Experienced road racing campaigner Ian Lougher claimed a superb victory
in the CP Hire Superstock race at the Junction One International North
West 200. The Team DMRR Honda Racing rider and his team-mate Richard
Britton competed in five of the day's six races.
The annual Ulster-based event once again attracted over 200 competitors
and 100,000 spectators. The infamous triangle public roads circuit
covers 8.9 miles and links the coastal towns of Portrush, Portstewart
and Coleraine on the North Antrim coast.
Northern Irish-based duo Britton and Lougher lined up side-by-side on
the third row of the grid for the start of the five-lap Superstock race.
Although their Blackhorse Finance-supported CBR1000RR Fireblades
remained close throughout the opening lap, Britton's misjudgement of the
Magherabuoy chicane meant that he overshot the corner and was forced to
retire from the rest of the race.
In his team-mate's absence, Lougher rapidly made his way through the
closely-knit front-runners to second position. Incredibly, by the
Metropole on lap four, he had taken the lead aboard his production-based
CBR1000RR Fireblade and remained in position until the chequered flag.
This is the County Down-based rider's eighth victory at the North West
200.
In the first Superbike race of the day, Enniskillen-based Britton
propelled to third place aboard the Pirelli-shod Team DMRR Honda Racing
CBR1000RR Fireblade. However, a nail-biting battle with Adrian Archibald
at the last corner of the six-lap Dewalt Superbike race meant that the
34-year-old had to settle for fourth position.
Lougher - who qualified in a respectable eighth place - had an unlucky
start. Unable to pull away from the line quickly, the 38-year-old rider
dropped back to 16th position. Despite this, he did manage to make up an
impressive nine places and finished the race in a well-earned seventh
position.
The Blackhorse Finance-supported Superbike race - the final race of the
day - was by far the most gripping. Britton and Lougher treated the
spectators to a spectacular showdown, by claiming second and third
places respectively. The wet and unpredictable weather conditions did
little to hinder Britton and Lougher's starts, and although the race was
red-flagged due to heavy rain on the first lap, the Team DMRR Honda
Racing pair remained focussed.
On the restart, Britton effortlessly progressed through the pack from
fifth to second place - a position he held for the remaining race
distance. Lougher was close behind and the pair ended the race with a
double podium result for Team DMRR.
Heavy showers ahead of the five-lap Kennedy Group Supersport race meant
that it took place on a predominately wet road surface. Anticipating
further unpredictability in the weather conditions, the road racing pair
selected full intermediate tyre set-ups for the Team DMRR Honda Racing
CBR600RRs.
Despite making another good start, second-placed Britton dropped back to
fourth place on the approach to Primrose Hill. However, the Irishman
determinedly stood his ground and maintained station all the way to the
chequered flag.
Meanwhile, although Lougher was forced to start the first Supersport
race from the second group in a lonely 39th position on the grid, he did
manage to make up some time on the front-runners and crossed the line in
ninth (on corrected time).
It was a similar story in the Ballymoney Borough Council Supersport race
as changeable weather conditions presented another difficult tyre choice
for the team. Although Britton had another good ride and finished on the
second step of the podium, Lougher was unable to complete race distance
due to technical problems with the Team DMRR Honda Racing CBR600RR
machine.
Ian Lougher: "It's been a fantastic day overall! The victory on the
CBR1000RR Fireblade in the Superstock class is great for Honda and
Blackhorse Finance. I wasn't on form this morning and the results were a
bit sluggish to start with, but I'm really pleased with the win and
happy with the second Superbike result. It's been a good day for Team
DMRR Honda Racing all round."
Richard Britton: "I'm over the moon! It's a great result for Team DMRR
Honda Racing - the Hondas were running really well over the challenging
North West 200 course. Although we did have one or two problems, our
overall result is fantastic - it was great to be up on the podium
again!"
Kennedy Group Supersport Race:
- 1. R. Porter (Yamaha) 24:31.378
- 2. C. Ramsey (Honda) +2.976
- 3. B. Anstey (Suzuki) + 16.869
- 4. R. Britton (Team DMRR Honda Racing) +16.882
- 5. J. McGuinness (Yamaha) +30.172
- 6. A. Archibald (Suzuki) 38.382
- 9. I. Lougher (Team DMRR Honda Racing) +58.857
CP Hire Limited Superstock Race:
- 1. I. Lougher (Team DMRR Honda Racing) 24:27.097
- 2. B. Anstey (Suzuki) +0.109
- 3. R. Farquhar (Kawasaki) +5.293
- 4. L. Shand (Yamaha) +29.445
- 5. D. Robb (Suzuki) 29.619
- 6. R. Rainey (Yamaha) +43.484
- DNF - R. Britton (Team DMRR Honda Racing)
Ballymoney Borough Council Supersport Race:
- 1. R. Farquhar (Kawasaki) 24:10.911
- 2. R. Britton (Team DMRR Honda Racing) +11.072
- 3. R. Porter (Yamaha) + 16.892
- 4. K. Doherty (Yamaha) +23.148
- 5. M. Finnegan (Honda) +28.578
- 6. A. Archibald (Suzuki) +29.115
- DNF - I. Lougher (Team DMRR Honda Racing)
Blackhorse North West 200 Superbike Race:
- 1. B. Anstey (Suzuki) 24:02.227
- 2. R. Britton (Team DMRR Honda Racing) +0.949
- 3. I. Lougher (Team DMRR Honda Racing) +23.206
- 4. M. Finnegan (Honda) + 38.040
- 5. G. Martin (Suzuki) +44.565
- 6. A. Archibald (Suzuki) + 45.061
