History Made at North West 200 as Dunlop and Irwin Claim Iconic Victories
Saturday at the 2026 North West 200 delivered a masterclass in road racing, with Michael Dunlop securing his ninth victory and Glenn Irwin cementing his status as the “King of the North West” with a record-breaking 12th Superbike win.
Dunlop Triumphs in Red-Flagged Supersport
Michael Dunlop claimed his ninth victory at the Triangle circuit in a dramatic opening Supersport race. The race was cut short due to a red flag incident at the University on lap four. At the time of the stoppage, Dunlop held a lead over Dean Harrison, with Davey Todd finishing third. Harrison also made his mark by setting a blistering new lap record of 118.423mph.
Irwin Sets New Superbike Benchmark
Glenn Irwin made history on Saturday by securing his 12th consecutive Superbike victory at the North West 200. This win officially moves him past road racing legends Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter for the most Superbike wins at the event. Irwin prevailed in a hard-fought battle with Dean Harrison, who finished second, and Michael Dunlop, who took the final podium spot in third.
Hickman Pips McWilliams in Twins Thriller
The opening Supertwin/Sportbike race provided intense drama as Peter Hickman narrowly defeated veteran Jeremy McWilliams. There was confusion on the final lap as the checkered flag was shown a lap early at certain parts of the course, but the result was eventually confirmed based on the standings at the end of lap four. Michael Browne rounded out the top three.
For the many racing fans traveling from Ardee and across Louth, the day provided a spectacular showcase of the “great talent” within the road racing community. These historic performances serve as a fitting tribute to the sport on a weekend where the community has also shared in deep reflection.
