While North West 2011 will be remembered for mostly the wrong reasons, there was one pulsating race decided on the day.

The McKendry Fabrication Supersport race resulted in a win for Carrickfergus ace Alastair Seeley by less than a second from Cameron Donald after five breathtaking laps in overcast conditions with the track wet from a heavy rain shower.

After early skirmishes and slip streaming battles, the five-lap race went down to a last lap scrap between Seeley and Donald, who led temporarily, the Carrickfergus man responding to every challenge the Australian threw at him.

The race was decided on the last run along the Coast Road, Seeley taking his fifth North West 200 victory, denying Donald and Australia their first victory at the event by 0.8secs.

Seeley said afterwards, “I was fourth at one stage as we battled for position, but I fought back and took the lead and was surprised when Cameron pulled up alongside.

“He was good out of slow turns and had a good fast bike, but I was able to hang in there on the fast bits and then out-brake him. I knew if I rode defensively along the Coast Road the race was mine.”

Donald said: “That was good fun. It was a close race and Alastair was so good on the brakes. I tried to get past him at Church on the last lap, but couldn’t. I’m more than happy with second after the bike went sideways when I engaged the clutch at the start and I was last of the front group away.”

To make it a good race for the Wilson Craig Honda Team, Donald’s team-mate William Dunlop finished sixth, saying: “I’m not a fan of riding on wet roads, but when the machines are set up the way mine are at present I was brimming with confidence in the bike and it was easy to ride.

“I head off to the Isle of Man for the TT this week, and am really looking forward to it as I now know that I have the machinery to do well this year, and that’s what I am aiming to do.”