three speed-reducing chicanes. The route, running anti-clockwise enters the outskirts of the towns passing many private houses. To help improve track safety street signs are removed at parts of the track and bales of hay are used to wrap the base of lampposts and telegraph poles.

The circuit is 8.970 mi (14.436 km) long, with a distance of 8.834 mi (14.217 km) being covered on the first lap of every race. The original start/finish line was located near Magherabouy but moved to the Portmore Road in Portstewart in 1930. The elevation ranges from 6 to 75 metres (20 to 245 ft) above sea level.

1973 saw the first major changes to the course, which include the exclusion of the Promenade at Portstewart from the route and the moving of the start/finish line to its current location between Juniper Hill and Millbank Avenue. These changes meant the route used Station Road (B185) for the first time and saw the introduction of York Corner. Shell Hill Bridge, an iconic part of the original course was used for the last time in 1979. In 1980, a new link road, from University Corner to Ballysally Roundabout, was introduced. A chicane was introduced just before the approach to the Juniper Hill corner in 1983 and in 1988 improvements were made to Mather's Cross and the start/finish chicane was introduced to reduce the speeds around Primrose Hill as well as allowing safer access to the pitlane.

At the end of 2009 Mather's Cross was widened in order improve safety at the corner.^[10] For 2010 additional modifications were made to the circuit to improve safety. A new purpose-built chicane at Mather's Cross was introduced to reduce speeds at the corner and safety improvements made to the area at Station corner.^[11]

Jack Brett recorded the first 100 mph (160 km/h) lap of the course on a Manx Norton 500 cc in 1957. The fastest recorded lap at 127.63 mph (205.40 km/h) was set by Tom Herron during the 1978 North West 200 race.

Peter Hickman holds the outright lap record for the circuit configuration with four chicanes, set during the 2022 Superbike event, at 124.799 mph (200.845 km/h).^[12]

In 2004, Michael Rutter became the first rider to record a top speed in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h) on the course. During Tuesday's practice at the 2012 event Martin Jessopp set a new fastest speed trap time, reaching 208 mph (335 km/h) on the approach to University Corner.^[13]

Controversies[edit]

In 2022, Richard Cooper won two Supertwin races but was disqualified after scrutineers found a fairing bracket to be non-standard and deemed it to be a breach of regulations. The team's appeal was successful and in November 2023 Cooper was re-instated as winner of both legs, with prize monies awarded retrospectively. Prior to the announcement, Cooper had won both legs at the same event in May, tallying his wins to four.^[14]

In 2023, Faye Ho's FHO team riders Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes were disqualified immediately before the start of the Superstock class for using standard wheels on the road-bike based M1000 RRs. Regulations stated the standard carbon fibre road wheels were not allowed, even though the team had raced with them in previous years and successfully completed 2023 scrutineering and practice. As non-standard wheels are not allowed, the team could not use race-specification metal wheels as fitted to the Superbike class machines, so Ho withdrew the team as a protest, with no more classes entered.^[15][16]

Deaths at the event[edit]

The first recorded death at the event was Norman Wainwright who was killed in 1939.

1979[edit]

Black Saturday as it is known, is regarded as the darkest day in the event's history after crashes claimed the lives of three riders, Tom Herron, Brian Hamilton and Frank Kennedy who died months later from his injuries.

Robert Dunlop[edit]

Robert Dunlop died on 15 May 2008 while practising in the 250cc class. The incident occurred as he was approaching Mather's Cross during the 125/250/400cc practice session. It is understood his bike seized and Robert was thrown over his handlebars at approximately 160 mph (260 km/h). Fellow rider Darren Burns was following immediately behind and collided with Robert, suffering a broken leg and suspected concussion. Robert suffered severe chest injuries and died in hospital shortly afterwards.^[17]

Mark Young[edit]

Twenty-two-year-old Mark Young died during the 2009 event on 17 May 2009. It was Young's first race at the North West 200 although he had road racing experience.^[18]

Mark Buckley[edit]

Thirty-five-year-old Mark Buckley suffered a fatal crash on Millbank Avenue outside Portstewart during the Superstock race on 19 May 2012. He was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries. No other competitors were involved with this incident.^[19]

Simon Andrews[edit]

Andrews was airlifted to a hospital in Northern Ireland in critical condition after suffering a serious crash while competing in the North West 200 on Saturday, 17 May 2014. Andrews came off his bike and slid down the asphalt until he collided head-first with a section of raised concrete pavement while curbing at high speed in Portrush, County Antrim. After receiving immediate medical intervention from the race doctors and medics, Andrews was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast in a critical condition after suffering the high-speed accident on the approach to Metropole corner. Andrews was competing in the second Superstock race of the event aboard his BMW. He died in hospital on 19 May 2014 as a result of his injuries, aged 31.^[20]

Malachi Mitchell-Thomas[edit]

Malachi Mitchell-Thomas died as a result of a crash on the third lap of the Supertwins race at the Vauxhall International North West 200 on 14 May 2016. The 20-year-old from Chorley in Lancashire crashed his Burrows Engineering Kawasaki on the approach to Black Hill. The race was immediately red flagged and Malachi was treated by medical staff from the MCUI Medical team but succumbed to his injuries at the scene. No other riders were involved in the incident. Racing was subsequently abandoned.^[21]

All competitor deaths[edit]

Winners[edit]

Alastair Seeley from Northern Ireland, holds the record number of 29 wins. Robert Dunlop was the previous record holder with 15 wins. Michael Rutter won fourteen races. Joey Dunlop (Robert's brother) won thirteen races. Michael Dunlop and William Dunlop (both sons of Robert) have also won races at the North West 200.

The early years of the event was dominated by British motorcycle manufacturers, in particular Norton. It was only in 1964 that Honda claimed their first victory. 2010 saw BMW score their first victory at the event and also the first non-Japanese manufacturer to claim a victory since 1997. Yamaha is the only manufacturer to have a clean sweep, winning all five races in 1979.

Multiple winners[edit]

By year[edit]

2023	Supersport (I) Davey Todd	Superstock (I) Alastair Seeley	Supertwins (I) Richard Cooper	Supersport (II) Davey Todd	Superbike (I) Glenn Irwin	Supertwins (II) Richard Cooper	Superstock (II) Alastair Seeley	NW 200 Glenn Irwin
2022	Supersport (I) Alastair Seeley	Superstock (I) Alastair Seeley	Supertwins (I) Richard Cooper[28]	Supersport (II) Lee Johnston	Superbike (I) Glenn Irwin	Supertwins (II) Richard Cooper[28]	Superstock (II) Alastair Seeley	NW 200 Glenn Irwin
2021	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[29]
2020	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[30]
2019	Supersport (I) Lee Johnston	Superstock (I) Peter Hickman	Supertwins (I) Stefano Bonetti	Supersport (II) Davey Todd	Superbike (I) Glenn Irwin	Supertwins (II) Jeremy McWilliams	Superstock (II) James Hillier	NW 200 Cancelled
2018	Supersport (I) Alastair Seeley	Supertwins (I) Martin Jessopp	Supersport (II) Alastair Seeley	Superstock (I) Peter Hickman	Superbike (I) Glenn Irwin	Supertwins (II) James Cowton	Superstock (II) Alastair Seeley	NW 200 Glenn Irwin
2017	Supersport (I) Martin Jessopp	Supertwins (I) Martin Jessopp	Supersport (II) Alastair Seeley	Superstock (I) Alastair Seeley	Superbike (I) Alastair Seeley	Supertwins (II) Michael Rutter	Superstock (II) Alastair Seeley	NW 200 Glenn Irwin
2016	Supersport (I) Alastair Seeley	Supertwins (I) Ivan Lintin	Supersport (II) Alastair Seeley	Superstock (I) Ian Hutchinson	Superbike (I) Michael Dunlop	Supertwins (II) Ivan Lintin
2015	Supersport (I) Alastair Seeley	Supertwins (I) Ryan Farquhar	Supersport (II) Alastair Seeley	Superbike (I) Alastair Seeley	Supertwins (II) Jeremy McWilliams	Superstock (II) Lee Johnston
2014	Supersport (I) Alastair Seeley	Supertwins (I) Lee Johnston	Superstock (I) Alastair Seeley	Supersport (II) Bruce Anstey	Superbike (I) William Dunlop	Supertwins (II) Lee Johnston	Superstock (II) Michael Dunlop	NW 200 Michael Dunlop
2013	Supersport (I) Alastair Seeley	Supertwins (I) Jeremy McWilliams	Superstock (I) Alastair Seeley	Supersport (II) Michael Dunlop
2012	Superstock (I) Alastair Seeley	Supertwins Ryan Farquhar	Supersport (I) William Dunlop	Superbike (I) John McGuinness	Superstock (II) Michael Rutter	Supersport (II) Alastair Seeley	NW 200 Alastair Seeley
2011	Supersport Alastair Seeley
2010	125cc Paul Robinson	Supersport (I) Alastair Seeley	Supersport (II) Ian Hutchinson	Superstock Keith Amor	Superbike (I) John McGuinness	NW 200 Alastair Seeley
2009	125 cc William Dunlop	250 cc William Dunlop	Supersport (I) Steve Plater	Supersport (II) Cancelled	Superstock Alastair Seeley	Superbikes Steve Plater	NW 200 Cancelled
2008	125 cc Michael Wilcox	250 cc Michael Dunlop	400 cc Olie Linsdell	600 cc (I) Steve Plater	600 cc (II) Steve Plater	Superstock Alastair Seeley	Superbikes Michael Rutter	NW 200 Steve Plater
2007	125 cc/400 cc Olie Linsdell	250 cc Christian Elkin	Supersport (I) Bruce Anstey	Supersport (II) Bruce Anstey	Superstock Bruce Anstey	Superbikes John McGuinness	NW 200 Steve Plater
2006	125 cc/400 cc Robert Dunlop	250 cc Nigel Beattie	600 cc (I) Ian Hutchinson	600 cc (II) Bruce Anstey	Superstock Bruce Anstey	Superbikes Steve Plater	NW 200 Steve Plater
2005	125 cc/400 cc Darran Lindsay	250 cc Davy Morgan	600 cc (I) Raymond Porter	600 cc (II) Ryan Farquhar	Superstock Ian Lougher	Superbikes Michael Rutter	NW 200 Bruce Anstey
2004	125 cc Ian Lougher	400 cc John McGuinness	600 cc (I) Bruce Anstey	600 cc (II) John McGuinness	Production Bruce Anstey	Superbikes Michael Rutter	NW 200 Michael Rutter
2003	125 cc/SS400 Ian Lougher	600 cc (I) Ryan Farquhar	600 cc (II) Ryan Farquhar	Production Adrian Archibald	Superbikes Michael Rutter
2002	125 cc Ian Lougher	600 cc (I) Jim Moodie	600 cc (II) Ian Lougher	Production Bruce Anstey	Superbikes David Jefferies	NW 200 Iain Duffus
2001	Not held
2000	125 cc Ian Lougher	250/400 cc John McGuinness	600 cc Michael Rutter	Production Richard Britton	Superbikes Michael Rutter	NW 200 Michael Rutter
1999	125 cc Ian Lougher	250/400 cc (I) Callum Ramsey	250/400 cc (II) Callum Ramsey	600 cc David Jefferies	Superbikes David Jefferies	NW 200 David Jefferies
1998	125 cc Abandoned	250/400 cc Woolsey Coulter	600 cc Ian Simpson	Production Michael Rutter	Superbikes Ian Simpson	NW 200 Michael Rutter
1997	125 cc Phelim Owens	250/400 cc (I) Callum Ramsey	250/400 cc (II) Owen McNally	600 cc Michael Rutter	Production Ian Simpson	Superbikes Phillip McCallen	NW 200 Michael Rutter
1996	125 cc Mick Lofthouse	250/400 cc (I) Woolsey Coulter	250/400 cc (II) Woolsey Coulter	600 cc Phillip McCallen	Superbikes Ian Simpson	NW 200 Phillip McCallen
1995	125 cc Phelim Owens	250/400 cc (I) Phillip McCallen	250/400 cc (II) Ian Newton	600 cc Phillip McCallen	Supermono Robert Holden	Superbikes Ian Simpson	NW 200 Robert Holden
1994	125 cc Robert Dunlop	250/400 cc (I) Woolsey Coulter	250/400 cc (II) Ian Newton	600 cc Mike Edwards	Supermono Alan Carter	Superbikes Robert Dunlop	NW 200 Robert Dunlop
1993	125 cc Robert Dunlop	250/350 cc (I) Robert Dunlop	250/350 cc (II) Robert Dunlop	400 cc Jim Moodie	600 cc Jim Moodie	Superbikes Carl Fogarty	NW 200 Carl Fogarty
1992	125 cc Robert Orme	250/350 cc (I) Phillip McCallen	250/350 cc (II) Robert Dunlop	400 cc Phillip McCallen	600 cc Phillip McCallen	Superbikes Phillip McCallen	NW 200 Phillip McCallen
1991	125 cc Robert Dunlop	250/350 cc (I) Robert Dunlop	250/350 cc (II) Ian Lougher	400 cc Dave Leach	600 cc Phillip McCallen	750 cc Robert Dunlop	NW 200 Trevor Nation
1990	125 cc Robert Dunlop	250 cc (I) Eddie Laycock	250 cc (II) Eddie Laycock	Superbikes Robert Dunlop	NW 200 Robert Dunlop
1989	250/350 cc (I) Kevin Mitchel	250/350 cc (II) Woolsey Coulter	600 cc Brian Reid	Production James Whitham	750 cc Steve Hislop	NW 200 Steve Hislop
1988	250/350 cc (I) Steve Cull	250 cc (II) Gary Cowan	750 cc Joey Dunlop	1300 cc Kenny Irons	Superbikes Steve Cull	NW 200 Steve Cull
1987	250/350 cc (I) Gary Cowan	250 cc (II) Eddie Laycock	Superstock Roger Hurst	750 cc Joey Dunlop	1300 cc Trevor Nation	Superbikes Joey Dunlop	NW 200 Joey Dunlop
1986	250 cc (I) Eddie Laycock	250 cc (II) Andy Watts	350 cc Robert Dunlop	Superstock Trevor Nation	Superbikes Roger Marshall	NW 200 Joey Dunlop
1985	250 cc (I) Joey Dunlop	250 cc (II) Steve Cull	350 cc Steve Cull	Superbikes Roger Marshall	NW 200 Joey Dunlop
1984	250 cc Andy Watts	350 cc Kevin Mitchel	Superbikes Joey Dunlop	NW 200 Graham Wood
1983	250 cc Courtney Junk	350 cc Norman Brown	500 cc Joey Dunlop	Superbikes Graham Wood	NW 200 Joey Dunlop
1982	250 cc Donny Robinson	350 cc Tony Rutter	500 cc Stu Avant	Superbikes Ron Haslam	1000 cc NW 200 Mick Grant
1981	250 cc Steve Tonkin	350 cc Donny Robinson	500 cc Charlie Williams	1000 cc NW 200 Joey Dunlop
1980	250 cc Steve Cull	350 cc Charlie Williams	500 cc Mick Grant	1000 cc NW 200 Keith Huewen
1979	Match Race Joey Dunlop	250 cc Bob Jackson	350 cc Tony Rutter	500 cc Tony Rutter	1000 cc NW 200 Joey Dunlop
1978	250 cc Tom Herron	350 cc Tony Rutter	500 cc John Newbold	750 cc #1 Tom Herron	750 cc #2 Tony Rutter
1977	250 cc Tony Rutter	350 cc Ray McCullough	500 cc John Williams	750 cc #1 Mick Grant	750 cc#2 John Williams
1976	250 cc Ian Richards	350 cc Ray McCullough	500 cc Martin Sharpe	750 cc Percy Tait
1975	250 cc Derek Chatterton	350 cc Charlie Williams	500 cc Mick Grant	750 cc Mick Grant
1974	250 cc Ray McCullough	350 cc John Williams	500 cc John Williams	750 cc John Williams
1973	200 cc Jackie Robinson	250 cc Tony Rutter	350 cc Tony Rutter	500 cc Billy Guthrie	750 cc Geoff Barry
1972	Not held
1971	250 cc Derek Chatterton	350 cc Paul Smart	500 cc John Cooper
1970	250 cc (Race) Ralph Bryans	350 cc (Race) Tom Herron	500 cc (Race) Peter Williams	250 cc (Production) Cliff Carr	500 cc (Production) Stuart Graham	750 cc (Production) Malcolm Uphill
1969	250 cc Rod Gould	350 cc Rod Gould	500 cc John Blanchard
1968	250 cc Rod Gould	350 cc Bill Smith	500 cc John Cooper
1967	250 cc Steve Murray	350 cc Fred Stevens	500 cc Fred Stevens
1966	250 cc John Blanchard	350 cc George Buchan	500 cc Peter Williams
1965	250 cc Tommy Robb	350 cc Ian McGregor	500 cc Dick Creith
1964	250 cc Ralph Bryans	350 cc Ralph Bryans	500 cc Dick Creith
1963	Not held
1962	250 cc Arthur Wheeler	350 cc Alan Shepherd	500 cc Alan Shepherd
1961	250 cc Tommy Robb	350 cc Bob McIntyre	500 cc Bob McIntyre
1960	250 cc Tommy Robb	350 cc Alan Shepherd	500 cc Derek Minter
1959	125 cc Tommy Robb	250 cc Tommy Robb	350 cc Alistair King	500 cc Bob McIntyre
1958	250 cc Sammy Miller	350 cc Alistair King	500 cc Jack Brett
1957	250 cc Sammy Miller	350 cc Bob Anderson	500 cc Jack Brett
1956	250 cc Sammy Miller	350 cc Derek Ennett	500 cc Bob Anderson
1955	250 cc Alan Lyons	350 cc Jackie Wood	500 cc Geoff Duke
1954	250 cc Arthur Wheeler	350 cc Derek Ennett	500 cc Reg Armstrong
1953	250 cc Arthur Wheeler	350 cc Bob McIntyre	500 cc Syd Lawton
1952	250 cc Arthur Wheeler	350 cc Harry Pearce	500 cc Ivor Arber
1951	250 cc Arthur Wheeler	350 cc Dickie Dale	500 cc Geoff Duke
1950	250 cc Ron Mead	350 cc Geoff Duke	500 cc Artie Bell
1949	250 cc Harold Kirby	350 cc Harold Daniell	500 cc Artie Bell
1948	Not held
1947	250 cc Peter Gill	350 cc Malcolm Templeton	500 cc Artie Bell
1940– 1946	Not held
1939	250 cc Dennis Parkinson	350 cc Jimmy Little	500 cc Ernie Lyons
1938	250 cc H. G. Tyrell Smith	350 cc Bob Foster	500 cc Jack Moore
1937	250 cc Samuel Smith	350 cc John White	500 cc Jimmie Guthrie
1936	250 cc Charlie Manders	350 cc John White	500 cc Jimmie Guthrie
1935	250 cc Charlie Manders	350 cc Walter Rusk	500 cc Jimmie Guthrie
1934	250 cc Michael McSorley	350 cc Walter Rusk	500 cc Jimmie Guthrie
1933	250 cc Joe Woodside	350 cc Tim Hunt	500 cc Stanley Woods
1932	250 cc Eric Fernihough	350 cc Wal Handley	500 cc Ernie Nott
1931	250 cc Eric Fernihough	350 cc Graham Walker	500 cc Ernie Nott
1930	250 cc Eric Fernihough	350 cc Tim Hunt	500 cc Ernie Nott
1929	250 cc Malcolm McQuigg	350 cc Harry Meagen	500 cc Ernie Nott

Manufacturers[edit]

Media coverage[edit]

The event is covered by BBC Northern Ireland having previously been covered by UTV. All races are live on the BBC iPlayer. There is also live radio coverage on BBC Radio Ulster and live text commentary on the BBC Sport NI website. BBC NI also show highlights programmes presented by Stephen Watson, usually on the Sunday and Monday nights after the event. BBC Commentators include BBC MotoGP commentator Steve Parrish and five-time winner on a single day Phillip McCallen. In 2022 it was announced that BBC Sport NI had extended its contract to provide coverage of the event until 2026. ^[31]

Video game[edit]

The North West 200 features in Jester Interactive's PlayStation 2 title TT Superbikes: Real Road Racing Championship released at the end of May 2008. It is the sequel to their top 10 game TT Superbikes released in 2005.^[32] It is also featured in Milestone srl's Ride 2, Ride 3 and Ride 4 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.^[33]

See also[edit]

• Clady Circuit
• Dundrod Circuit
• Isle of Man TT Races
• Ulster Grand Prix

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to North West 200.

• The Official Website of the Kennedy International North West 200 The Official North 200 Website
• Motorbikes - BBC Sport BBC North West 200 Website

55°11′34.7″N 6°41′51.27″W / 55.192972°N 6.6975750°W / 55.192972; -6.6975750