North West 200

North West 200
Region	Northern Ireland
Date	17 May to 21 May (2011)
Type	Road Course
Clerk of the Course
Event Organiser	Coleraine and District Motor Club
Principal Sponsor	Relentless Energy Drink
History
First race	1929
Number of races	75 (2009)
First winner	Ernie Nott (1929)
Most wins	Robert Dunlop 15
Lap record	Steve Plater 4:20.074, 124.109 mph (199.734 km/h)
Current Season	2011 North West 200

Riders approaching York from Juniper Hill during the 2009 event.

The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland. The course, made up of public roads running between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush (the Triangle) is one of the fastest in the world, with speeds in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h).^[1] It is one of around fifteen events run on public roads between April and October throughout the island of Ireland. It is the largest annual sporting event in Ireland, with the race weekend attracting over 150,000 visitors from all over the world.^[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]

Race format

The 'North West 200,' was originally ran over two hundred miles in 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.

The course

North West 200 circuit layout as of 2009.

The course 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.

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.^[6] 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 improvement made to the area at Station corner.^[7]

Jack Brett recorded the first 100 mph (160 km/h) lap of the course on a Norton 500cc in 1957. The current course lap record is held by Steve Plater at 124.109 mph (199.734 km/h) which was set during the 2006 event. The fastest recorded lap at 127.63 mph (205.40 km/h) was set by Tom Herron during the 1978 'North West 200' race. 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 2010 event Stuart Easton set a new fastest speed trap time, touching 204 mph (328 km/h) on the approach to University Corner.^[1]

Deaths at the event

A group of racer entering York Corner during the 2009 event

See also: List of North West 200 Course fatal accidents and List of deaths by motorcycle accidents

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

1979

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

Robert Dunlop was killed 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. 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.^[8]

Mark Young

Twenty-two-year-old Mark Young died during the 2009 event on 17 May 2009. He crashed at the same corner as Robert Dunlop, raising serious concerns about the circuit’s safety. It was Young's first race at the North West 200 though he had road racing experience.^[9]

Winners

Northern Irishman Robert Dunlop holds the record number of wins, totalling fifteen victories throughout his career. His brother Joey won thirteen races, but the event has been dominated in recent years by Englishman Michael Rutter, who has won twelve races from 1997 to 2008. The next generation of Dunlop entered the record books in 2008 when Robert's son Michael won the 250 cc race. The following year another son, William, won two races.

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

# Wins	Riders
15	Robert Dunlop
13	Joey Dunlop
12	Michael Rutter
11	Phillip McCallen
9	Bruce Anstey
8	Tony Rutter	Ian Lougher
7	Steve Plater
6	Steve Cull
5	Ian Simpson	Arthur Wheeler	John Williams	Mick Grant	Woolsey Coulter	John McGuinness	Alastair Seeley
4	Bob McIntyre	David Jefferies	Jimmie Guthrie	Ernie Nott	Eddie Laycock	Tommy Robb
3	Alan Shepherd	Artie Bell	Callum Ramsey	Geoff Duke	Charlie Williams	Jim Moodie	Eric Fernihough	Ralph Bryans
	Ray McCullough	Rod Gould	Trevor Nation	Tom Herron	Sammy Miller	Ryan Farquhar
2	Alistair King	Andy Watts	Bob Anderson	Carl Fogarty	Charlie Manders	John White	Derek Chatterton	Ian Hutchinson
	Derek Ennett	Donny Robinson	Fred Stevens	Gary Cowan	Graham Wood	Ian Newton	Jack Brett	John Blanchard
	John Cooper	Kevin Mitchell	Peter Williams	Phelim Owens	Dick Creith	Robert Holden	Roger Marshall	Steve Hislop
	Percy Hunt	Walter Rusk	Olie Linsdell	William Dunlop

By year

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 Heuwen
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	350 cc (Production) Stuart Graham	500 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 Percy Hunt	500 cc Stanley Woods
1932	250 cc Eric Fernihough	350 cc Wal L. 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 Percy Hunt	500 cc Ernie Nott
1929	250 cc Malcolm McQuigg	350 cc Harry Meagen	500 cc Ernie Nott

Manufacturers

# Wins	Manufacturer
84	Honda
73	Yamaha
41	Norton
29	Suzuki
10	Excelsior
9	Ducati
8	Aprilia	Rudge
7	Kawasaki
6	AJS
4	Matchless	Moto Guzzi	NSU	Velocette
3	Bultaco	EMC	GMS
2	Gilera	Hannah-Paton	Seeley	Triumph
1	Armstrong	BSA	Cotton	JAP	Ossa	Spartan	Waddon	Yamsel
	Zenith	BMW

Media coverage

Spectators enjoying the 2009 event.

The event is currently covered by BBC Northern Ireland having previously been covered by UTV. Some races can be accessed live nationwide via the BBC Red Button and all races are live on the BBC Website.^[10] 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 5 times winner on a single day Phillip McCallen.

Video game

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.^[11]

See also

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

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Honda rider Steve Plater fastest at NW200 practice". BBC News. BBC. 11 May 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/8676403.stm. Retrieved 11 May 2010. 
2. ^ Other motorists have responsibility for bikers too, campaign warns Northern Ireland Executive Website 2009-05-14 Retrieved 2010-01-28
3. ^ "The History of the North West 200". North West 200 Website. http://www.northwest200.org/history.aspx. Retrieved 17 May 2010. 
4. ^ "Local People Urged to Support new NW200 Daytime Practice Session". North West 200 Website. 16 February 2010. http://www.northwest200.org/news_article/103.aspx. Retrieved 2 April 2010. 
5. ^ "North West 200 racing abandoned". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 May 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/13467100.stm. Retrieved 24 May 2011. 
6. ^ Organisers Applaud Improvements at Mather's Cross North West Official Website 2009-11-09 Retrieved 2010-01-28
7. ^ New Safety Improvements at Mather’s Cross and Station Corner North West Official Website 2010-04-27 Retrieved 2010-05-08
8. ^ "Dunlop dies after motorbike crash". BBC Sport. 16 May 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7403931.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2008. 
9. ^ Promising rider who died at the North West 200 road race in Northern Ireland Lasting Tribute Website
10. ^ BBC North West 200 Coverage BBC Website
11. ^ TT Superbikes Jester interactive's website

External links

• http://www.northwest200.org/ The Official North 200 Website
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/nw200/ BBC North West 200 Website