2009 North West 200 Races

The 2009 North West 200 Races took place on Saturday 16 May 2009 at the 8.966 mile circuit, dubbed "The Triangle", based around the towns of Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart, in Northern Ireland. The 2009 race week was the 80th anniversary of the festival, when Malcolm McQuigg, Harry Meagen and Ernie Nott picked up the race wins in 1929.

Steve Plater and William Dunlop took double victories at the meeting, with Alastair Seeley winning the other race held. Two races were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

Practice

Superbike

Bruce Anstey topped the timesheets on Tuesday, on his Relentless Suzuki ahead of the Hondas of John McGuinness, Keith Amor and Steve Plater. Anstey's team-mate Cameron Donald rounded out the top five, ahead of the first Yamaha of Michael Rutter and the Kawasakis of Ryan Farquhar and Conor Cummins.[1][2]

In the Thursday session affected by rain, Guy Martin topped the timesheets on the Hydrex Honda CBR1000RR, just ahead of a similar bike ridden by Ian Hutchinson. Denver Robb was third on his Suzuki GSX-R1000, as times were over ten seconds slower than Tuesday.[3]

Rank Rider Team Time Speed
1 Bruce Anstey Suzuki 1000cc 4:25.371 121.632 mph
2 John McGuinness Honda 1000cc + 1.400 120.994 mph
3 Alastair Seeley Suzuki 1000cc + 3.383 120.101 mph
4 Keith Amor Honda 1000cc + 3.843 119.896 mph
5 Steve Plater Honda 1000cc + 4.774 119.483 mph
6 Cameron Donald Suzuki 1000cc + 4.898 119.428 mph
7 Michael Rutter Yamaha 1000cc + 5.739 119.057 mph
8 Ryan Farquhar Kawasaki 1000cc + 5.977 118.953 mph
9 Conor Cummins Kawasaki 1000cc + 6.250 118.833 mph
10 Ian Lougher Yamaha 1000cc + 6.637 118.664 mph

Superstock

Carrickfergus-born Alastair Seeley dominated the first Tuesday Superstock session, setting a lap of 4:28.754, giving him an advantage of over 2.5 seconds. The lap was also good enough for the third fastest lap in the Superbike/Superstock session. Dungannon's Farquhar was second on a Kawasaki, while an all-Irish top three was completed by Kilkenny's John Walsh on his Yamaha. Cummins was fourth on his Kawasaki while William Dunlop's Yamaha rounded out the top five.

In the second session, Donald set the fastest time, just 0.7 seconds behind his team-mate Seeley, with the third Relentless Suzuki of Anstey in third.[4]

Thursday's session was affected by adverse weather conditions, with Derek Brien topping the timesheets but was some nine seconds off the pace of Seeley. Seeley was only sixteenth in the session, as he would only set three laps in the session. Les Shand was second, just edging out another Yamaha, ridden by Michael Pearson.[5]

Rank Rider Team Time Speed
1 Alastair Seeley Suzuki 1000cc 4:28.754 120.101 mph
2 Cameron Donald Suzuki 1000cc + 0.724 119.778 mph
3 Bruce Anstey Suzuki 1000cc + 2.115 119.163 mph
4 Ryan Farquhar Kawasaki 1000cc + 2.594 118.953 mph
5 Gary Johnson Honda 1000cc + 3.092 118.735 mph
6 Keith Amor Honda 1000cc + 3.333 118.630 mph
7 John Walsh Yamaha 1000cc + 3.550 118.535 mph
8 Les Shand Yamaha 1000cc + 3.896 118.385 mph
9 Conor Cummins Kawasaki 1000cc + 4.788 117.999 mph
10 Guy Martin Honda 1000cc + 5.509 117.688 mph

Supersport

After a decent session with his 250cc bike, Michael Dunlop surprised the rest of the field by setting the fastest lap in the Tuesday Supersport session. His 4:33.664 lap was over a second and a half faster than the next best lap, by Plater on the HM Plant Honda. Amor was third ahead of Anstey, Ian Hutchinson, William Dunlop and McGuinness.[6]

Thursday's session was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.[7]

Rank Rider Team Time Speed
1 Michael Dunlop Yamaha 600cc 4:33.664 117.946 mph
2 Steve Plater Honda 600cc + 1.745 117.199 mph
3 Keith Amor Honda 600cc + 2.914 116.703 mph
4 Bruce Anstey Suzuki 600cc + 4.521 116.029 mph
5 Ian Hutchinson Honda 600cc + 4.626 115.985 mph
6 William Dunlop Yamaha 600cc + 4.749 115.934 mph
7 John McGuinness Honda 600cc + 5.115 115.782 mph
8 John Walsh Yamaha 600cc + 7.199 114.923 mph
9 Gary Johnson Honda 600cc + 8.580 114.361 mph
10 Ryan Farquhar Kawasaki 600cc + 9.180 114.118 mph

250cc

Sunny conditions marked the start of the 250cc session on Tuesday, in which Christian Elkin topped the timesheets. Elkin's Honda lapped the circuit in a time of 5:02.594, edging out defending race winner Michael Dunlop's Honda by just over a tenth of a second. McGuinness was third, with a lap of 5:05.326, narrowly shading another Honda, ridden by Belfast's Mark Lunney. The first Yamaha rounded out the top five, with David Craig edging out Darren Burns.[8]

Thursday's session was completed before adverse weather conditions curtailed the day. Elkin continued his good form, with a lap of 4:56.654, nearly eight seconds faster than the next competitor. Denver Robb was second, ahead of McGuinness and Phil Harvey. Paul Robinson rounded out the top five on his Honda.[9]

Rank Rider Team Time Speed
1 Christian Elkin Honda 250cc 4:56.654 108.806 mph
2 Michael Dunlop Honda 250cc + 6.059 106.628 mph
3 Denver Robb Honda 250cc + 7.850 106.001 mph
4 John McGuinness Honda 250cc + 8.206 105.877 mph
5 Mark Lunney Honda 250cc + 8.719 105.699 mph
6 Phil Harvey Honda 250cc + 8.764 104.824 mph
7 David Craig Yamaha 250cc + 10.219 105.182 mph
8 Darren Burns Honda 250cc + 10.323 105.147 mph
9 Davy Morgan Honda 250cc + 11.669 104.688 mph
10 Barry Davidson Honda 250cc + 11.760 104.657 mph

125cc

The only Aprilia in the field topped the Tuesday timesheets, with Ballywalter's David Lemon riding it to a lap of 5:20.756 and the only 100 mph lap of the session. Although, William Dunlop recorded a 100 mph lap, he did not complete enough laps to qualify. Lemon's time was good enough to give him a three-second advantage over Oliver Linsdell's Honda, with Chris Palmer, Paul Robinson and James Ford, all on Hondas, rounding out the top five.[10]

Thursday's session was completed before adverse weather conditions curtailed the day. William Dunlop topped the session, improving on his non-qualifying time from Tuesday, but was still over a second shy from the best time of the week, set by Lemon. Lemon was only fourth in the session, with Palmer and Robinson both slotting in between.[11]

Rank Rider Team Time Speed
1 David Lemon Aprilia 125cc 5:20.756 100.630 mph
2 William Dunlop Honda 125cc + 1.205 100.253 mph
3 Chris Palmer Honda 125cc + 2.058 99.988 mph
4 Oliver Linsdell Honda 125cc + 3.104 99.665 mph
5 Paul Robinson Honda 125cc + 4.099 99.360 mph
6 Mark Lunney Honda 125cc + 10.457 97.453 mph
7 James Ford Honda 125cc + 10.993 97.295 mph
8 Jon Vincent Honda 125cc + 14.687 96.224 mph
9 Nigel Moore Honda 125cc + 15.160 96.088 mph
10 Graham Wilson Honda 125cc + 15.366 96.029 mph

Races

Race 1; 250cc Race final standings

Saturday 16 May 2009 3 laps – 26.79 miles

Rank Rider Team Time Speed
1 William Dunlop Honda 250cc 14' 48.194 108.455 mph
2 Chris Palmer Honda 250cc + 6.149 107.709 mph
3 Phil Harvey Honda 250cc + 7.174 107.586 mph
4 Mark Lunney Honda 250cc + 8.400 107.439 mph
5 Denver Robb Honda 250cc + 10.234 107.219 mph
6 John McGuinness Honda 250cc + 14.900 106.665 mph
7 Paul Robinson Honda 250cc + 22.986 105.719 mph
8 Andrew Neill Honda 250cc + 29.812 104.933 mph
9 Barry Davidson Honda 250cc + 37.496 104.062 mph
10 David Mateer Yamaha 250cc + 1 lap 103.344 mph

Fastest Lap: Michael Dunlop, 4'55.591 on lap 2 (109.197 miles per hour (175.736 km/h))

Race 2; Superbike Race Race final standings

Saturday 16 May 2009 2 laps – 17.862 miles

Rank Rider Team Time Speed
1 Steve Plater Honda 1000cc 8' 45.964 121.779 mph
2 Bruce Anstey Suzuki 1000cc + 0.639 121.631 mph
3 John McGuinness Honda 1000cc + 2.019 121.313 mph
4 Cameron Donald Suzuki 1000cc + 2.488 121.205 mph
5 Conor Cummins Kawasaki 1000cc + 3.266 121.027 mph
6 Guy Martin Honda 1000cc + 4.516 120.742 mph
7 Keith Amor Honda 1000cc + 5.351 120.552 mph
8 Ryan Farquhar Kawasaki 1000cc + 5.823 120.445 mph
9 Gary Johnson Honda 1000cc + 7.969 119.961 mph
10 Ian Hutchinson Honda 1000cc + 9.515 119.540 mph

Fastest Lap: Steve Plater, 4'22.577 on lap 2 (122.926 miles per hour (197.830 km/h))

Race 3; Supersport Race final standings

Saturday 16 May 2009 4 laps – 35.725 miles

Rank Rider Team Time Speed
1 Steve Plater Honda 600cc 18' 16.091 117.332 mph
2 Bruce Anstey Suzuki 600cc + 0.515 117.277 mph
3 Michael Dunlop Yamaha 600cc + 2.632 117.051 mph
4 John McGuinness Honda 600cc + 3.144 116.996 mph
5 William Dunlop Yamaha 600cc + 9.420 116.332 mph
6 Ian Hutchinson Honda 600cc + 9.761 116.296 mph
7 Michael Rutter Yamaha 600cc + 10.588 116.209 mph
8 Gary Johnson Honda 600cc + 11.070 116.159 mph
9 Ryan Farquhar Kawasaki 600cc + 17.337 115.505 mph
10 Ian Lougher Yamaha 600cc + 28.697 114.338 mph

Fastest Lap: Steve Plater, 4' 33.126 on lap 2 (118.178 miles per hour (190.189 km/h))

Race 4; 125cc Race final standings

Saturday 16 May 2009 4 laps – 35.864 miles

Rank Rider Team Time Speed
1 William Dunlop Honda 125cc 21' 26.004 100.005 mph
2 Chris Palmer Honda 125cc + 7.243 99.445 mph
3 Oliver Linsdell Honda 125cc + 12.846 99.016 mph
4 Mark Lunney Honda 125cc + 26.632 97.976 mph
5 Stephan Savelkouls Honda 125cc + 28.534 97.799 mph
6 James Ford Honda 125cc + 29.009 97.779 mph
7 Jon Vincent Honda 125cc + 41.470 96.881 mph
8 Phil Harvey Honda 125cc + 57.258 95.742 mph
9 Andrew Neill Honda 125cc + 57.376 95.733 mph
10 Graham Wilson Honda 125cc + 1' 00.132 95.537 mph

Fastest Lap: William Dunlop, 5' 18.482 on lap 2 (101.348 miles per hour (163.104 km/h))

Race 5; Superstock Race final standings

Saturday 16 May 2009 2 laps – 17.862 miles

Rank Rider Team Time Speed
1 Alastair Seeley Suzuki 1000cc 8' 50.296 120.784 mph
2 Ryan Farquhar Kawasaki 1000cc + 0.899 120.579 mph
3 Keith Amor Honda 1000cc + 3.802 119.924 mph
4 Cameron Donald Suzuki 1000cc + 4.242 119.825 mph
5 Guy Martin Honda 1000cc + 5.133 119.626 mph
6 Ian Hutchinson Honda 1000cc + 5.717 119.496 mph
7 Conor Cummins Kawasaki 1000cc + 5.984 119.436 mph
8 Les Shand Yamaha 1000cc + 6.722 119.272 mph
9 Gary Johnson Honda 1000cc + 11.226 118.280 mph
10 James McBride Honda 1000cc + 20.942 116.195 mph

Fastest Lap: Alastair Seeley, 4' 27.40 on lap 2 (120.872 miles per hour (194.525 km/h))

Notes
  • The final two races of the day were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.[12][13]
  • There were a number of serious crashes during the week. Firstly, during the Supersport session on Tuesday, John Anderton fell off his bike at around 120 mph at Station Corner, and suffered leg and head injuries.[14][15] During a restart of the opening race of Saturday, Christian Elkin crashed out while battling Michael Dunlop for the lead. Both riders fell and Dunlop ploughed into the Macclesfield rider. Elkin suffered a broken leg in the incident.[16] In the original start of that particular race, Cookstown's Mark Young fell off at Mather's Cross, the infamous corner that killed Robert Dunlop at the 2008 North West 200 Races. Young was taken to hospital with internal injuries,[17] Sadly, he would succumb to his injuries to become the fourteenth fatality in the history of the North West 200.[18] An inquiry into the accident is under way.[19]

See also

References
  1. "Qualifying Session One, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 KENNEDY International NORTH WEST 200, DeWalt Superbike" (PDF). North West 200. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  2. "Qualifying Session One, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 KENNEDY International NORTH WEST 200, Blackhorse Superbike" (PDF). North West 200. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  3. "Qualifying Session Two, Thursday, 14 May 2009 KENNEDY International NORTH WEST 200, Blackhorse Superbike" (PDF). North West 200. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  4. "Qualifying Session One, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 KENNEDY International NORTH WEST 200, Superstock" (PDF). North West 200. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  5. "Qualifying Session Two, Thursday, 14 May 2009 KENNEDY International NORTH WEST 200, Superstock" (PDF). North West 200. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  6. "Qualifying Session One, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 KENNEDY International NORTH WEST 200, Supersport" (PDF). North West 200. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  7. "Thursday night practice called off due to weather conditions". North West 200. 14 May 2009. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  8. "Qualifying Session One, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 KENNEDY International NORTH WEST 200, 250cc" (PDF). North West 200. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  9. "Qualifying Session Two, Thursday, 14 May 2009 KENNEDY International NORTH WEST 200, 250cc" (PDF). North West 200. 14 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  10. "Qualifying Session One, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 KENNEDY International NORTH WEST 200, 125cc" (PDF). North West 200. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  11. "Qualifying Session Two, Thursday, 14 May 2009 KENNEDY International NORTH WEST 200, 125cc" (PDF). North West 200. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  12. "Rain Causes Race Day To Finish Early". North West 200. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  13. "Updated North West 200 Statement – Cancellation of last 2 races". North West 200. 17 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  14. "NW200 crash rider still critical". BBC Northern Ireland. BBC. 14 May 2009. Archived from the original on 16 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  15. "North West 200 Statement – Rider John Anderton". North West 200. 13 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  16. "Christian Elkin crashed in last lap of Race 1". North West 200. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  17. "Rider critical after NW 200 crash". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  18. "Rider dies following race crash". BBC Northern Ireland. BBC. 17 May 2009. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  19. "Inquiry into death of road racer". BBC Northern Ireland. BBC. 18 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
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