Black Horse NW200 Superbike Race 2

GUY Martin was denied a certain victory in the feature NW200 Superbike race after he was forced to retire as a result of a burst water hose.

The 26-year-old from Kirmington, Lincolnshire, had made a break at the front on his Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, but failed to make it to Ballysally on the fourth lap when he held a three-second advantage.

"I'm gutted but we can build on this and everyone knows we are now knocking on the door for a TT win," he said.

"I was well in control of the second Superbike race when the red light came on so I just cruised in, but a second place earlier was a good result.

"All our bikes are now ready for the TT. They are fast and stable and it's a big thanks to the whole Hydrex Bike Animal Honda team for their efforts this week. I guess it's a case of being so close yet so far."

Plater won the race as he made a sensational move on the last lap at the final chicane, finishing ahead of Cameron Donald and Michael Rutter.

"It's not just congratulations for me but also for the whole team that has put in all the hard work and Dunlop Tyres as well," he said.

"I was a little bit lacking in one or two areas on the Superbike in practice but I don't care much for lap times as long as I'm on the front two rows of the grid.

"The Superbike is feeling quite good now and we'll make a few more adjustments before we go to the TT," he added.

"I'll just keep chipping away at the TT and if I can keep improving my lap times there I'll be happy enough because once you start to push too hard that's when you stop going faster there."

Runner-up Donald added: "I really thought I had it that time and I couldn't brake any later than I did. Maybe I will sit back and do a desperate move next time!

"I think they (Plater and Rutter) both out-braked themselves because they both ended up on the grass, but we'll get them one day. My bike was working like a dream and I couldn't have asked for more from it."

Rutter, who had to settle for third on his spare NW200 Ducati, revealed that his foot-peg became loose on the final lap, causing him to get stuck in third gear.

"I thought I had done it but my foot-peg spun round on me and I messed things up a bit. I got stuck in third gear and Steve Plater managed to come through, but I thought I had it."

When Martin retired on the fourth lap, Plater moved into to control on his AIM Yamaha from Anstey and Rutter.

The positions remained the same at the 'Magic' roundabout on the fifth of six laps, with Donald and McGuinness right back in the frame again.

On the final lap, Aussie Donald slip-streamed Plater on the charge down to Station Corner, with Rutter also easing past on the fastest section of the course as they headed to University Corner for the final time.

Donald still remained in the lead at Metropole in Portrush, from Rutter and Plater.

As the crowd held their breath, Plater came from nowhere to execute a spectacular out-braking manoeuvre at the Juniper Hill Chicane to take the lead at the critical point of the race to claim the £6,000 top prize.

Donald was second from Rutter, Anstey, McGuinness and Gary Johnson.

RESULT: 1 S Plater; 2 C Donald; 3 M Rutter; 4 B Anstey; 5 J McGuinness; 6 G Johnson.