McWilliams' lead is up to 2.5 seconds over Jordan, with Hickman just behind.

Seeley, Coward and Franco Bourne are the rest of the top six.

Jordan is hunting Hickman for second and he gets past into Metropole.

McWilliams has broken the slipstream and holds his lead ahead of Hickman, while Jordan is into third past Seeley.

McWilliams is on a mission as he leads by just under two seconds at the end of the first lap.

Hickan and Seeley are right together, and Jordan is a second further back in fourth with Jamie Coward also in touch.

Jordan is too hot into Magherabuoy and darts over the grass. He stays on but has lost a ton of momentum.

Just like he did in the first race, McWilliams is trying to break away.

Jordan is into second ahead of Hickman.

McWilliams leads into University ahead of Hickman and Jordan.

Seeley is right in the mix too in fourth.

It's the same front four as earlier as Hickman leads, Seeley, McWilliams and Jordan up to Mill Road.

Off we go!

Hickman leads them away off the line!

Front row

1 Peter Hickman

2 Paul Jordan

3 Jeremy McWilliams

Second row

4 Alastair Seeley

5 Michael Sweeney

6 Jamie Coward

It's a debut win for Storm Stacey. We think he enjoyed that one.

Davey Todd
Nine-time NW200 winner

I've been saying all along that I've seen this coming, everyone's been saying they're surprised. But it's a hard thing to do, fair play to him.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

The Supertwins and Sportbikes are back on the grid after their sighting lap.

Michael Rutter on Superstock winner Storm Stacey:

"He's naturally brilliant. He's such a showman. It's brilliant for the North West 200 to have some young blood up there, he's doing British Championship. All the people back home, we want to keep road racing going in younger people."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport at the North West 200

Image source, Pacemaker

Peter Hickman edged out Jeremy McWilliams to take victory in a thrilling opening Supertwins/Sportbike race at the North West 200 on Saturday.

The Swan Racing Yamaha R7 rider executed the decisive pass at the Juniper Hill chicane on the final circuit of four to take the fifth North West win of his career and his third in the Twins class following his double in 2024.

The Lincolnshire rider had 0.46 seconds to spare over McWilliams, who led for the duration of the race until Hickman hit the front when it mattered.

The pair were involved in an exhilarating dual at the front, with Alastair Seeley holding off Paul Jordan to secure the final rostrum position.

Jordan recovered ground after overshooting at University Corner on the first lap, posting the fastest lap of the race at 112.231mph in taking fourth spot.

Yorkshire's Jamie Coward was fifth on his Milenco by Padgett's Paton, with Christian Elin completing the top six.

Hickman moves to within two of Richard Cooper's record of five Supertwin race triumphs with his victory. McWilliams also has three wins in the class.

And breathe. Next up it's the second Supertwin race of the day. Here's a reminder of what happened earlier.

It's a first North West 200 win for Storm Stacey!

On his debut, no less, and it was with a lap record too.

Josh Brookes, who finished in third: "That certainly was a battle. That was my limit where I felt comfortable. I'm happy, last year I was at the event and I couldn't have dreamt of a podium, so I'm happy to be back at the front.

"I've got one more to go so we'll see how we go in that."

Runner-up Michael Dunlop on BBC iPlayer: "It was a hard race, I stuck in there, just lack of bike time cut me out a bit. These lads are so hard on the brakes, I struggled a bit on the brakes, I knew I'd be hung out to dry at some point. He rose a better race, he was strong on the brakes.

"If you're a BSB (British Superbike) rider here at all, you can win here. If you don't ride BSB, you can get hindered a bit because they're used to braking so much every week. That's why the North Werst 200 has always suited the BSB riders.

"We've got another Superbike race. We've struggled a bit on the Superbike a bit. I felt good, I just felt like I needed a few more miles."

Race winner Storm Stacey on BBC iPlayer: "Unbelievable. The goal was to come and have a successful NW200 and continue with BSB. I promised I would go easy but I got a bit carried away. I really enjoyed that. I've never battled with Michael, but it was good. It was very fun.

"With the heritage and everything, I've done what I've aimed to do here. I've won over the fans, I might have to come back a bit more. I didn't know I had a gap, I couldn't have went any harder into Juniper.

"To go home with a win, and the prize money, is nice."

Image source, Pacemaker Press