ambassadors
After a two-year absence, the North West 200 motorcycle race returned to the north coast of Northern Ireland last weekend. Acknowledged as one of the world’s premier road racing events, the North West 200 has been running since 1929 and attracts some of the sport’s biggest names. This year, top Motul riders John McGuinness, Michael Dunlop, Peter Hickman, Ian Hutchinson, Glenn Irwin, Lee Johnston and many more returned to the hallowed tarmac of the North West 200. Here are the top Motul highlights from the event. 
Peter Hickman’s new lap record
Onboard the FHO Racing BMW M 1000 RR, lubricated by Motul of course, Peter Hickman blasted into the history books at this year’s race by smashing the lap record, achieving a lap time of 4:18.753 at an average speed of 124.799mph. Peter describes the NW200 course as “one of the best bits of tarmac in road racing”. On his achievement, he said: “My FHO M 1000 RR is a weapon on the roads! We recorded 208.8mph on the data – my fastest ever. We broke the outright lap record by over four seconds, which now means I hold the lap record at all three major international road races: the NW200, IOM TT and Ulster GP.”
Ian Hutchinson’s superbike speed trap record
The Superbike races are the NW200’s biggest draw, and in the second Superbike race of the weekend, Ian Hutchinson didn’t fail to impress. Riding onboard TAS Racing’s Milwaukee BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR, he set a speed trap record for the race at 207.8mph. It’s not quite the fastest anyone has been on that stretch of road, but it was the highest speed of the race and the fastest the team has ever gone. As Philip Neil, team principal of the Motul-sponsored team, said: “Getting the top speed at the event doesn’t win you any races, but it’s a nice accomplishment.”
Glenn Irwin double Superbike champ
Northern Irishman Glenn Irwin took the victory in both Superbike races at the 2022 North West 200. The rider, who races for Honda Racing on the Motul-lubricated CBR 1000 RR-R, made that six Superbike victories in a row at the North West 200 in his esteemed racing career.
Lee Johnston’s three podiums
Another Northern Irishman, another Motul rider and another set of sterling results at the North West 200. This time the man on the saddle was Lee Johnston of the Ashcourt Racing BMW team. As his home track, Johnston proved he knows his way around it with a second-place finish in the second Supertwin race of the day, a third in the first Supertwin race, and a second in the Superstock class.
Richard Cooper’s double podiums in the Superbike races
Richard Cooper proved to be a racer to watch at this year’s North West after scooping up second and third places at the North West 200’s Superbike races. Riding onboard the Suzuki of Motul-backed Hawk Racing, the Englishman proved he had the pace to keep up with the front of the pack in the toughest category at the event. Luck wouldn’t shine on Cooper for the entire day though as he unfortunately received a double disqualification for a technical infringement after his two victories in the Supertwin races.
© Pictures: Pacemaker Press, teams
