ALASTAIR SEELEY EQUALS ROBERT DUNLOP’S RECORD OF 15 WINS

2015-05-17 11:05
Alastair Seeley emerged as the hero of a difficult day at the 2015 Vauxhall
International North West 200. The 35 year old Carrickfergus rider battled
against tough weather conditions to equal Robert Dunlop’s record tally of 15
wins on the 8.9 mile Triangle course as he took two victories in the Bet
McLean Supersport race and the Monster Energy Superbike event.

Seeley held off a strong challenge from Ian Hutchinson on the PBM Kawasaki
ZX10R and Valvoline Padgett’s Honda star, Bruce Anstey to take the
chequered flag in the only superbike race to be run on the day.

The Superbike race may have given Seeley the record but it was the 600cc
scrap against Lee Johnston and newcomer, Glenn Irwin. The race was a real
dogfight throughout its five laps with Seeley making a do or die move at
Juniper Hill chicane to take his first win of the day. Johnston lost out on
second place on his ECC Burdens Triumph to Irwin after he overshot the
chicane and was docked ten seconds, leaving the young Gear Link Kawasaki
racer to take the runner up spot.

Veteran KMR/SGS Kawasaki teammates Jeremy McWilliams and Ryan
Farquhar fought a thrilling battle with Jamie Hamilton on the BE Racing
Kawasaki in the Supertwins event. It was ex-Grand Prix star McWilliams, who
celebrated his fiftieth birthday last month, who muscled his way into the lead
for the Coast road section, holding off Farquhar and Hamilton for the win.

The CP Hire Superstock race was another thriller, with Seeley losing out on
taking a hat trick to Lee Johnston who turned the tables on the Tyco BMW
racer by snatching the lead in a last lap move at Juniper. The ECC/Burdens
BMW racer made it a clean sweep for the local racers as he took the
chequered flag ahead of Seeley and Ian Hutchinson (PBM Kawasaki).

The final race of the day, the feature Superbike event, was abandoned after
high winds made racing unsafe. The opening race of the day, the Spidi
Superstock event, had also been abandoned after a serious accident
involving racers Stephen Thompson, Horst Saiger and a female spectator.

There are five new entries in the top 50 of the Duke Road Race Rankings
after the fourth round of the 2015 season with Alastair Seeley slotting into firth
spot; as Ian Hutchinson enters the fray in 23rd; Keith Amor and Bruce Anstey
42nd & 43rd, with Christian Elkin takes over 48th position.

Seven times former Duke Champion Ryan Farquhar moves into the top place om 520 points, 112 ahead of
William Dunlop (408) and Jamie Hamilton up two into third on 381 points.

Ivan Lintin slips down to fourth, with Dean Harrison advancing two into sixth. Other high movers are Lee
Johnston up 33 to 8th; Michael Dunlop up 22 to 15th; Jeremey McWilliams climbs 63 to 16th and Jamie
Coward also up 22 to 39th.

Source: Auto 66 Racing

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