2022 NW200: Johnston wins Supersport thriller

Lee Johnston took a thrilling Supersport race at the North West 200 on Saturday after a race long battle with Davey Todd (Milenco by Padgetts Honda). There was little to choose between the two and although Todd set a new lap record, Johnston timed his move to perfection at the Juniper Chicane on the final lap and took the win by a slender 0.079s. Michael Dunlop (MD Racing Yamaha) finished third.

Alastair Seeley (IFS Racing Yamaha) led Adam McLean (McAdoo Racing Kawasaki) and Todd off the line but Todd overhauled both of them going into York Corner and he still led at University from McLean, Johnston and Seeley. Dunlop slotted into fifth but McLean slowed at Metropole and toured into retire. As they crossed the start and finish line at the end of the first lap, it was Johnston who led by just 0.093s from Johnston and they’d opened up a near three-second lead over Dunlop who had Seeley, Dean Harrison (DAO Racing Kawasaki), James Hillier (RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha), Jamie Coward (KTS Racing by Steadplan Yamaha) and Ian Hutchinson (BPE/Russell Racing Yamaha) right behind him. Todd nipped ahead at the start/finish chicane and continued to lead Johnston round lap two with the duo arriving at Metropole side by side with Dunlop beginning to reel them back in. At the end of the lap, Todd’s lead was 0.199s with Dunlop cutting the deficit to 2.2s and it was now Harrison in fourth a further two seconds back. Hutchinson was up to fourth from Hillier, Jeremy McWilliams (Burrows by RK Racing Yamaha), Joseph Loughlin (Team ILR/Mark Coverdale Yamaha) and Coward. Seeley’s hopes of a 27th win ended though as he pulled in to retire. Todd and Johnston continued to dispute the lead on lap three and the latter nipped up the inside of Todd