Glenn Irwin shatters North West 200 lap record but two riders taken to hospital during qualifying

The British Superbike Championship leader, also fastest on Wednesday, shattered Peter Hickman’s official lap record set in 2022 (124.799mph) with a speed of 125.928mph on the Hager PBM Ducati.

During the qualifying sessions there were three red flag incidents involving three competitors – the first occurred in the Supersport session at Trolans, the second at Millbank Avenue in the Superstock qualifying and the third at Quarry Hill during the final Supertwins session.

The information from the NW200 medical team indicates none of the competitors sustained serious injuries but two have been taken to Causeway hospital for assessment and treatment.

Irwin goes into Thursday evening’s opening four-lap race as the red-hot favourite after claiming pole by 2.23s from closest rival Davey Todd on the Milwaukee BMW, who was quickest through the speed trap on the run to Coleraine at a staggering 209.8mph on the German machine.

Watch: Hundreds of bikers arrive in Belfast for North West 200

Ballymoney’s Michael Dunlop sealed a front row start on his new 2024 Hawk Racing Honda in third, 4.5s down on Irwin, who can equal the NW200 record of nine Superbike victories held jointly by Michael Rutter and Joey Dunlop with a win on Thursday evening.

“There is more to come,” Irwin said.

“Obviously (we are) going to see if there are any changes to be made, but to do the fastest ever lap out there is cool and a tag I have never had. I love this place.”

Looking ahead to the first race on the new-look Thursday evening schedule, the 34-year-old added: “I expect a strong challenge tonight. Davey (Todd) is riding really well and Pete (Hickman) and Dean (Harrison), they are all strong characters, resilient and winners at the top level.

“I don’t expect it to be easy and I know where to improve.”

TAS Racing team principal Philip Neill said Irwin was a clear favourite in the Superbike class but added that his man Todd was ‘capable’ of giving the Ulsterman a run for his money.

“On the Superbike, personally I think we have no real right to expect him to be winning it,” said Neill.

“He is obviously capable and the bike is capable, but Glenn Irwin is obviously favourite. How many wins has he had in a row and he is on a trick of a machine and he is a great rider.

“Davey should be here with the expectation of giving Glenn a run for this money. If all goes according to plan and that happens and there is a good race between the two of them and others, it’ll not be a two horse race and I will assure you of that.”

Bradford’s Dean Harrison twice finished on the podium in the Superbike races in 2023 but is relying on his Superstock-specification Honda Racing Fireblade due to issues around the availability of parts for the Superbike.

However, the 35-year-old went fourth quickest, 5.8s off Irwin’s pace, while official lap record holder Hickman was fifth, only a tenth of a second down on Harrison.

Hickman is also riding a BMW Superstock machine under his own PHR Performance banner this year.

Manx rider Conor Cummins was seventh on the Milenco by Padgett’s Honda ahead of Honda’s John McGuinness and James Hillier (WTF Racing Honda).

Todd made the most of the excellent conditions around the 8.9-mile course as he dipped under Alastair Seeley’s 2023 Superstock lap record for pole with a speed of 124.524mph on the Milwaukee BMW.

The 28-year-old narrowly edged out Hickman by two tenths of a second, with Dunlop four seconds adrift of Todd on his MD Racing Honda.

Hillier, Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Honda) and Mike Browne (Aprilia) were the top six.

In the Supersport class, Richard Cooper was on top on the BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha by 0.677s from Todd (Powertoolmate Ducati).

Cooper’s team-mate Browne was third quickest ahead of Dunlop (MD Racing Triumph), with Adam McLean (J McC Roofing Racing Kawasaki) and Jordan finalising the first half dozen.

Hickman put his Swann Yamaha on pole in the Supertwin class after lapping at 110.846mph ahead of four-timer winner Cooper on Ryan Farquhar’s Kawasaki (110.22mph).

Jeremy McWilliams, a three-time winner in the class, was third on the Bayview Hotel Paton with Cork’s Mike Browne (Aprilia) fourth.