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+----- Thread: NW200 Saturday Morning Updates (/showthread.php?tid=28042)
NW200 Saturday Morning Updates - Malcolm - 18-05-2019
![[Image: NW2019LOGO.jpg]](http://www.ttwebsite.com/gifs/2019/NW200/NW2019LOGO.jpg)
14:00 - Red Flag (Again)
The race has been stopped for the second time today. - A few riders are not comfortable with the conditions
Oil found on the track at University, where Seeley pulled up with a smoking engine
13:50- Supersport is GO
The Six Lap Supersport race is eventually underway
Reports of water on the course with big puddles at Ballysally and Mathers Cross chicane
13:30 - Engines Rumble
Engines heard out there on the track. - A warm up lap and then a six lap race to go.
Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop aren't racing in this one
12:56 - Racing to resume at 13:30
Now is the time to start praying to the weather gods.
We've been told that the racing is set to start again at half one.
12:30 - Rain, rain go away
Unfortunately, this isn't looking promising. The delays are building up and the forecast doesn't seem to be on our side either.
The Supersport bikes are back off the grid after the announcement of the latest delay, and the drizzle is still coming down.
It's extremely disappointing after Thursday's racing, but you can't control the weather and rider safety has to be the first priority.
It'll be a case of wait and see from here on in.
12:20 - 30 minute delay
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there's a half hour delay.
Frustrating for now, but safety is paramount.
12:00 - Further delays
We now have another delay of at least 10 minutes.
Alastair Seeley is talking to Stephen Watson on the grid. It's safe to say that he, like Irwin, is not keen on what he is seeing.
He's also saying that there seems to be some sort of spillage at Black Hill that nearly dismounted James Hillier in the opening lap of the Supersport earlier. Some of the racers have gone to the area with race director Mervyn Whyte to have another look now.
When the riders are telling you this, it goes without saying that you need to listen.
11:59 - Irwin not keen
I have no interest in racing in these conditions and I will not be going in the first Superbike race - it is not my thing. We have had a great week and this is part of road racing. There is not much you can do about it. It is getting worse, but if things improve, and it dries quickly, I may race later on.
Glenn Irwin (Kawasaki) - Three-times North West winner
11:57 - An honest conversation
There was a bit of a meeting on the grid between race officials and some of the front runners who, it’s fair to say, have raised concerns about the conditions.
But it looks like we’re set for a full restart for the 600s, with the riders and bikes making their way back onto the grid.
11:47 - Racing to resume
A rider slid off at Black Hill and he is fine. We have cleaned up the oil spill, so we are ready to go and it will be over the full race distance.
Mervyn Whyte - Race director
11:19 - RED FLAG
Inevitable perhaps. It's now pouring on the north coast.
The race is halted in the second lap.
11:18 - Dunlop out
Local favourite Michael Dunlop, a five-time winner at the North West, is an early retirement in this Supersport contest.
11:12 - Live now
The Supersport bikes accelerate off the grid and, at last, the action is underway with six laps of the 8.9-mile Triangle circuit ahead.
11:01 - Getting ready to go
The weather thankfully seems to have relented around the North Coast and the Supersport bikes are on the grid awaiting starter’s orders.
One thing to watch - on the sighting lap Alastair Seeley made sure he pulled away from Lee Johnston in the wet conditions. A normal routine or some mind games in the testing conditions?
We’ll soon find out in what has the potential to be another six-lap thriller.
10:40 - Further delay
The first race of the day will be the six-lap Supersport.
Northern Ireland's Lee Johnston won this class on Thursday evening - his fourth career North West victory and first since 2015.
But we face a further five-minute delay because of an oil spill somewhere on the course.
10:30 - Wet conditions
The situation is unfortunate, but we have to accept it and do the best we can. The forecast says there will be a window of dry weather for an hour or hour and a half and then there is expected to be rain for the rest of the afternoon. The schedule remains as it is. The problem is the riders have not had any wet practice all week, so we are giving them two laps and then they can make any adjustments before a final sighting lap. from Mervyn Whyte Race director
The situation is unfortunate, but we have to accept it and do the best we can. The forecast says there will be a window of dry weather for an hour or hour and a half and then there is expected to be rain for the rest of the afternoon. The schedule remains as it is. The problem is the riders have not had any wet practice all week, so we are giving them two laps and then they can make any adjustments before a final sighting lap.
Mervyn WhyteRace director
09:50 - Damp start won't put off fans
The unwelcome rain may have made an appearance this morning, but it certainly hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of the race fans.
They've been lining the grandstands, fields, hedges and caravan parks since the crack of dawn. You name it, they'll find a way to watch today's racing.
After a damp start, it started tipping down around an hour before roads closed, which is obviously far from ideal with no wet running so far this week. The forecast is for things to improve later on, so fingers crossed.
The Supersport bikes are due onto the grid when we eventually get underway, and if it is half as good as Thursday's race we are in for a treat.
A double for Lee Johnston? Revenge for Alastair Seeley? A maiden win for Dean Harrison, James Hillier or Paul Jordan? This should start the day off rightly!
![[Image: bbcsportni.jpg]](http://www.ttwebsite.com/gifs/2019/NW200/bbcsportni.jpg)
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