North West 200

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland, using public roads. The circuit between the towns Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine (the Triangle) is considered among the fastest in the world, with speeds topping 200mph on occasion, and enters the outskirts of those towns, passing many private houses. To facilitate this, street signs are removed at parts of the track and bales of hay used to wrap the base of lampposts and telegraph poles in case of an accident. It is one of around fifteen events run on public roads between April and October throughout the island of Ireland. In 2006 it was the highest attended sporting event in Island of Ireland, with an estimated 150,000 people from Ireland, Britain, Europe and beyond descending on the "Triangle" for the week.

Practice nights are held on Tuesday and Thursday before the race. The race meeting on Saturday requires public roads to be closed during the afternoon. The meeting takes its name from the main race of the afternoon - the 'North West 200,' originally ran over 200 miles, before changing to its current format of six separate races each running 4-6 laps of the 8.966 mile circuit, 8.83 miles on the first lap of every race. This forms part of the larger tradition of Irish road-racing and the Isle of Man TT races race weekend attracts thousands of fans, many of whom camp on fields beside the circuit. It is the largest annual sporting event in Ireland, with over 100,000 visitors from all over the world every year.

Many world-class riders have taken part. Northern Irishman Joey Dunlop won 13 races, but the event has been dominated in recent years by Englishman Michael Rutter, who has won 11 races from 1997 to 2006. Joey Dunlop's younger brother Robert, who was killed in an accident in practice for the 2008 event,^[1] holds the record number of wins; totalling 15 victories throughout his career.

At the launch event for the 2007 event to be held on Saturday 12 May, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain promised significant government money to allow organisers the Coleraine and District Motor Club to upgrade the paddock and stand facilities^[2]

The North West 200 will also feature in Jester Interactive's new Playstation 2 title "TT Superbikes: Real Road Racing Championship" due for release at the end of May 2008. It is the sequel to their top 10 game "TT Superbikes" released in 2005. ^[3]

Contents 1 Winners 1.1 Multiple winners (riders) 1.2 By year 2 Death of Robert Dunlop 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Winners

[edit] Multiple winners (riders)

# Wins	Riders
15	Robert Dunlop
13	Joey Dunlop
12	Michael Rutter
11	Phillip McCallen
9	Tony Rutter	Ian Lougher
6	Bruce Anstey	Steve Cull
5	Ian Simpson	Arthur Wheeler	John Williams
	Mick Grant	Woolsey Coulter	Steve Plater
4	Bob McIntyre	David Jefferies	Jimmy Guthrie
	Ernie Nott	Eddie Laycock	Tommy Robb
3	Alan Shepherd	Artie Bell	Callum Ramsey
	Geoff Duke	Charlie Williams	Jim Moodie
	Eric Fernihough	Ralph Bryans	Ray McCullough
	Rod Gould	Trevor Nation	Tom Herron
	Sammy Miller
2	Alistair King	Andy Watts	Bob Anderson
	Carl Fogarty	Charlie Manders	John "Crasher" White
	Dave Leach	Derek Chatterton	Derek Ennett
	Donnie Robinson	Fred Stevens	Gary Cowan
	Graham Wood	Ian Newton	Jack Brett
	John Blanchard	John Cooper	Kevin Mitchell
	Peter Williams	Phelim Owens	Dick Creith
	Robert Holden	Roger Marshall	Ryan Farquhar
	Steve Hislop	Percy "Tim" Hunt	Walter Rusk
	Jack Brett

[edit] By year

Year	Match race	250 cc	350 cc	500 cc	1000 cc NW 200	Superbike
1983		Courtney Junk	Norman Brown	Joey Dunlop	Joey Dunlop	Graham Wood
1982		Donny Robinson	Tony Rutter	Stu Avant	Mick Grant	Ron Haslam
1981		Steve Tonkin	Donny Robinson	Charlie Williams	Joey Dunlop
1980		Steve Cull	Charlie Williams	Mick Grant	Keith Heuwen
1979	Joey Dunlop	Bob Jackson	Tony Rutter	Tony Rutter	Joey Dunlop
Year	200 cc	250 cc	350 cc	500 cc	750 cc #1	750 cc #2
1978		Tom Herron	Tony Rutter	John Newbold	Tom Herron	Tony Rutter
1977		Tony Rutter	Ray McCullough	John Williams	Mick Grant	John Williams
Year	200 cc	250 cc	350 cc	500 cc	750 cc
1976		Ian Richards	Ray McCullough	Martin Sharpe	Percy Tait
1975		Derek Chatterton	Charlie Williams	Mick Grant	Mick Grant
1974		Ray McCullough	John Williams	John Williams	John Williams
1973	Jackie Robinson	Tony Rutter	Tony Rutter	Billy Guthrie	Geoff Barry
1972	Not held
1971		Derek Chatterton	Paul Smart	John Cooper

Year	Race bikes			Production bikes
	250 cc	350 cc	500 cc	250 cc	500 cc	750 cc
1970	Ralph Bryans	Tom Herron	Peter Williams	Cliff Carr	Stuart Graham	Malcolm Uphill

Year	125 cc	250 cc	350 cc	500 cc
1969		Rodney Gould	Rodney Gould	John Blanchard
1968		Rodney Gould	Bill Smith	John Cooper
1967		Steve Murray	Fred Stevens	Fred Stevens
1966		John Blanchard	George Buchan	Peter Williams
1965		Tommy Robb	Ian McGregor	Dick Creith
1964		Ralph Bryans	Ralph Bryans	Dick Creith
1963	Not held
1962		Arthur Wheeler	Alan Shepherd	Alan Shepherd
1961		Tommy Robb	Bob McIntyre	Bob McIntyre
1960		Tommy Robb	Alan Shepherd	Derek Minter
1959	Tommy Robb	Tommy Robb	Alistair King	Bob McIntyre
1958		Sammy Miller	Alistair King	Jack Brett
1957		Sammy Miller	Bob Anderson	Jack Brett
1956		Sammy Miller	Derek Ennett	Bob Anderson
1955		Alan Lyons	Jackie Wood	Geoff Duke
1954		Arthur Wheeler	Derek Ennett	Reg Armstrong
1953		Arthur Wheeler	Bob McIntyre	Syd Lawton
1952		Arthur Wheeler	Harry Pearce	Ivor Arber
1951		Arthur Wheeler	Dickie Dale	Geoff Duke
1950		Ron Mead	Geoff Duke	Artie Bell
1949		Harold Kirby	Harold Daniell	Artie Bell
1948	Not held
1947		Peter Gill	Malcolm Templeton	Artie Bell
1940- 1946	Not held
1939		Dennis Parkinson	Jimmy Little	Ernie Lyons
1938		Henry Tyrell-Smith	Bob Foster	Jack Moore
1937		Samuel Smith	John White	Jimmie Guthrie
1936		Charlie Manders	John White	Jimmie Guthrie
1935		Charlie Manders	Walter Rusk	Jimmie Guthrie
1934		Michael McSorley	Walter Rusk	Jimmie Guthrie
1933		Joe Woodside	Percy Hunt	Stanley Woods
1932		Eric Fernihough	Walter Handley	Ernie Nott
1931		Eric Fernihough	Graham Walker	Ernie Nott
1930		Eric Fernihough	Percy Hunt	Ernie Nott
1929		Malcolm McQuigg	Harry Meagen	Ernie Nott

[edit] Death of Robert Dunlop

Robert Dunlop was killed on 15 May 2008 while practicing in the 250cc class. The incident occurred as he was approaching Mathers Cross during the 125/250/400cc practice session. It is understood his bike seized and Robert was thrown over his handlebars at approximately 160mph. Fellow rider Darren Burns was following immediately behind and collided with Robert, suffering a broken leg and suspected concussion. Robert suffered severe chest injuries and died in hospital shortly afterwards.^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Dunlop dies after motorbike crash", BBC Sport, 2008-05-16. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
2. ^ BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Motorbikes | Government promises NW200 backing
3. ^ Jester interactive's website [1]

[edit] External links

• http://www.northwest200.org/
• http://thenorthwest200.com/