Irwin, Cooper & Todd seal opening NW200 race wins

Irwin matches superbike record and Todd recovers from crash to win

Glenn Irwin, Richard Cooper and Davey Todd took the opening race wins of this year's North West 200 last night (9 May).

Following Thursday afternoon's remaining qualifying sessions, the first Superbike, Supersport and Superstock contests over four laps took place on The Triangle Circuit.

In the opening superbike race, Irwin - who had qualified on pole position - edged out Todd in a nip-and-tuck battle at the front to take his ninth superbike win at the meeting.

Irwin's tally of wins now matches the all-time record in the class there alongside Michael Rutter and Joey Dunlop.

Todd would finish second in the race with Michael Dunlop completing the podium in third.

Elsewhere, Cooper - starting on top spot in the supersport race - produced a dominant display on the BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha to claim victory, just over 6.5 seconds clear of Peter Hickman in second with Dunlop securing another podium in third.

Meanwhile in the final action of the evening, Todd - who had recovered from a crash in the supersport race shortly before - bounced back in style to claim the opening superstock showdown despite a lengthy challenge throughout from Dean Harrison who would take second with Dunlop going on to make it a hat-trick of podiums in third.

Race day two of the meeting takes place tomorrow (11 May).