MOTOR CYCLING NORTH WEST 200: THE CROWD of well over 100,000 lining the 8.9 mile Triangle public roads circuit on the North Coast impeccably observed a minute's silence in memory of the late Robert Dunlop before racing began at Saturday's North West 200.
As the riders and machines took their places on the grid, all eyes were on Robert's sons William and Michael, as they lined up for the opening 250cc race.
Both carried stickers with their late father's racing number four and the word "Dad" on their bikes, less than 48 hours after Robert sustained fatal injuries in a practice crash on Thursday evening.
William Dunlop's race ended before it had properly started when his Honda seized on the warm-up lap. But then 20-year-old Michael wrote an incredible chapter in the event's 79-year-history in winning by just over one second from last year's 250cc winner Christian Elkin and TT hero John McGuinness.
After Dunlop snatched the lead at Portrush on the final lap, the crowd clapped, they cheered, and they cried. At the finish Michael Dunlop was carried shoulder high to the podium, dedicating his win to the memory of his late father.
"I hope I made him proud," he said as his tears ran freely.
The Dunlops took no further part in the remaining six races of the day. The Yamaha mounted Steve Plater emerged as the rider of the day with a memorable hat- trick. None of Plater's wins came easy, with the Cheshire rider battling tooth and nail all the way to win both 600cc Supersport races as well a sensational Superbike win, stolen in the closing yards from Australian Cameron Donald and Ducati rider Michael Rutter.
As the pack, led by Donald and Rutter, ran for home on the final lap of the day's main event, the Superbike race, the win seemed beyond Plater's reach. But a sensational all-or-nothing move at Juniper chicane paid off, and Plater nipped through to the front and stayed there. The task of chasing Plater down in both 600cc Supersport races fell to diminutive Carrickfergus rider Alastair Seeley and Welsh veteran Ian Lougher, who finished second and third respectively on both occasions.
Seeley's moment of glory came with his debut North West 200 victory in the Superstock race, with a masterful performance that held off the close attention of Suzuki team-mates Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald.
The duo swarmed all over the rear wheel of Seeley's Millsport Yamaha, but he proved too tough a nut to crack. It was a poignant moment for the team who had endured the tragic death of Martin Finnegan only two weeks ago.
The nearly man of the meeting was Lincolnshire Honda rider Guy Martin. It seemed his first win on the circuit was assured as he led the frantic first of the day's two Superbike races for most of the distance only to be relegated to runner-up by Michael Rutter.
Rutter's win was another highlight as he took his Ducati, backed by the events main sponsors, the Kennedy Group and with the North West 200 logo prominent, came home ahead of Martin and Honda's John McGuinness.
Martin's day ended on a sour note after he crashed out in spectacular fashion while leading the final race of the day, causing substantial damage to his 600cc Supersport Honda. Luckily the rider survived unscathed.
Michael Wilcox and Oliver Linsdell completed the list of the day's winners. Wilcox finally took the 125cc victory that had eluded him for years, but only after a long scrap with Chris Palmer for the King of the Tiddlers title.
Linsdell's 400cc win was his second at the North West 200 on the trot, and the day's only start to finish victory. New Zealand's Paul Dobbs and Scot Les Shand completed the 400cc podium.
