Blistering temperatures and record crowds were the order of the day as the motorcycle racing community headed to the north coast for the Briggs Engineering North West 200 on the nine-mile Portrush-Portstewart-Coleraine triangle.

Unfortunately, there was no Fermanagh representation at this year's event.

Lee Johnston who was hoping to make his return to the circuit a year after a major accident, broke his leg in February while testing in Spain, while Paul Gartland has a lot of work commitments, but did get the opportunity to lead some of the newcomers around the circuit, and hopes to make a return to racing soon.

Carrickfergus rider Glenn Irwin, better known for his British Superbike racing, had won the previous eight consecutive superbike races on the north coast, and was hoping to add to his tally.

And although he had to battle hard with fellow Davey Todd, Irwin came away with another three record-breaking victories.

In race one, Todd led for the first two laps before Irwin got the better of him on lap three, and held on to take the win, while Michael Dunlop completed the podium.

Race two was a start-to-finish win by Irwin, although, with the slipstreaming opportunities on the triangle, it could have gone either way, with Todd never far away. Dunlop once again finished third.

Todd then made a better start in the final superbike race, and led for the first two laps, but it was Irwin who kept the pressure on and got past on lap three and held on for the remainder of the race, while Dean Harrison completed the podium.

Todd got it more his own way in the two superstock races, leading from start to finish in both. The podiums were completed in race one by Harrison and Dunlop, and in race two by Peter Hickman and John McGuinness.

Todd was also hoping to make his mark in the supersport class, but unfortunately in race one, he was taken out by another rider less than one mile after the start of the race.

This left the way clear for Richard Cooper to head the field over the six-lapper while Hickman and Dunlop battled it out for the podium positions. Thankfully with no major injuries, Todd was back on the top step after a start-to-finish win in the second supersport with Cooper and Dunlop coming second and third respectively.

The supertwins is always a very competitive class, where slipstreaming and corner speed are key.

Cooper found himself out in front in race one on the first three of four laps before Hickman made a move at a crucial stage and held on for the win, with Mike Browne coming in third.

In the second race, a three-way battle developed between Cooper, Hickman, and veteran racer Jeremy McWilliams. As the places changed throughout, Hickman found himself in 3rd going on to the last lap but somehow forced his way through to take his second win over Cooper and McWilliams.