| Metzeler confirms its status as the reference tyre brand in road racing with victories in Superbike, Superstock and Supertwin/Sportbike secured by newcomer Storm Stacey, legend Jeremy McWilliams and Glenn Irwin |
| The Metzeler brand successfully opened the road racing season at the North West 200 where, thanks to its riders and tyres from the RACETEC™ range, it claimed four wins and twelve podium finishes across the six races scheduled at the prestigious Northern Irish event. Metzeler Racetec™ RR Slick tyres dominated the “big bike” classes, taking all three wins across Superbike and Superstock thanks to newcomer Storm Stacey’s double success in Superbike and Superstock, and Glenn Irwin’s Superbike victory. Sexagenarian legend Jeremy McWilliams delivered Metzeler’s fourth win by taking victory in the Supertwin/Sportbike category. Completing Metzeler’s successful campaign were the podium finishes also secured by Alastair Seeley, Dean Harrison and Paul Jordan. The racing itself kicked off with a hard-fought battle in the Supertwin/Sportbike division as 62-year-old Jeremy McWilliams (Yamaha) came within a few tenths of adding to his North West 200 win tally, which he duly achieved in the second running of the class later in the day. In fact, five out of the six podium positions were logged by riders using Racetec™ RR treaded tyres. The opening Superbike race was truly an epic, as local hero Glenn Irwin (Ducati) returned to ‘The Triangle’ in combative form, trading blows with five-time TT winner Dean Harrison (Honda). The two crossed the line as a Metzeler 1-2, but it was so nearly a podium lock out, with disappointment for ‘Newcomer’ Storm Stacey, who had held third place for most of the race before dropping back. The Supersport outing was cut short with a red flag stoppage, frustratingly for Dean Harrison (Honda) after he had just logged a new class lap record, before finishing second. The showroom ready Superstock machines were next on the race card, supplying another great battle and a super popular win from Storm Stacey on his BMW – an incredible feat as a Newcomer! The final, much anticipated Superbike race was another barnstormer with Harrison, Irwin and Stacey again swapping the lead in a high-speed slipstreaming display. The race was stopped early and Stacey crowned his spectacular debut with a fantastic win and another Metzeler 1-2-3 from Harrison and Irwin. Next up for the Road Race riders, teams and Metzeler: the legendary Isle of Man TT, which gets underway in a fortnight. Race 1 – Supertwin/Sportbike 1. Peter Hickman (Yamaha) 1. Glenn Irwin (Ducati) Race 3 – Supersport 1. Michael Dunlop (Ducati) Race 4 – Superstock 1. Storm Stacey (BMW) 1. Jeremy McWilliams (Yamaha) 1. Storm Stacey (BMW) |
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