Double top for Knox racers at NW200

Knox-protected Relentless by TAS Suzuki rider Alastair Seeley made history at the International North West 200 road races by becoming the first Irishman in 13 years to win the feature Superbike event. The 30-year-old reigning British Superstock champion also took the opening Supersport race victory, a Superbike race one podium and two other fourth-placed finishes - on a day when Relentless by TAS Suzuki posted four podiums from five races.

When the feature NW200 Superbike event was cut from six laps to four, the odds were stacked against all three Relentless by TAS Suzuki riders, positioned on rows three, four and five. Teammate Bruce Anstey got the better start of the trio but Seeley, holding the expectations of a 100,000-strong local crowd, forced his way through and onto the back of Honda duo Easton and McGuinness at mid distance, guaranteeing a grandstand finish. Seeley led onto the final nine-mile lap but Easton took up the initiative on the brakes into Metropole with only the two-mile Coast Road section to conquer. Seeley, however, wasn't prepared to settle for second place, putting the nose of his GSX-R1000 Suzuki under the Scotsman at the very next turn before demonstrating his pure road racing prowess to take a very famous victory. In pursuit of the Honda pair, the Relentless by TAS Suzuki rider also upped the lap record to a staggering 121.875mph.

Seeley was not the only Knox protected rider to enjoy the laurels at the NW200. Scotland's Keith Amor put in a stunning display of riding, capped off with his first ever International road race win. The Scots ace was at the forefront of the action in all five of his races but he saved the best for the 5-lap Superstock race which he clinched on the final lap to give the WA Corless/Jackson Racing team a dream win, also giving the BMW S1000R it's first ever win on the roads. He also finished second in the second Supersport race and finished in the top six in all five of his races on the KBMG Racing machines.

Road racers have a two-week break before the premier event of the year, the Isle of Man TT races, with opening practice getting underway on Saturday May 29th.