Opinion: NW 200; Who to Watch?

As we enter race week of the NW 200, Phil Armstrong runs us through the riders to watch for the Northern Irish spectacular.

I thought I would have a closer look as who are likely to be the men to watch at this years event, This years event sees a big name rider making his road racing debut and many of the more established names swapping machines and teams all of this in my opinion makes this years North West one of the most highly anticipated in many a year.

1. Glenn Irwin

He comes into the event this year aboard the JG Speedfit Kawasaki. A team that has extensive road racing experience, running James Hillier for many years at the NW and TT. The team is also last years BSB winning package helping Leon Haslam on his way to the title.

Irwin’s season has not started off in the best fashion he has struggled to find a setting that works for him on the Kawasaki, but at the end of Oulton he said he felt him and the team had found something that he hopes will help him kick on in the BSB, as well as continue his fine form at the NW. Where he will not only compete in the superbike class, but also in the Superstock and Supertwin classes for the first time.

2. Alastair Seeley

Keeping up his fantastic NW record last year, by taking 3 wins and a 2nd place winning both Supersport races onboard the EHA Yamaha. A bike and team he remains with for this year not only at the NW but also in the British Supersport championship. He took his other win and his 2nd place in the Superstock class a class he wont be racing in this season, a class he has completed dominated since he arrived on the scene.

Seeley will take the seat vacated by Irwin at the PBM team debuting the Ducati V4 for its road racing debut despite his success in the other classes Seeley has been out shone by Irwin in the blue ribbon event he will be hoping that the success the V4 has been having in racing series across the world can be replicated on the north coast and he can regain his superbike crown.

3. Peter Hickman

He took his first win of an amazing international road racing season at the NW last year, where he beat out Seeley with a Seeley-esque move into the Juniper hill chicane. He also took 2nd place in the other superstock race. Hickman went from strength to strength on the roads becoming the fastest on the planet with a lap time of 135mph at the TT, winning a classic race against Dean Harrison.

This season Hickman has remained with the Smiths racing team for the roads and BSB, but the team has an all new motorbike, with BMW releasing a brand new 1000rr. Which despite arriving late and still remaining largely in stock form, has proven to be quite the package, with Hickman scoring a front row start at round 2 in Oulton Park and scoring strong finishes in the races.

4. Dean Harrison

If not for Hickman then there is every chance that Dean Harrison would have been the road racer of the year he left the NW with 2 wins and went on to push Hickman at the TT recording a 134.9mph lap time and taking a supersport win, For 2019 Harrison has remained with the Silicone racing team the team has become the official factory team a just award for the team after their successful 2018 season providing the Kawasaki factory with plenty of top results on the international stage.

Harrison has decided to take on the BSB full time feeling that extra bike time is essential now to better prepare for the road racing scene as many of the top competitors have all been doing this for the past few seasons now and their times have been improving year on year.

5. Michael Dunlop

Dunlop had a fairly pedestrian year on track by his standards, only taking the 1 podium at the NW. He did win 3 races the TT superbike supersport and lightweight but when it came to the senior TT, where he usually pulls out something special, he was unable to match the pace of Hickman and Harrison. Unfortunately a slightly down year on track was marred by the sad loss of his older brother William Dunlop who died following an accident at a local race.

After an off season of questions it was announced that Dunlop would be staying with the TAS BMW squad for 2019. Like Hickman and the Smiths team, TAS will be running the brand new BMW bike, unfortunately just like Smiths the bike arrived late and testing was delayed. Dunlop has also had to contend with a wrist injury picked up in a pre season crash, which put him out of a scheduled appearance at the Oulton Park race. He did however have another test in the last week which has confirmed his fitness for the event.

These 5 riders are who I believe will be the ones to watch at this years event this is of not disrespect to the likes of:

6. Lee Johnston

He has departed from the factory Honda team, deciding to go back to running a more private outfit that has worked for him in the past. He’ll be running in the British Supersport championship this years to imporive his bike time.

7. Michael Rutter

The main man around the North Coast, before the arrival of Alistair Seeley. Rutter will again come to the NW with his Bathams team, still capable of running at the front on his day, Rutter is the elder statesman of any paddock he is in.

8. James Hillier

Not known for his love of mass starts, seeming to prefer the time trail style of the TT more, though he did score a poidum in the Supersport class. So perhaps he might be able to prove me wrong with a result this year.

9. Ian Hutchinson

The man who just doesnt quit. After a year of bascially keeping his hand in last year Hutchinson is hoping he can return to full fitness and form this year, proving that despite his injuries he is still one of the very best road racers in the world.

10. Davo Johnson

He replaces Lee Johnston in the factory Honda team this year, often the forgotten man of road racing, Johnson will be out to prove his worth. Given factory back support he could be one of the dark horses to watch at the international races this year.

11. John McGuiness

Making his long awaited return aboard the Norton after 2 years off, due to his horrific crash at the NW, he is looking to prove he can still be a force in road racing. He has the full backing of Norton and will ride their V4 powered superbike, as well as the brand new Lightweight entry for 2019.

12. Richard Cooper

Cooper will make his NW debut this year with the Buildbase Hawk racing team, who he rides for in the British Superstock championship. Cooper is a very established and decorated circuit rider and he will be hoping his small stature and the fact other circuit riders have adpated quickly to the NW circuit will help him excel at the event.

13. Conor Cummins

The 32-year-old continues his partnership with the Padgetts racing team. In his time with Padgetts, the Manx man has seemingly regained his confidence, returning the kind of form he showed before his horror crash at the TT.

With the weather (at time of writing this) looking to be very good we are sure to be in for some extremely close and exciting racing so if you can make sure you get along buy a programme and support the event.

If you can’t make it, check with the BBC Bikes Twitter to see their full schedule for coverage over the week.