North West 200: Dunlop's share the Superbike spoils as brotherly battle between Michael and William provides warm memory of road racing past

William made a daring pass on Michael to win the first race before Michael prevailed in a battle with Josh Brookes and Alastair Seeley in the last race of the day

Man of the meeting at the North West 200 Michael Dunlop (Getty Images)

William Dunlop came out on top in a thrilling battle with his brother Michael to win the first North West 200 Superbike race in Northern Ireland, notching his fourth career win on the streets of Northern Ireland and sparking memories of the Dunlop battles of the past.

William and Michael’s father Robert Dunlop still hold the record for the most wins in the North West 200 with 15 victories, before he was tragically killed during practice at the 2008 road race. His brother Joey, who holds the record number of Isle of Man TT wins with 26, frequently battled his sibling for victory, with the nostalgic sight of the two Dunlop’s battling yesterday afternoon delighting their home crowd.

BMW rider Michael Dunlop would go on to claim the second Superbike race of the day after a hotly contested battle with Alastair Seeley and Josh Brookes. Seeley, who won the opening race of the meeting on Thursday, had to make do with third after Australian Brookes pipped him on the final lap in a shortened five-lap shootout.

Earlier in the day, Bruce Anstey took advantage of a crash between Alastair Seeley and Lee Johnston to win the Supersport 600 race, while Johnston returned to take the chequered flag in the Supertwins. Michael Dunlop won a shortened Superstock race due to an accident causing a red flag on lap four of six.