Honda’s Michael Dunlop made it two wins from two starts at the Around-A-Pound Tandragee 100 as the Ballymoney man took a wide-margin victory in the feature race at the national road race on Saturday.

Dunlop had earlier won the Open race on his Honda Fireblade by 26 seconds and there was no stopping him either in the main event of the day.

He snatched the lead on lap one and pulled further away from the chasing pack with each lap to defeat Derek Sheils on the CD Racing Kawasaki and Michael Pearson (BMW S1000RR), who were locked in their own personal duel for the runner-up spot.


Three-times Isle of Man TT winner Dunlop will now be bristling with confidence as he prepares for his next outing at the North West 200, where the 24-year-old will ride the Honda TT Legends Fireblade alongside John McGuinness and Michael Rutter in the Superbike class.

He also bagged a double on his MD Racing Fireblade at the Cookstown 100 in April, twice outgunning Tyco Suzuki’s Guy Martin and shattering the lap record three times to rubber-stamp his form ahead of the first big international roads showdown of 2013.

Leaner and fitter than ever before, Dunlop will also be keen on his chances in the Supersport and Superstock classes at the North West as he builds towards the Isle of Man TT in June.

Practice for the North West 200 gets under way on Tuesday, May 14 with final practice and the first Supersport, Superstock and Supertwin races taking place on Thursday, May 16.

The final five races - inlcuding both Superbike events - take place on the main race bill on Saturday, May 18.

Kyle White






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