Glenn Irwin made a triumphant return to the North West 200, fending off a determined Dean Harrison to claim his 12th career win in the Superbike class. The Northern Irish rider, who had previously won 11 consecutive feature-class races at the event between 2017 and 2024, opted out last year but came back with a vengeance.

Riding his Nitrous Competitions Ducati, Irwin edged out Honda Racing's Harrison by just 0.18 seconds in a nail-biting finish. Michael Dunlop finished a distant third, 14.4 seconds behind. The race was a masterclass in control and strategy, with Irwin leading for the majority of the six laps.

Harrison, still chasing his first win over the famous Triangle circuit, gave Irwin no room to breathe. The Yorkshireman briefly surged ahead at the end of lap four with a stunning move at Juniper Hill, but Irwin quickly reclaimed the lead in a thrilling back-and-forth battle. Ultimately, Harrison had to settle for his 16th podium finish at the event.

Irwin's blistering pace was highlighted by the fastest lap of the race at 124.997 mph. Behind the top three, Peter Hickman, Josh Brookes, and Ian Hutchinson rounded out the top six. Newcomer Storm Stacey impressed in seventh place, smashing the previous best lap for a debutant at the event with a 123.725 mph circuit.

The race was briefly interrupted by a minor incident at Church Corner, but the re-start only added to the drama. For Irwin, this victory is a statement of intent—proving he's still the man to beat on the roads.