2023 North West 200
Overnight FHO Racing BMW withdrew from the North West 200 after being told that their machines were ineligible for the Superstock event.
Their M 1000 RR machines with carbon rims had passed scrutineering twice this week, only for then at the final juncture before the Superstock race was to get underway were told that they were illegal. The team have also raced the North West 200 with carbon rims before, which makes this situation more intriguing.
It looks as though FHO have been protested by another team for running the carbon rims that the M 1000 RR comes with as standard.
The M 1000 RR in previous years could only be purchased with carbon rims, for 2023 it appars that in some markets BMW have given customers the ‘no cost option’ of forged rims in place of the standard carbon rims. But carbon rims remain standard fitment on the M 1000 RR.
Normal S 1000 RR alloy rims can’t be used on the M 1000 RR as it has a unique rear brake set-up, thus the option for forged rims on the M 1000 RR is a new development.
In the rules it also states that for Superstock the standard rims must be used, so if that is the case only the carbon rims would be permitted, but carbon rims are now banned, so if that all rings true then nobody could legally race an M 1000 RR at the NW200…
North West 200 statement follows.
The technical regulations of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre), under which the fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 is run, state that carbon wheels are not permitted for use at any MCUI road race event.
Those regulations, which are implemented by the MCUI Stewards of the Meeting, were approved by the sport’s governing body in January 2023 and published on the North West 200’s website at that stage.
The FHO Racing BMW team were informed by the MCUI’s Stewards after qualifying on Thursday afternoon that their riders, Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes, would be excluded from the Briggs Equipment Superstock race as their machines were fitted with carbon wheels.
The NW200 organisers were informed of the Steward’s decision, which is final and binding upon the event, at 2130 on Thursday night during the final Steward’s meeting.
No such action had been discussed with the NW200 organisers prior to this time despite the machines having been scrutineered on both Tuesday and Thursday morning.
We deeply regret the FHO Racing BMW team’s decision to withdraw from the event tonight as a result of this action, a sentiment we know will be shared by all NW200 race fans.
FHO Racing Statement on NW 200 withdrawal (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) | / |
