North West 200 road closures for this week's racing and practice

Tens of thousands of motorcycling fans will be heading to the North West 200 this week.

The international road race attracts a huge crowd over the entire bike week, with some of the best racers in the world taking on the famous Triangle circuit including Michael Dunlop and Glenn Irwin.

Practice will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, May 8-9, with racing also on the Thursday and Saturday, May 11.

Read more: Jeremy McWilliams on retirement, staying fit, newcomers and NW200 glory

That means there will be a number of road closures. Here is more info on the event and road closures.

When is the North West 200?

The event runs from Wednesday, May 8 to Saturday, May 11.

When is practice and qualifying?

There are two sessions. The first is on Wednesday, with roads closed from 9am to 3pm. The second is on Thursday with roads closed 9am to 3pm.

Full practice schedule

Wednesday

• 1st Session NEWCOMERS ONLY 09.45

• 2nd Session SUPERBIKE 10.30

• 3rd Session SUPERSPORT 11.45

• 4th Session SUPERSTOCK 12.45

• 5th Session SUPERTWIN 13.45

Thursday

• 1st Session SUPERBIKE 09.45

• 2nd Session SUPERSPORT 11.00

• 3rd Session SUPERSTOCK 12.00

• 4th Session SUPERTWIN 13.00

When is the racing?

There are three races on Thursday evening, May 9, with the opener scheduled for 5.30pm. There are six more races on Staurday, May 11, with the opener scheduled for 10am. Roads will close on the Thursday from 4.45pm to 9pm. Roads will close on Saturday from 9am to 7pm.

Full race schedule

Thursday

• Race 1 BRIGGS EQUIPMENT SUPERBIKE RACE (4 LAPS) 17.30 hrs

• Race 2 FRASER HOMES SUPERSPORT RACE (4 LAPS) 18.30 hrs

• Race 3 AMICI RISTORANTE SUPERSTOCK RACE (4 LAPS) 19.15 hrs

Saturday

• Race 1 MILLTOWN SERVICE STATION SUPERTWIN RACE (4 LAPS) 10.00 hrs (Approx)

• Race 2 ANCHOR BAR SUPERBIKE RACE (6 LAPS)

• Race 3 TIDES RESTAURANT SUPERSPORT RACE (6 LAPS)

• Race 4 CP HIRE SUPERSTOCK RACE (6 LAPS)

• Race 5 JOHN M PATTERSON SUPERTWIN RACE (4 LAPS)

• Race 6 MERROW HOTEL AND SPA SUPERBIKE RACE (6 LAPS)

Contingency plans

The Road Races (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 has now been approved by the Northern Ireland Assembly and received Royal Assent. The changes to the road closing legislation now give the organisers of the International North West 200, in exceptional circumstances, the ability to move a practice or race day, either one day forward or one day back, giving 24 hours notice to the Department for Infrastructure.

Should extreme weather be forecast, the contingency days could be: Wednesday 11th May and Friday 13th May 2022.

In lieu of using one of the above full contingency days, organisers may also extend the road closing times on Tuesday 10th and Saturday 14th May 2022 as follows:

Wednesday

• Existing road closing: 9.00am - 3.00pm

• Contingency: 5.00pm - 9.00pm

Saturday

• Existing: 9.00am - 7.00pm

• Contingency: 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Roads comprising the Course

• Route B185 (Station Road – Cromore Road), from its junction with Portrush Road, Portstewart, Route A2, to its junction with University Park, Coleraine Unclassified No.3522.

• Route A29, Ring Road Coleraine, from its junction with Cromore Road, Route B185, to its junction with Bushmills Road Roundabout, Route A29.

• Route A29 (Atlantic Road – Coleraine Road – Eglinton Street), from its junction with Burn Road, Coleraine, Unclassified No.3526, to its junction with Sandhill Drive, Portrush, Unclassified No.3543.

• Route A2 (Portstewart Road – Dhu Varren – Ballyreagh Road – Portrush Road – Portmore Road) from its junction with Coleraine Road, Portrush, Route A29, to its junction with Atlantic Circle, Portstewart, Unclassified No.3534.

• Unclassified No.3303 Glenmanus Road, Portrush, from its junction with Glenvale Crescent, Unclassified No.3545, for a distance of 100 metres in a southerly direction.

• Route A2 Crocknamack Road, Portrush, from its junction with Eglinton Street, Unclassified No.3543, to its junction with Hopefield Avenue, Unclassified No.3304.

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