2023 North West 200
If the following statement from FHO Racing BMW rings true, it would seem that NW200 officials have been attending the latest MotoGP ‘how to steward a race meeting’ classes…
It looks as though FHO have been protested by another team for running the carbon rims that the M 1000 RR comes with, and thus one would expect under the wording of the rules would be legal. The team have raced the North West 200 with carbon rims before which makes this shitfight more intriguing.
Adding to more specualtion and intrigue is that the Synetic BMW raced to the opening Superstock victory overnight appears to be a previous years model M 1000 RR, but with the 2023 M 1000 RR fairings, which itself poses its own conundrum regarding the rule book…
FHO Racing statement follows.
FHO Racing BMW
The FHO Racing BMW Motorrad team are withdrawing from the 2023 fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 due to no confidence in the application of the Superstock technical regulations.
The Superstock class technical regulations mandate the machines must fully comply with conditions regarding the wheels, where Superstock machines must remain with the originally homologated wheels from the manufacturer, which from BMW are carbon. It then goes on to prohibit carbon material, however aftermarket wheels are also not allowed and no mandated alternative specification is prescribed.
The FHO Racing BMW M 1000 RR machines passed scrutineering on Tuesday (9 May) and were allowed to take part in all qualifying sessions before being informed they were not allowed to race moments before the Briggs Equipment Superstock race this evening.
Having taking this issue out with the fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 organisers, there is no confidence that the FHO Racing riders could take part in a race with the obvious dangers, and risks that road racing prevents and then the performance protested or disqualified on a technicality that is not adequately explained.
The FHO Racing team have checked the 2023 technical regulations against those of 2022 and the regulations remain the same, where the team raced the carbon homologated wheels in both Superstock races, as well as the event in 2019.
The effort commitment and logistics required to compete in the North West 200 are significant and this lack of confidence in the organisation renders the team’s participation in this year’s event impossible.
The FHO Racing team would like to sincerely apologise to all its sponsors and fans, and the team are now looking forward to getting back out on the roads in a few weeks time at the Isle of Man TT Races.
North West 200 organisers have now released this statement (Link)
2023 North West 200 Results
Superstock Race One
- Alastair SEELEY BMW – SYNETIC BMW Motorrad 21:39.554 123.855mph
- Davey TODD Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles 21:49.876 122.879mph
- Michael DUNLOP Honda – MD Racing 21:50.177 122.851mph
- Dean HARRISON Kawasaki – DAO Racing 22:10.221 120.999mph
- Michael RUTTER BMW – Bathams Racing 22:34.252 118.852mph
- James HILLIER Yamaha – OMG Racing 22:34.665 118.816mph
- John McGUINNESS Honda – Honda Racing UK 22:35.010 118.786mph
- Craig NEVE Honda – Bathams Racing 22:49.678 117.514mph
- Sam WEST BMW – Moto-Hub.co.uk 22:51.798 117.332mph
- Michael EVANS Suzuki – Michael Evans Racing 23:12.639 115.576mph
2023 North West 200 Results
Supersport Race One
- Davey TODD Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles 27:35.124 116.757mph
- Alastair SEELEY Ducati – Powertoolmate Ducati 27:35.232 116.750mph
- Richard COOPER Yamaha – BPE by Russell Racing 27:35.509 116.730mph
- Michael DUNLOP Yamaha – MD Racing 27:35.796 116.710mph
- Dean HARRISON Yamaha – BPE by Russell Racing 27:36.038 116.693mph
- Peter HICKMAN Triumph – K2 Trooper Triumph by PHR 27:36.255 116.678mph
- Adam McLEAN Yamaha – JMcC Roofing Racing 27:57.950 115.169mph
- Paul JORDAN Yamaha – PreZ Racing by Prosper2 28:25.237 113.326mph
- Pierre Yves BIAN Triumph – K2 Trooper Triumph by PHR 28:30.632 112.969mph
- Conor CUMMINS Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles 28:31.499 112.912mph
2023 North West 200 Results
Superbike Thursday Qualifying Times
- Alastair SEELEY BMW – Milwaukee BMW Motorrad 4:20.634 123.898mph
- Peter HICKMAN BMW – FHO Racing BMW Motorrad 4:22.449 123.041mph
- Dean HARRISON Kawasaki – DAO Racing 4:23.150 122.713mph
- Michael DUNLOP Honda – Hawk Racing 4:23.450 122.574mph
- Davey TODD Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles 4:24.317 122.171mph
- Josh BROOKES BMW – FHO Racing BMW Motorrad 4:24.672 122.008mph
- Glenn IRWIN Ducati – BeerMonster Ducati 4:24.887 121.909mph
- Conor CUMMINS Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles 4:25.532 121.612mph
- Mike BROWNE BMW – Burrows by RK Racing 4:28.520 120.259mph
- John McGUINNESS Honda – Honda Racing UK 4:28.846 120.113mph
2023 North West 200 Results
Superstock Thursday Qualifying Times
- Peter HICKMAN BMW – FHO Racing BMW Motorrrad 4:34.880 117.477mph
- Dean HARRISON Kawasaki – DAO Racing 4:35.159 117.358mph
- Alastair SEELEY BMW – SYNETIC BMW Motorrad 4:35.682 117.135mph
- Conor CUMMINS Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles 4:37.137 116.520mph
- James HILLIER Yamaha – OMG Racing 4:38.036 116.143mph
- Davey TODD Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles 4:38.176 116.085mph
- Josh BROOKES BMW – FHO Racing BMW Motorrad 4:38.739 115.850mph
- Michael RUTTER BMW – Bathams Racing 4:38.759 115.842mph
- Mike BROWNE BMW – Burrows by RK Racing 4:43.368 113.958mph
- Nathan HARRISON Honda – Honda Racing UK 4:44.827 113.374mph
2023 North West 200 Results
Supersport Thursday Qualifying Times
- Davey TODD Honda – Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles 4:40.311 115.201mph
- Richard COOPER Yamaha – BPE by Russell Racing 4:41.263 114.811mph
- Adam McLEAN Yamaha – JMcC Roofing Racing 4:42.019 114.503mph
- Dean HARRISON Yamaha – BPE by Russell Racing 4:42.531 114.295mph
- Mike BROWNE Yamaha – Burrows by RK Racing 4:44.004 113.703mph
- Paul JORDAN Yamaha – PreZ Racing by Prosper2 4:44.974 113.316mph
- Michael SWEENEY Yamaha – EM Building 4:46.102 112.869mph
- Christian ELKIN Yamaha – Bob Wylie Racing 4:47.177 112.446mph
- Jeremy McWILLIAMS Honda – Wilson Craig Racing 4:47.605 112.279mph
- Matthieu LAGRIVE Yamaha – Optimark Road Racing 4:48.952 111.756mph
2023 North West 200 Results
SuperTwin Thursday Qualifying Times
- Richard COOPER Kawasaki – KMR Kawasaki 5:06.797 105.255mph
- Peter HICKMAN Yamaha – PHR Performance 5:09.678 104.276mph
- Lee JOHNSTON Aprilia – Ashcourt Racing 5:09.837 104.223mph
- Christian ELKIN Kawasaki – RB Engineering 5:17.170 101.813mph
- Michael RUTTER Yamaha – Bathams Racing 5:18.395 101.421mph
- Barry GRAHAM Aprilia 5:24.704 99.451mph
- Andy HORNBY Kawasaki 5:27.021 98.746mph
- Kris DUNCAN Aprilia – TCC/NSB Contracts/KD Racing 5:27.035 98.742mph
- Joe LOUGHLIN Kawasaki – G2-Tech 5:27.638 98.560mph
- Gareth ARNOLD Aprilia – Jenar Racing 5:32.797 97.032mph
2023 North West 200 Schedule
| 2023 NW200 Schedule | ||
| Tuesday 9th May – Practice Schedule (9.15am to 3.15pm) | ||
| Session | CLass | (Times are approx) |
| 1st | Newcomers Only | 0945 |
| 2nd | Supersport | 1030 |
| 3rd | Superbike | 1130 |
| 4th | Supertwin | 1230 |
| 5th | Superstock | 1330 |
| Thursday 11th May – Practice Schedule (9:15am To 3.15pm) | ||
| 1st | Supertwin | 0945 |
| 2nd | Superstock | 1045 |
| 3rd | Supersport | 1145 |
| 4th | Superbike | 1245 |
| Thursday 11th May – Race Schedule (5pm To 9pm) | ||
| R1 | Strain Engineering Supersport Race (6 Laps) | 1745 |
| R2 | Briggs Equipment Superstock Race (6 Laps) | 1830 |
| R3 | Milltown Service Station Supertwin Race (4 Laps) (Delayed until Saturday) | 1915 |
| Saturday 13th May – Race Schedule (9:15am To 9pm) | ||
| R1 | Tides Restaurant Supersport Race (6 Laps) | 1000 |
| R2 | Anchor Bar Superbike Race (6 Laps) | / |
| R3 | J.M Paterson Supertwin Race (4 Laps) | / |
| R4 | Cp Hire Superstock Race (6 Laps) | / |
| R5 | Merrow Hotel And Spa Nw200 Superbike Race (6 Laps) | / |
