BRADFORD motorcycling ace Dean Harrison helped himself to a podium at the prestigious North West 200 yesterday evening.

The event, held in Northern Ireland, is arguably the second-biggest on the road racing calendar in the UK, behind the world-famous Isle of Man TT.

It kicked off with practice and qualifying earlier this week, but the nine races are spread over just two days, three on the Thursday and six on the Saturday.

The remaining two-thirds of the race programme will therefore take place tomorrow, where Harrison will be looking to go one better than last night’s second place in the first Superstock event.

The evening began with the Superbike race, with Glenn Irwin and Davey Todd romping away to come first and second respectively.

Bradford star Harrison came agonisingly close to getting on the podium, eventually coming fifth, but finishing just a second and a half behind Michael Dunlop and a second off Peter Hickman.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Michael Dunlop came third in the Superbike race, just pipping Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison on to the podium.Michael Dunlop came third in the Superbike race, just pipping Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison on to the podium. (Image: Double Red.)

Harrison did exceptionally well, given his team, Honda Racing UK, do not have Superbike or Supersport machinery available to them at the North West 200 due to supply chain issues.

That means he and his team-mates are having to ride Superstock-spec Fireblades in the Superbike class and Superstock races.

Given the situation, Harrison was expected to be at his strongest in the Superstock race that rounded off yesterday’s proceedings.

And that proved to be the case, as the Bradford rider came home in second place behind Todd.

It was a fine comeback from Todd, who had crashed out of the middle race of the evening, in the Supersport class.

He was wiped out by fellow rider Adam McLean on the circuit’s York Corner, but despite being a little battered and bruised, he rightfully took his place at the front of the grid for the Superstock race, having qualified in pole position.

Both Todd and Harrison came agonisingly close to breaking the official lap record and were neck and neck for most of the race.

But on the final lap, the latter made a mistake at Mather’s Cross Chicane, allowing Todd to pull away and win by just under seven seconds.

Harrison did at least do enough to hold off Dunlop, who crossed the line two seconds behind the Bradfordian in third.

Ian Hutchinson, from Bingley, is back racing at the top level again, after a stroke ruled him out of the 2023 season.

And while he could not compete at the front with Todd and Harrison in the Superstock race, he did manage an impressive eighth place on his Milenco Padgett’s Honda motorcycle.