Tyco BMW took three wins, two double-rider podiums and a new lap record away from this year’s International North West 200 with riders Alastair Seeley and Ian Hutchinson – elevating parent company TAS Racing’s career total at the prestigious Northern Ireland event to 27 wins.
Tyco BMW also assisted Alastair Seeley in securing the coveted ‘Robert Dunlop Man of the Meeting Award’, with the Carrickfergus ace posting a hat-trick of wins on Tyco BMW S1000RR machinery. He took both Superstock race wins at the NW200 Festival and a Superbike top step. He and team-mate Ian Hutchinson also finished second and third respectively in the second Superbike race, after taking a memorable one-two in Saturday’s Superstock encounter.
Speaking afterwards, Seeley, who is now on a record breaking 21 wins at the North West 200; thirteen of them coming with TAS Racing, said: “I can’t be disappointed with that can I. To come to the North West 200 and take one win is a big achievement, but to come away with four – three on Tyco BMW machinery is something you can only dream of. The conditions were far from perfect today, but credit to the boys in the TAS team, they gave me bikes that worked for all conditions; I can’t thank them enough and also to Hector and Philip Neill, for yet again giving me an opportunity to ride their bikes. I just love the NW200 circuit, and on this performance, I think the circuit seems to love me. It’s been another memorable day and I feel proud to have given Tyco, BMW and all the other team sponsors, three wins and a few other podiums to celebrate alongside Hutchy.”
Ian Hutchinson who finished second in the Superstock encounter behind Seeley today and third in the NW200 Superbike race, said afterwards: “It was a tough day with difficult conditions and although I didn’t manage to grab a win, it has been a great day for the team. We spent a lot of time this week working on set-up, having changed tyre manufacturer for the roads, but from the opening practice session to the final race, we have made giant strides – which leaves us in good shape now heading to the Isle of Man TT on my Tyco BMWs. Thanks to the boys in the team, who worked tirelessly this week and of course to all the fans who turned out today in mainly wet and miserable conditions to support us.”
Team Manager Philip Neill concluded: “As a team we love the North West 200 as it is a very special place for us. Yes, we did have inclement weather today, but overall the weather this week was superb, and to come away with six podiums, three race wins, a one-two and a lap record is absolutely unbelievable for everyone at Tyco BMW. We had representatives here today from BMW Motorrad UK and also from Tyco Security Products and a number of our associate sponsors and they all enjoyed being part of that success, which is very important.
A special mention must go to the boys in our team. In the best part, what they do goes unnoticed by race fans, but most of these guys have been with us throughout the majority of our twenty-seven wins. Yes my father and I are here to do everything that needs to be done to get us here, but these are the boys who do the hard work. Obviously fair play to Alastair today, he’s had a superb week and has done everyone proud. Hutchy maybe didn’t grab a win, but had two strong podiums and can head off to the TT now in a more confident frame of mind.”
Saturday’s 1000cc Race Results
Superbike Race 1
Alastair SEELEY [Tyco BMW] 18:53.624,113.498mph; 2nd – Michael RUTTER [BMW] 19:15.234, 111.375mph; 3rd – Lee JOHNSTON [Honda] 19:21.701, 110.755mph; 4th – Glenn IRWIN [Ducati] 19:24.844, 110.456mph; 5th – Peter HICKMAN [BMW] 19:25.756, 110.370mph
Superbike Race 2
Glenn IRWIN [Ducati] 30:54.018, 121.649mph; 2nd – Alastair SEELEY [Tyco BMW], 30:54.190, 121.638mph; 3rd – Ian HUTCHINSON [Tyco BMW] 30:54.747, 121.601mph; 4th – Michael DUNLOP [Suzuki] – 30:57.857, 121.398mph; 5th – Michael RUTTER [BMW], 31:01.030, 121.191mph
Superstock 1000cc Race
Alastair SEELEY [Tyco BMW], 17:54.458, 119.748mph; 2nd – Ian HUTCHINSON [Tyco BMW], 17:54.684, 119.723mph; 3rd – Michael RUTTER [BMW], 17:55.148, 119.671mph; 4th – Lee JOHNSTON [BMW] 17:55.376, 119.646mph; 5th – Peter HICKMAN [BMW] 17:55.825, 119.596mph