NW200: Davey Todd edges Alastair Seeley in Supersport thriller

It was a hard-earned win for English rider Todd, who finished as the runner-up four times in 2022.

Richard Cooper claimed the final rostrum place on the BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha as the top three were covered by 0.385s.

Michael Dunlop finished a close fourth on his MD Racing Yamaha.

The leading quartet exchanged places throughout, although it was Nottingham man Cooper who enjoyed the longest spells at the front as he competed in his first Supersport race at the North West.

Cooper held an advantage of 0.2s at the end of the first lap from Todd, with Peter Hickman in third on his Trooper Beer Triumph pursued by Dunlop and Seeley.

Cooper led over the line on the next two laps before Dunlop hit the front on his Yamaha on the fourth lap from Cooper, Todd and Seeley, with Dean Harrison now into fifth (BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha) ahead of Hickman.

However, with none of the leading quartet able to open a significant gap at the front, the outcome of the race inevitably came down to the final laps.

Seeley was on the move on his Powertoolmate Ducati and passed Dunlop into Metropole on the penultimate lap. He then took the lead for the first time, out-braking Cooper into Juniper chicane, while Dunlop was pushed back to fourth by Todd.

A 13-time winner in the class, Seeley led over the line to begin the last lap by 0.353s from Cooper, with Todd tucked in behind.

Todd grabbed the lead on the fast run to University with Cooper moving into second past Seeley, who was then demoted to fourth by Dunlop at Mather’s.

Todd held firm on the brakes into Magherabuoy chicane to fend off Cooper and was still in front at Metropole, while Seeley had now hauled himself back into second place ahead of Cooper and Dunlop.

On the final run over the Coast Road, Todd kept his nerve and had enough of a gap to see out a breathless race, with Seeley snatching second place past Cooper into Juniper chicane.

The Ulster rider was tucked in behind Todd but there was no time for Seeley to attempt a final pass and the flashed over the line nose-to-tail.

Cooper was right in their wheel-tracks with Dunlop, Harrison and Hickman filling the top six places as the first half-dozen riders were covered at 1.1s at the finish after six laps.

Seeley had the consolation of a new lap record at 118.066mph on lap five.

Adam McLean (J McC Roofing Yamaha) was 22 seconds behind race winnner Seeley as he finished seventh ahead of fellow Northern Ireland rider Paul Jordan (PreZ Racing Yamaha).

The race was restarted after a red-flag incident at Mill Road roundabout, which resulted in a delay before racing got under way again just before 7pm.