Dan Kneen broke Michael Dunlop’s lap record on his way to winning a pulsating Tandragee 100 Superbike race in Northern Ireland on Saturday.

Limbering up for next week’s North West 200, the 30-year-old Manxman claimed his first win on a Tyco BMW in a thrilling finish to the main feature race in which seven tenths of a second covered the top four.

Road race fans all round the 5.3-mile County Armagh course were treated to some spectacular racing in idyllic conditions at what was the 58th edition of the event.

Derek Sheils led off the line followed by Derek McGee, Michael Sweeney and Kneen. This was pretty much the same for the opening laps before McGee forced his way into the lead, and Kneen edged past Sweeney

William Dunlop were also swapping places, but unfortunately both riders retired after a coming together when tussling for the same piece of tarmac at Bells Crossroads. Both were okay.

After making a steady start, Kneen came to the fore on the penultimate lap when he broke Michael Dunlop’s lap record that had stood since 2009.

At the flag he was the winner by 0.453 of a second from McGee, who in turn beat Sheils by one thousandth of a second for second place. Less than half a second covered the top three at the flag.

Dubliner Sheils had earlier won the Open Superbike race on the Burrows Engineering Suzuki, beating Kneen by 0.8 of a second, with McGee a close third.

The latter had earlier won the 600cc race, which Kneen had not contested.

Chris McGahan of Peel finished third in the 350cc Classic race won by Barry Davidson from George Stinson.