A new Storm - Stacey passes his test at NW200

ByAndy Gray

BBC Sport NI Journalist at the North West 200

On the back of Storm Stacey's helmet was a learner plate and a tongue-in-cheek message saying, 'How's my riding? Call me'.

Pretty good, it turns out.

A talented rider with a big personality, Stacey arrived at the North West 200 as one of the most high-profile newcomers in recent years in Northern Ireland.

The 23-year-old is a rising star in the British Superbike Championship and he was making his road racing debut on the north coast.

People had high expectations, but he exceeded even his own high standards.

After impressing in qualifying, he won his second-ever race after out-duelling home hero Michael Dunlop on the final lap of the Superstock race that had those in attendance on the edge of their seats.

Better was to come in the feature Superbike race - the North West 200's blue ribband event - when he led front the front and was the beneficiary when an oil spill stopped the race after three laps.

After it was deemed it would take too long to clean up before roads would have to reopen to every day traffic, Stacey was declared the winner to make it a debut double.

"You can never ask for more than that," Stacey summed up.

Mentored by Michael Rutter, a 14-time winner at the North West 200 and veteran of the sport, Stacey's breakthrough win showed that he was a fast learner.

In the initial start, he missed his braking point on the long run to University Corner and ended up taking a detour into the grass run off.

A reg flag led to the race being restarted from their original grid positions, and Stacey made his second attempt count as he traded places with Dunlop - a nine-time NW200 winner - on several occasions on a thrilling final lap.

In doing so, he became the first winner in their debut year since Christian Elkin in 2007.

Dunlop is the one of the sport's biggest names, and the adulation Stacey received after defeating a fan favourite showed how he had been adopted by the local support.

There was a long queue outside his merchandise stall after his win and the top hats - which Stacey wears to promote talking about mental health and in tribute to his late father - were long sold out.

"I didn't think in my wildest dreams that he would be here winning two races, so he deserves all the credit in the world," said event director Mervyn Whyte.

His rivals were equally as impressed. Glenn Irwin had been talking about his British Superbike rival ahead of the event and wasn't surprised that he delivered.

The two had gone head-to-head in the final Superbike race, and Stacey's victory ended Irwin's 12-race winning streak in the category.

Irwin was circumspect, saying you "win some and you lose some" and added that Stacey "had done an incredible job".

He did, however, suggest that Stacey's inexperience at road racing led him to "ride harder" than the other competitors, and is hopeful he will "clean it up a little bit" due to the dangers of racing on closed public roads.

While Irwin lost his Superbike crown, he has welcomed the emergence of a new rival.

"He deserves the success now and whatever he has in the future," Irwin added.

"My rivals have changed every year since I've been here. At first it was Alastair [Seeley, the record wins holder], it was Davey [Todd] and Michael [Dunlop] at moments, Dean [Harrison] has pushed me every year and Storm is there now.

"Rivals always change. My motivation in racing is always to win. I'm grateful to have rivals.

"The rivalry is on track, and off track the respect is always there."

Despite Stacey's success, the overall event was overshadowed by the death of Czech Republic rider Kamil Holan in Superbike qualifying on Thursday morning.

Holan, 48, was the first rider to be killed at the North West 200 since Malachi Mitchell-Thomas in 2016, and the 20th in the 97-year history of the event.

His family gave their approval for the event to continue, as the riders on the grid vowed to race on in his memory.

The Czech flag on the main grandstand was flown at half mast and a minute's silence was held on the grid ahead of racing.

Stacey, too, had his own personal tribute.

Debutants at the North West 200 have to wear an orange vest to show they are new to the event.

After his first win, Stacey signed his and auctioned it off in the hospitality suite. It raised £3500, and all proceeds will go to the family of Holan.

While riders are rivals on track, Stacey's contribution highlighted how the road racing community comes together in times of tragedy.

Aged 62, and some 39 years senior to Stacey, Jeremy McWilliams rolled back the years to extend his record as the oldest rider to win at the North West 200.

The former MotoGP race winner claimed the second Supertwins race on Saturday after he was pipped in the opening race of the day.

McWilliams admitted he "got caught napping" on the final lap by race winner Peter Hickman, and while that may be a usual problem for someone eligible for their bus pass and pension, he bounced back with a dominant win in the penultimate race of the event.

"I've been chasing this for a while. People will say the older you get the less likely it is to come.

"This is for the people who believed in me."

Next month will mark the 25th anniversary of McWilliams' sole MotoGP win at Assen - before Stacey was even born.

But for McWilliams, winning at his home race is "possibly the best feeling you could ever get".

"Standing on top of that podium feels every bit as good as it did at Assen," he said.

For Dean Harrison, one of the most popular riders in the paddock, it was another case of what could have been as he missed out on a first North West 200 win.

Luck wasn't on his side as he was second in both Superbike races and the Supersport outing, all of which were impacted by red flags.

He was also contending in the Superstock race, where he was leading before a stoppage, and he was then forced out with a mechanical issue after the restart.

The final Superbike race was a 17th podium at the event for the Honda rider, but that victory remained elusive.

"I'm not disappointed, I've had a good day all-in-all.

"It's one of those things. I think I'm riding well so if I can bring that to the TT then I'll be fighting somewhere for a win."