NW200: Glenn Irwin prevails in Dean Harrison battle for record 12th Superbike triumph
Glenn Irwin held off a determined charge from Dean Harrison to secure his 12th Superbike victory at the North West 200 on Saturday.
The Carrickfergus man took a year out from road racing in 2025 but picked up where he left off, claiming another victory in the blue riband class on the Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati in an unbeaten run that stretches back to 2017.
Honda Racing rider Harrison once again had to settle for the runner-up spot after taking the fight to Irwin, with only 0.181s between them after six laps of the 8.9-mile ‘Triangle’ course on a cold but sunny day on the north coast.
Michael Dunlop secured the final rostrum place in third on the Hawk/MD Racing Honda, edging out Peter Hickman (Monster BMW Motorrad).
The race was restarted following a red flag incident at Church corner, which the organisers said had been a ‘minor’ crash.
Newcomer Storm Stacey finished seventh on the Bathams AJN Racing Ducati in his race debut at the event.
On the opening lap, Irwin led off the line from pole-sitter Harrison, with Stacey in third.
At University, Harrison moved ahead on the brakes into University from Irwin and Stacey, but Irwin was back in front when they reached Mather’s chicane.
Irwin led by one second from Harrison after lap one, with Stacey third from Ian Hutchinson (Team RST BMW), Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda), Richard Cooper (SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW), Hickman and Dunlop.
Cooper ran on at University on the second lap as Irwin continued to lead Harrison, Stacey, Hutchinson and Brookes.
After two laps, Irwin’s advantage was 0.332s from Harrison, who was closing the deficit, with Stacey, Hutchinson, Hickman and Brookes the top six, and Dunlop seventh.
Dunlop equalled the speed trap record at 212.4mph on the blast to Coleraine. Irwin and Harrison were now pulling away from the chasing pack, with the leaders separated by only 0.412s.
Stacey was being caught by Hickman on lap four and the 8TEN Racing BMW rider made a pass to take third into Station corner.
Harrison overtook Irwin into University for the lead, but Irwin hit back on the approach to Ballysally roundabout.
At Metropole, Stacey was missing from the battle for third and had dropped further back.
Harrison nosed ahead into the lead into Juniper chicane from Irwin as the lead changed hands again, with Hickman now up to third ahead of Dunlop, Hutchinson and Brookes.
Irwin powered past Harrison on the penultimate lap on the approach to Mather’s, but there was little between them at the start of the last lap, with Irwin leading by 0.252s. Hickman was 11 seconds back in third ahead of Dunlop, Brookes, Hutchinson and Stacey.
On the final lap, Harrison pulled alongside Irwin on the charge to University, but Irwin defended his line on the brakes and kept the Ducati in front over the link road.
Irwin opened a gap as he led down into Portrush, and although Harrison closed in as they approached Juniper, the Bradford man wasn’t able to make a move. It was Harrison’s 15th podium, but the 37-year-old is still without a victory at the event.
Irwin won his 12th Superbike race by 0.181s, with Dunlop getting past Hickman to secure the final podium position, 14 seconds behind the leading duo.
Hickman claimed fourth ahead of Brookes and Hutchinson, with Stacey seventh in his first NW200 race and John McGuinness in eighth for Honda Racing.
Mike Browne finished ninth on his MB Racing/Russell Racing Honda, with Michael Sweeney completing the top ten on his MJR BMW.