0:00:19 > 0:00:23Northern Ireland but for bicycle fans, the hibernation is finally
0:00:23 > 0:00:33over. Welcome to Cookstown before the official start of a local
0:00:33 > 0:00:52
0:00:52 > 0:00:56motorcycle race in Ireland and the traditional curtain raiser to the
0:00:56 > 0:01:01biking year and perfect preparation for the first big international
0:01:01 > 0:01:06meeting of the season, the Northwest 200. As always, it has attracted
0:01:06 > 0:01:16many up-and-coming riders and a host of established stars, including
0:01:16 > 0:01:22
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Northern's famous racing Dunlop Michael Dunlop. Not too bad, I lost
0:01:26 > 0:01:32a bit of weight and feel good. I'm down to the same level as everybody
0:01:32 > 0:01:38else now and I feel better for it. Three stones, maybe, nearly a can of
0:01:38 > 0:01:45fuel, carrying extra with you. are with the factory team now.
0:01:45 > 0:01:50Riding with Honda, which is great. Everyone is looking great. I'm just
0:01:50 > 0:01:56so excited. William, give us your thoughts on the start of a local
0:01:56 > 0:02:01road racing season. It's good to get back to this. It's a bit more
0:02:01 > 0:02:08enjoyable, bit more fun, so I'm looking forward to the day now. It's
0:02:08 > 0:02:14one of those things come you want to get back road racing. Yesterday was
0:02:14 > 0:02:18not great. The weather was horrendous. If it stays dry, we will
0:02:18 > 0:02:27have some good racing today hopefully. What bikes have you got
0:02:27 > 0:02:33out here today? I have got a 125CC and a 250CC. No superbike with us,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37but it will be good for Northwest. You are a factory rider but why, in
0:02:37 > 0:02:42typical Dunlop family style, you like getting your hands dirty and
0:02:42 > 0:02:47getting in amongst working on the bikes? That's the worst of it. The
0:02:47 > 0:02:53thing is, it's a bike for William. That's the worst about it. He would
0:02:53 > 0:03:02not do it for me. He will not give me a lift on a night out! How much
0:03:02 > 0:03:07rivalry between you and the younger brother? It's the first run out for
0:03:07 > 0:03:11both of us but come the north-west, it's exciting. Don't get me wrong,
0:03:11 > 0:03:19when it's a big race, it can get personal. At the end of today, are
0:03:19 > 0:03:25brothers. If I could do anything for him, I will do it and he will do the
0:03:25 > 0:03:31same for me. But they may not have it all their own way. Here at
0:03:31 > 0:03:41Cookstown is one of the biggest stars, and more importantly, he's
0:03:41 > 0:03:53
0:03:53 > 0:03:57also the record-holder, the unique getting the road racing season
0:03:57 > 0:04:01underway here in Northern Ireland today at Cookstown? I'm looking
0:04:01 > 0:04:05forward to it. At Scarborough, we had a one-day meeting that was all
0:04:05 > 0:04:11right. To come here, it's all right, proper road racing. I'm looking
0:04:11 > 0:04:21forward to it. Will you win today? You can't be too confident but as it
0:04:21 > 0:04:29
0:04:29 > 0:04:35middle of the front row for this, the first feature race of the day.
0:04:35 > 0:04:45The open class, and he's surrounded by William Dunlop behind and Michael
0:04:45 > 0:04:46
0:04:46 > 0:04:51Dunlop in pole position. Let's join COMMENTATOR: Glorious mother once
0:04:51 > 0:04:55again in Northern Ireland. It's been a few years since we've had a wet
0:04:55 > 0:05:01day at Cookstown 100. A few big names have stepped down but now
0:05:01 > 0:05:05could be the time for Harrison and Shiels to join Martin and the Dunlop
0:05:05 > 0:05:13brothers in the quest for honours. Watching the lights. And we are
0:05:13 > 0:05:21away. The Suzuki almost caught napping there. But Derek Shiels flew
0:05:21 > 0:05:26off the line along with Michael Dunlop. Guy Martin looking to make
0:05:26 > 0:05:33up. Dunlop wriggled his way on the brakes. Shiels outbreaks him on the
0:05:33 > 0:05:38turn and he leads. This is the second wave with Brian MacCormack on
0:05:38 > 0:05:42bikes number one and Harrison on bike five. Fresh from the likes are
0:05:42 > 0:05:52battling a Guy Martin at Scarborough last weekend. Martin passes David
0:05:52 > 0:05:55
0:05:55 > 0:06:04Morgan. Shiels still leads. Dunlop. Pearson in third. Martin in fourth.
0:06:04 > 0:06:10Dunlop in fifth, that's how they rope that role in that opening lap.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Martin charges up the hill into perfection. It is a time trial of
0:06:14 > 0:06:23sorts, of course. Harrison could win this race at the laps faster than
0:06:23 > 0:06:31any of this bunch. Shiels exits Craigmount. No sign of William
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Dunlop on the 600. He may have pulled up somewhere. In the past, he
0:06:35 > 0:06:41would take the bike out of the exit of the last term but not so wide
0:06:41 > 0:06:48there. He is passing Derek Shiels, is he? Here we go. Michael Dunlop,
0:06:48 > 0:06:55where did he come from? Now we get the breaking spot on this time. Now
0:06:55 > 0:07:01they go into Gortin Corner. Here comes Dean Harrison. What will his
0:07:01 > 0:07:11time be? He slots into fifth, three seconds down on first place. Michael
0:07:11 > 0:07:16
0:07:16 > 0:07:19Dunlop on the Honda, his superbike and further ahead of Derek Shiels.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Harrison has a clear track ahead of him so he can potentially put in a
0:07:23 > 0:07:31very fast lap, which could throw him into the mix at the top of the
0:07:31 > 0:07:35leaderboard. This is the run to McAdoo bends. Here they come towards
0:07:35 > 0:07:42the jump. Guy Martin will not like to see Dunlop pulling further away.
0:07:42 > 0:07:50He needs to get past Pearson. Dean Harrison into Mackney, not as quick
0:07:50 > 0:07:57as Dunlop through here. As he lands, he almost crosses up in his quest to
0:07:57 > 0:08:04get past before he reaches the top of the hill. Lap two completed, its
0:08:04 > 0:08:09Dunlop from Shiels. Martin in third with Pearson enforced. He's back at
0:08:09 > 0:08:17Cookstown for the first time since 2010, Shiels. Now he's showing he's
0:08:17 > 0:08:23getting a timing spot on. Really nice into Gortin Corner. He's on an
0:08:23 > 0:08:28old Kawasaki on this. Getting to grips with this race track. He still
0:08:28 > 0:08:38fifth, three second behind Michael Dunlop on corrected time. Guy Martin
0:08:38 > 0:08:41not able to find his way past Shiels as they go through McAdoo bends. 65
0:08:41 > 0:08:50is Sweeney. Then Anderson and Thompson testing is brakes just
0:08:50 > 0:08:55ahead of Rob Barber. Riding with Shiels. Guy Martin may pull the same
0:08:55 > 0:09:00trick as he did last time. Oh, and he has. Martin in second place and
0:09:00 > 0:09:04now in pursuit of Michael Dunlop. Surely, though, Michael Dunlop has
0:09:04 > 0:09:14too much of an advantage over Guy Martin at this stage of the race to
0:09:14 > 0:09:20be concerned just yet? Here is Guy Martin going past Shiels. He
0:09:20 > 0:09:23certainly comes top in the long jump and his reward is he is much
0:09:23 > 0:09:29straighter and their bodies are much straighter as he readjust himself
0:09:29 > 0:09:32back into the seat. Into Gortin Corner, they are on their brakes,
0:09:32 > 0:09:37backing in slightly for Michael Pearson, sliding the back wheel into
0:09:37 > 0:09:42the turner. It will take a superhuman effort from Guy Martin to
0:09:42 > 0:09:46be lit in however there was plenty of time left. Dunlop had the better
0:09:46 > 0:09:54Martin here last year. Thankfully, no controversial yellow flags to
0:09:55 > 0:09:58deal with. Let's draw a line through that one, shall we? Sweeney, pulling
0:09:58 > 0:10:02his break. Dunlop continues to pull away at the front. Much to the
0:10:02 > 0:10:11delight of the locals here, he continues domain obtain a roughly
0:10:11 > 0:10:16second lead in front of Martin. Pearson and Shiels in a battle of
0:10:16 > 0:10:21third that they are somewhere off the pace Michael Dunlop. 67 Irish Rd
0:10:21 > 0:10:26race wins to date and about to make it 68. Dunlop over the line takes
0:10:26 > 0:10:34the last lap flag. Dean Harrison still in fifth place, his best time
0:10:34 > 0:10:43is around three seconds of that of Michael Dunlop. Dunlop has increased
0:10:43 > 0:10:48his lead, slightly over Guy Martin, the gap is now 2.5 seconds. Only
0:10:48 > 0:10:55Michael Dunlop can beat him now, you feel. He is a rider who makes very
0:10:55 > 0:11:05few, if any, mistakes. Around half a lap to go as Michael Dunlop passes
0:11:05 > 0:11:06
0:11:06 > 0:11:10the rider from Czechoslovakia, Dokoupil. This is going to be a top
0:11:10 > 0:11:17six finish. This will be a very popular victory and the Dunlop is
0:11:17 > 0:11:21going to win at Cookstown yet again. The majority on the old circuit, he
0:11:21 > 0:11:26has won. Michael has not one that many yet but is only 24 years of age
0:11:26 > 0:11:30ID could beat all of them. We could be looking at the most successful
0:11:30 > 0:11:35Dunlop at the around Cookstown. Guy Martin takes second place. He still
0:11:35 > 0:11:40holds the lap record from two years ago. Just look at the reaction of
0:11:40 > 0:11:43the crowd, revelling in the delight of a home win. Once he saw off
0:11:43 > 0:11:53Shiels, there was no catching Michael Dunlop, who wins the first
0:11:53 > 0:12:02
0:12:02 > 0:12:10big race of the day. Here are the line first and did not look back.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15Yes, I was struggling a bit with the big bike. Especially around here,
0:12:15 > 0:12:23it's quite competitive but the bike is working lovely. I did make a very
0:12:23 > 0:12:29good start. Where did I end up, fifth or sixth going down there?
0:12:29 > 0:12:39didn't know where the starting flag was? I thought the last one on the
0:12:39 > 0:13:04
0:13:04 > 0:13:09side was where it was. I didn't see cruising to what would have been his
0:13:09 > 0:13:18ninth victory at Cookstown. Until his bike expired on lap three. That
0:13:18 > 0:13:23was that, as far as he was concerned. That left the way clear
0:13:23 > 0:13:31for Paul Robinson to move into the number one position ahead of Sam
0:13:31 > 0:13:38Wilson. Bruce Moulds would take third place. It was Robinson who
0:13:38 > 0:13:45held top spot until the chequered flag. There was another member of
0:13:45 > 0:13:50the Dunlop family of the leaderboard with Sam finishing in fifth place
0:13:50 > 0:13:54behind Maria Costello. Paul, nice start to the season for you? Yeah.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59It was good. This is our first race this year. I usually do Easter, I
0:13:59 > 0:14:03thought the Cookstown would be our first this year for a change.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Everything went according to plan. Things hadn't gone to plan for
0:14:08 > 0:14:13William Dunlop when his bike was pulled off the line. No joy for
0:14:13 > 0:14:19Trevor Reid who crashed at Braeside. That brought out the red flags. It
0:14:19 > 0:14:26meant a restart and a reprieve for Dunlop, who got his machine onto the
0:14:26 > 0:14:31grid. It was a tentative start off the line for Dunlop as Sam Wilson
0:14:31 > 0:14:38and Davy Morgan pulled away. He passed the pair of them on a machine
0:14:38 > 0:14:43prepared for him by his brother Michael. Elliot was the leader in
0:14:43 > 0:14:49the Moto450 class. The chequered flag it was William Dunlop who
0:14:49 > 0:14:56crossed the line first, Wilson held off Morgan for second. A ninth
0:14:56 > 0:15:06Cookstown career figure to leave him two shy of father Robert and concle
0:15:06 > 0:15:07
0:15:07 > 0:15:11Joey in the all-time standings list. -- uncle. It could have looked
0:15:11 > 0:15:16different if it had not been restarted. How fortunate were you to
0:15:16 > 0:15:20get to start in that race? I had a wee problem. The bike has been lying
0:15:20 > 0:15:28in the garage all winter. There was a couple of wee problems with it.
0:15:28 > 0:15:35Thanks to the boys we got it sorted and got out for a wee run. The motto
0:15:35 > 0:15:39450 race was a close affair. Elliot crossed the line ahead of McColgan
0:15:39 > 0:15:44and Gilpin not far off in third in a fairly new class which should grow
0:15:44 > 0:15:51in time. The extended Dunlop family have dominated the Cookstown 100 so
0:15:51 > 0:15:59far. A win appease for the Dunlop brothers and one for their cousin
0:15:59 > 0:16:09Paul. The super sports, William is a non-starter, Michael is in pole
0:16:09 > 0:16:13
0:16:13 > 0:16:16position. Eight laps of this circuit. Michael Dunlop in pole,
0:16:16 > 0:16:26Martin gets a cracking start. It could be a squeeze when they get to
0:16:26 > 0:16:27
0:16:27 > 0:16:32the first turn. Jamie Hamilton, Rob Wilson. He is quick away. Guy
0:16:32 > 0:16:37Martin. They are bunched up behind. They tip around the turn. It's very
0:16:37 > 0:16:46tight. So far each rider behaving themselves. Nothing too rash as they
0:16:46 > 0:16:52power up on the run to McAdoo. A bumpy line around this Orriotor
0:16:52 > 0:17:02circuit. Michael Dunlop, he holds the lap record for this class which
0:17:02 > 0:17:12
0:17:12 > 0:17:16Sweeney in second with Pearson third and Dunlop fourth. Dean Harrison
0:17:16 > 0:17:23still sixth. How long will Dunlop be content with fourth especially p if
0:17:23 > 0:17:30Martin is pulling away from the rest of the pack? This coo prove to be
0:17:30 > 0:17:35the best race of the day. It has the makings of one. Martin out of
0:17:35 > 0:17:42Craigmount. The gap is increasing. Dunlop looks to have lost a bike
0:17:42 > 0:17:47length or two to Sweeney. Oh, that looks as if it was Michael Sweeney
0:17:47 > 0:17:53who went wide at the Orriotor crossroads. Dunlop takes up that
0:17:53 > 0:17:58position. There is 65 on the Yamaha. Everyone behind Guy Martin moves up
0:17:59 > 0:18:04a position. Here is a replay from Derek Sheils bike. Hard to tell what
0:18:04 > 0:18:09happened whether he missed his braking point marker. Guy Martin is
0:18:09 > 0:18:15running away with this one. The gap has to be around three seconds. Rob
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Wilson was the third at the end of lap one, he is in wave two. He is
0:18:18 > 0:18:24yet to be factored in. Even so, Dunlop is stuck there in third
0:18:24 > 0:18:30position on the road. Chilliest behind Dunlop who looks to have had
0:18:30 > 0:18:35enough of following Pearson. Oh, what a move. No room for error.
0:18:35 > 0:18:41Enough is enough, as far as Dunlop is concerned. He is up into second
0:18:41 > 0:18:46on the road ahead of Pearson. Is Martin too far ahead? He has gone,
0:18:46 > 0:18:51hasn't it? You would think so with five-and-a-half laps yet to go.
0:18:51 > 0:18:58Derek Sheils in fourth. Wilson back to fifth on the timings. Guy Martin
0:18:58 > 0:19:04into McAdoo. Being chased by a quick looking Michael Dunlop. He is trying
0:19:04 > 0:19:09to catch the throatel at the exact moment at the exit of the turn. The
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Irishman out of his seat momentarily. Harrison backed off in
0:19:13 > 0:19:20anticipation there. Guy Martin out on his own. Dunlop appears to be
0:19:20 > 0:19:23catching him. Is there enough time left in this race? On board with
0:19:23 > 0:19:33Harrison, battling with chilliest and Wilson and Hamilton on the time
0:19:33 > 0:19:38sheets. They are in the second wave. This looks like the moment when
0:19:38 > 0:19:48chilliest looks to pick it up. Almost clips the backside. The gap
0:19:48 > 0:19:57
0:19:57 > 0:20:07will catch and pass Guy Martin. Easier said than done though. Well,
0:20:07 > 0:20:14
0:20:14 > 0:20:20Dunlop is certainly having a go. The fans sense it as well. He is offer
0:20:20 > 0:20:25Sweeney as well. Unbelievable. He goes through. Can he stop in time?
0:20:25 > 0:20:34The front end is waving around. He sits up. He was pushed past.
0:20:34 > 0:20:42Amazing. It's all happening then. Michael Dunlop is still catching. We
0:20:42 > 0:20:50are on for a grand stand finish. This is Dean Harrison going past
0:20:50 > 0:20:54Michael Sweeney and Derek Shiels. This battle refuses to die down.
0:20:54 > 0:21:01Sheils chasing Harrison. Oh, up the inside. He has got him, I think. Can
0:21:01 > 0:21:07he turn in time? He can. What a move. Absolutely super move. Dunlop
0:21:07 > 0:21:14is closing in. The gap is just seven tenths of a second. He took another
0:21:14 > 0:21:22seven ten oaths out of Guy Martin on that one. If he continues like that
0:21:22 > 0:21:32they will finish side by side. He is urged on by the fans. We ride with
0:21:32 > 0:21:33
0:21:33 > 0:21:38Dean Harrison. Derek Sheils pulls out of the slip stream. Sheils backs
0:21:38 > 0:21:43it in. Oh, Sheils will do well to stop that in time. Dean Harrison
0:21:43 > 0:21:53slots up a pace. Michael Dunlop is catching Guy Martin. This is the
0:21:53 > 0:22:16
0:22:16 > 0:22:20last lap remember. Dunlop is place. Surely, he will not try
0:22:20 > 0:22:23there, is he? It's not going to happen now. They come across the
0:22:23 > 0:22:30line. It's Guy Martin only by a whisker from Michael Dunlop. What a
0:22:30 > 0:22:34finish. The gap was four seconds then 3. 5 then 2. 1 then 1. 5 as
0:22:34 > 0:22:40Dean Harrison claims third. Over half a second going into the last
0:22:40 > 0:22:50lap. Between Guy Martin and Michael Dunlop. It's victory for Guy Martin,
0:22:50 > 0:22:57
0:22:57 > 0:23:01starting flag this time OK? I did, I saw it that time yeah. It made it
0:23:01 > 0:23:09easier, didn't it? I got a the half decent start. We have been looking
0:23:09 > 0:23:14at the war wounds. Michael had a bit of a go on the last lap. The man who
0:23:14 > 0:23:19knows this circuit better than anyone is Ryan. He holds the record
0:23:19 > 0:23:24number of wins here. An amazing 26. Ryan retired at the end of last
0:23:24 > 0:23:27season. He is back as a team manager season. He is back as a team manager
0:23:27 > 0:23:33with a healthy stable of riders. You don't believe in doing things in
0:23:33 > 0:23:37small doses. You have a handful here. A full stable of machine?
0:23:37 > 0:23:43bikes here, that is half the bikes throughout the course of the year we
0:23:43 > 0:23:46will run 12. You know, I'm work working seven day as week, a lot of
0:23:46 > 0:23:50hours every day, to get them prepared. A rider, you dominated
0:23:50 > 0:23:56this event over the past few years. How much will you miss it today not
0:23:56 > 0:24:01being out there? So far, it's not bothering me at all. Maybe as the
0:24:01 > 0:24:09year goes on it will bug me. I have been here for many years and great
0:24:09 > 0:24:13results at Cookstown. When I look back at it, I've no regrets. I told
0:24:13 > 0:24:18Jamie and Brian and Connor, I have told them many times, it's the first
0:24:18 > 0:24:25race of the year. There is a lot more racing to be done. All and all,
0:24:25 > 0:24:31I just hope they take it steady and I just hope they take it steady and
0:24:31 > 0:24:41they all get a good finish. A super twins race without Ryan. There will
0:24:41 > 0:24:54
0:24:55 > 0:25:04be a new name on the race winner's on bike 65 and Hamilton on 44 who
0:25:05 > 0:25:05
0:25:05 > 0:25:12were do youeling for honours. -- duelling. The At the front there was
0:25:12 > 0:25:22still nothing to separate Sweeney and Hamilton. At times the racing
0:25:22 > 0:25:27got very, sometimes a little too close for comfort. On the the
0:25:27 > 0:25:34approach it was a classic slip stream ma he noefr from Hamilton as
0:25:34 > 0:25:38he pulled out behind Sweeney and moving into the number one slot on
0:25:38 > 0:25:42the track. Once he was through, he was away. By the time he crossed the
0:25:42 > 0:25:52finish line he had built a comfortable position between himself
0:25:52 > 0:25:58
0:25:58 > 0:26:03place. Sweeney settle settled into second behind a delighted Jamie
0:26:03 > 0:26:08Hamilton. I can tell by that broad smile you are a happy man after that
0:26:08 > 0:26:13win? Definitely, 100%. I can't remember the last time Ryan prepared
0:26:13 > 0:26:17a bike to become a super twin that hasn't won a race. I'm glad I could
0:26:17 > 0:26:24keep that up here today. I've struggled early on in the day. As
0:26:24 > 0:26:32the day came on I got better and better. Nice to get a win. Time now
0:26:32 > 0:26:36for the big race of the day. The Cookstown 100. A race which Ryan
0:26:36 > 0:26:42made his own. He won it for the past five years. There will be a new name
0:26:42 > 0:26:52on the trophy this year. It looks like it will be a shoot-out between
0:26:52 > 0:27:07
0:27:07 > 0:27:15his way down the field. He looks to usurp a lot of them. Guy Martin,
0:27:15 > 0:27:22second, Dunlop, fourth with Shiels, fifth. As they get to Gortin Corner,
0:27:22 > 0:27:29it's a dream start. The second wave is underway including newcomer Dean
0:27:29 > 0:27:35Harrison. Michael Sweeney struggling to keep the front wheel down. Into
0:27:35 > 0:27:43McAdoo bends, Dunlop is third. He squeezes inside Pearson. They are
0:27:43 > 0:27:49side-by-side. Shiels just behind Morgan. This is fifth chasing
0:27:49 > 0:27:54fourth. What a start to this race. Now Mackney. Neither is giving the
0:27:54 > 0:28:01other an inch of road. It is so tight through this, especially on
0:28:01 > 0:28:06the big cc bikes. No overtaking but it has happened here at past. The
0:28:06 > 0:28:14menacing figure of Michael Dunlop lurking just behind. Back to McAdoo
0:28:14 > 0:28:20bends. Dokoupil had a massive crash on the second a few years ago if I
0:28:20 > 0:28:24remember rightly as Shiels slips by Morgan. What a good lap it has been
0:28:24 > 0:28:32for Pearson, second, and right behind Guy Martin. We will have to
0:28:32 > 0:28:37wait and see. Here they go. They take it right to the Mackney. We
0:28:37 > 0:28:44have to wait for the second wave to see how this race is turning out.
0:28:44 > 0:28:51Pearson does not have the speed to slip by. Guy Martin on the back
0:28:51 > 0:28:58wheel. Riding the Dunlop on the backstretch with Gortin Corner and
0:28:58 > 0:29:02McAdoo bends. No overtaking. Shiels meanwhile closes writing on Dunlop
0:29:02 > 0:29:09in the third and look at the red gate on the right-hand side. You can
0:29:09 > 0:29:13see how much of a steep climate is underneath it. The camera position
0:29:13 > 0:29:23makes the road look flatter than it is. Many people making the journey
0:29:23 > 0:29:24
0:29:24 > 0:29:30across the Irish Sea, just like Guy Martin, leading. Arden man -- online
0:29:30 > 0:29:35with the man, Harrison. He can't shake off the trio behind him. Don't
0:29:35 > 0:29:39forget, we have to wait for Harrison to see where he's locked into the
0:29:39 > 0:29:45scheme of things on the leaderboard. Michael Dunlop in third
0:29:45 > 0:29:49place and no suggestion from so far of him making a move on the two men
0:29:49 > 0:29:59ahead of him. It's all about the brakes and the best defensive line.
0:29:59 > 0:30:00
0:30:00 > 0:30:10Michael Pearson says thank you very much. As the X it, and head towards
0:30:10 > 0:30:12
0:30:12 > 0:30:22McAdoo bends. Into McAdoo bends. Dunlop is on a superstock bike along
0:30:22 > 0:30:22
0:30:22 > 0:30:27with Derek Shiels. We are riding on the Honda on the way to Mackney.
0:30:27 > 0:30:34Martin contentiously behind Pearson. So different on the opening lap when
0:30:34 > 0:30:37they came into contact on Mackney. Pearson forcing himself through on
0:30:37 > 0:30:46that occasion. Pearson slipped back to sixth. He lost a couple of
0:30:46 > 0:30:50seconds on lap two. Here is a replay of Michael Pearson on the BMW in
0:30:50 > 0:30:59full flight. Guy Martin, a little more conservative, and not so
0:30:59 > 0:31:04spectacular. Three laps completed. Pearson leading Martin. Six tenths
0:31:04 > 0:31:09of a second between first and fourth place. Dunlop making his move.
0:31:09 > 0:31:18Coming out of slipstream, he holds off and brakes quite early. Pearson
0:31:18 > 0:31:21backs the turner. He is going at it, speedway style into Gortin Corner
0:31:21 > 0:31:28and what a race. Shiels has done well in the past but this weekend
0:31:28 > 0:31:32has got to be the best performance so far. Here comes Guy Martin on the
0:31:32 > 0:31:35inside of McAdoo bends. Pearson goes back inside and they go side-by-side
0:31:35 > 0:31:42up the hill. Here they are, just ahead, Pearson with his nose in
0:31:42 > 0:31:47front. Oh, Martin powered his way through and he has taken his lead.
0:31:47 > 0:31:52What a move by Guy Martin on the Suzuki. He is back in front. Michael
0:31:52 > 0:31:59Dunlop appears to be content with just sitting behind them. Shiels on
0:31:59 > 0:32:03her shoulder and they're still more than half race to go. Time to get
0:32:03 > 0:32:08our breath back as we look at Michael Pearson just ahead of
0:32:08 > 0:32:16Michael Dunlop, a popular vantage point for the spectators, this. His
0:32:16 > 0:32:21back wheel going as he hit the brakes. Guy Martin leads them out of
0:32:21 > 0:32:29Craigmount, and downs to the crossroads. The gang of four across
0:32:29 > 0:32:39the line. Guy Martin, not the fastest lap. The Kawasaki puts in
0:32:39 > 0:32:43the fastest time, inside the Suzuki. Dunlop goes past Pearson for second.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47Maybe not quite got the confidence in his brakes as he would like. I'd
0:32:47 > 0:32:52tell you what though, he's got a new target ahead, Guy Martin, but if
0:32:52 > 0:32:57anybody can catch him, it will be Michael Dunlop. Michael Pearson has
0:32:57 > 0:33:01now got Derek Shiels breathing down his neck. On board with Dean
0:33:01 > 0:33:10Harrison, who was now in seventh, having been passed by Brian
0:33:10 > 0:33:16McCormac. Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop, and it is a new lap record
0:33:16 > 0:33:20for Michael Dunlop as we look at Shiels take long Pearson. He has
0:33:20 > 0:33:25taken two tenths of the record set two years ago. There's pair are
0:33:26 > 0:33:30really squaring up to one another now. Dunlop using every millimetre
0:33:30 > 0:33:33of track surface. We are back with the battle for third, Shiels closing
0:33:33 > 0:33:43in and taking third from Pearson. We will have to wait until they come
0:33:43 > 0:33:50
0:33:50 > 0:33:56at the halfway point in this race. Completing lap six, Guy Martin on
0:33:56 > 0:34:02the Suzuki in first. Honda, second. A new lap record time, which has
0:34:02 > 0:34:06just been set by Dunlop. Here they come across the line. The answer
0:34:06 > 0:34:11is, no, although Dunlop took two tenths of a second out of the race
0:34:11 > 0:34:17leader that time, and he goes for a stab at Martin but can he get him on
0:34:17 > 0:34:22the brakes? I think no. Martin has the braking to perfection, or has
0:34:22 > 0:34:27he? A stunning move by Dunlop. One of the best I've seen for the last
0:34:27 > 0:34:32few years. How good was that? Got the timing absolutely perfect
0:34:32 > 0:34:38Michael Dunlop believes, but what kind of response will be get from
0:34:38 > 0:34:42Guy Martin? Time to catch breath! The road racing season is certainly
0:34:42 > 0:34:51upon us, folks. Dean Harrison stumping is but a hard on the back
0:34:51 > 0:34:57brake as he goes into Gortin Corner. He continues to pull away
0:34:57 > 0:35:03from Guy Martin. This is the view from the race leader as he takes on
0:35:03 > 0:35:13the Cookstown 100 circuit. Can he do this for a fourth time? One minute
0:35:13 > 0:35:25
0:35:25 > 0:35:2822.64 as he heads into what will be tenths outside this time. Ryan
0:35:28 > 0:35:32Farquar has won this race for the past five years and has now retired,
0:35:33 > 0:35:36of course, and we could be looking at the new king of Cookstown. On
0:35:36 > 0:35:41this form, Michael Dunlop could well be the main threat to the
0:35:41 > 0:35:47short-circuit stars at this year's NW200, held host of top names from
0:35:47 > 0:35:52superbikes this year. But it could be this young man who we ride with,
0:35:52 > 0:36:00still only 24 years of age, that the racing world could be talking about,
0:36:00 > 0:36:08in the middle of May. Making his way towards the first of the black
0:36:08 > 0:36:11markers, and he makes his way past. Dunlop will be on a different bike
0:36:11 > 0:36:18at the north-west. Once he's gone past Martin, there was no stopping
0:36:19 > 0:36:28him from taking victory. And its victory for Michael Dunlop at the
0:36:29 > 0:36:41
0:36:41 > 0:36:45winner. Nice fill growing collection. Yes, it's been awhile
0:36:45 > 0:36:50since I have one around here, so I feel good. It's just great to win,
0:36:50 > 0:36:55that's what I'm here to do. To break the lap record, you can't go wrong
0:36:55 > 0:36:59with that. I had it for a bit and then Pearson got past me and then I
0:36:59 > 0:37:04got in the lead again and then Michael got past us. I made a couple
0:37:04 > 0:37:10of little mistakes. I couldn't get him back but he was riding well.
0:37:10 > 0:37:16Fair play. But top step of the rostrum for Michael Dunlop for the
0:37:16 > 0:37:23second time on the day at Cookstown, but it would not be the last. He
0:37:23 > 0:37:29took his place on the grid for the restarted Supertwins res B. As
0:37:29 > 0:37:34expected, he took no time in making its way to the front. -- race be.
0:37:34 > 0:37:44And he looked to be thoroughly enjoying himself, as he threw his
0:37:44 > 0:37:50
0:37:50 > 0:37:55Kawasaki around the circuit at high wins. His best lap time was outside
0:37:55 > 0:38:01the best posted by Jamie Hamilton and Michael Sweeney in the earlier
0:38:01 > 0:38:07Supertwins race but a win, nonetheless for Michael Dunlop.
0:38:07 > 0:38:14big NW200 head for you? Yes, I got to sort this out, because my rear
0:38:14 > 0:38:20end and my hands is bad, too. I need to get ready for the race. Michael
0:38:20 > 0:38:24Dunlop looking good for the NW200, an event where you won't miss a
0:38:24 > 0:38:29single thing here on BBC Northern Ireland. You can see the practice
0:38:29 > 0:38:35sessions and the racing live on BBC sport website, plus live commentary
0:38:35 > 0:38:39on BBC Ulster, and three special highlight programmes for you on BBC