New sponsor revealed for inaugural Thursday evening Superbike race at North West 200

The new Thursday evening Superbike race at the 2020 fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 will be sponsored by Portadown-based construction company Turkington.
By Kyle White
Published 3rd Mar 2020, 06:00 BST
North West 200 Event Director Mervyn Whyte joined Gary Turkington and McAdoo Racing rider Adam McLean as Portadown company Turkington was announced as the sponsors of the new Thursday Superbike race at the event in May.North West 200 Event Director Mervyn Whyte joined Gary Turkington and McAdoo Racing rider Adam McLean as Portadown company Turkington was announced as the sponsors of the new Thursday Superbike race at the event in May.
North West 200 Event Director Mervyn Whyte joined Gary Turkington and McAdoo Racing rider Adam McLean as Portadown company Turkington was announced as the sponsors of the new Thursday Superbike race at the event in May.

Organisers introduced a third blue riband Superbike race in a revamp of the schedule for this year’s programme, which sees the Thursday Supertwin race moved to a new slot in the afternoon following the final qualifying sessions around the 8.9-mile course on May 14.

Turkington was renowned as a main sponsor of Ulster road racing star Phillip McCallen, who famously won five races in a day at the 1992 North West 200.

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The company’s Operations Director, Gary Turkington, said: “I have fond memories of the 1992 NW200 when our company sponsored Phillip McCallen.

“Phillip became the only rider to win five races in a day at the ’92 North West, a record that still remains unbeaten. As keen followers of road racing we are very excited to be part of this thrilling spectacle once again and are especially proud to be returning as sponsors of the new Turkington Superbike race.”

NW200 Event Director Mervyn Whyte said the company’s livery had ‘been to the fore’ during some significant historical moments in the 90-year history of the international road race, which takes place from May 12-16.

“Turkington are old friends of the North West 200 and we are delighted to have the company back on board for 2020,” he said.

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“Their company livery has been to the fore during significant moments in the 90-year history of the NW200 and will be back on display for another major event of the 2020 Race Week, the first Superbike race to be run during Thursday evening’s programme.”

Northern Ireland’s Michael Dunlop is set to make his roads debut in the four-lap race on the PBM VisionTrack Ducati V4R Superbike at the North West.

Dunlop tested the machine at Jerez in Spain on Sunday for the first time after confirming he would ride for Paul Bird’s British Superbike Championship-winning squad in the class this year at the North West and Isle of Man TT.

The official BSB test concluded on Monday, when Australian rider Josh Brookes topped the times on the VisionTrack Ducati by 0.6s from Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Ducati).

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Hector Barbera was third fastest on the OMG BMW, 0.7s down on Brookes, with Tarran Mackenzie fourth fastest on the McAMS Yamaha.

Moneymore’s TAS Racing team were notable absentees at the BSB tests at Monteblanco and Jerez, while Honda Racing’s Glenn Irwin and Andrew Irwin will also have to wait a little longer to ride their race-spec Fireblade CBR1000RR-R machines.

Peter Hickman was 14th fastest on the Smiths Racing BMW, while Graeme Irwin – who will make his BSB debut this year – was 18th on Monday’s combined times.

Ian Hutchinson was in action on a 600cc Raceways Yamaha as he prepares for the upcoming road racing season.

Related topics:PortadownMichael DunlopOrganisersMervyn Whyte