By The action on track in this afternoon’s Open Championship qualifying session at Armoy, was as intense as the warm weather, as a selection of the world’s best road racers battled it out for qualifying honours.
Emerging quickest was BE Racing In Conjunction with Richardson Kelly Racing’s Derek Sheils, who registered an accomplished best lap time of 1 minute 43.554 seconds.
Photo by Rod Neill
Leading the chase to Metzeler ‘King of The Roads’ series leader Sheils, was Mullingar’s Derek McGee (1.44.772), who’s late burst of pace saw him overtake Martin Jones Racing’s Michael Sweeney (1.45.807), to finish second fastest.
Quite incredibly fourth fastest behind Sheils, McGee and Sweeney was 19 times TT winner Michael Dunlop (1.46.719).
In spite of carrying various injuries from a recent incident at the Southern 100, Tyco BMW Superbike mounted Dunlop showed all of his notorious grit, determination, super human like qualities to finish fourth on the qualifying times sheet.
Thomas Maxwell placed fifth fastest behind the heroic Dunlop, whilst Davies Motorsport’s in form Dominic Herbertson closely was only 0.007 of a second down, on 2018 Newcomers A Manx GP victor Maxwell’s best lap time.
Finalising the top ten from an ultra competitive qualifying session were Logan Racing’s Neil Kernohan, lead Armoy debutant James Chawke, Post TT Supersport winner Michael Browne and Preston’s Darren Cooper.
Armoy: Open Championship qualifying result, is as follows:
1 Derek Sheils 1.43.554
2 Derek McGee 1.44.772
3 Michael Sweeney 1.45.807
4 Michael Dunlop 1.46.719
5 Thomas Maxwell 1.47.900
6 Dominic Herbertson 1.47.907
7 Neil Kernohan 1.48.254
8 James Chawke 1.48.357
9 Michael Browne 1.48.721
10 Darren Cooper 1.50.295
11 Shaun Anderson 1.50.621
12 Gareth Keys 1.50.623
13 Sam West 1.51.373
14 Marc Ironside 1.51.382
15 Tom Weeden 1.51.612
16 Darryl Tweed 1.52.062
17 Andy Farrell 1.52.367
18 Graham Kennedy 1.52.846
19 Davy Morgan 1.53.923
20 Kris Duncan 1.54.089
21 Stephen McKnight 1.54.129
22 Paul Gartland 1.54.768
23 Ben Rea 1.54.871
24 Alan Connor 1.55.695
25 Donald MacFadyen 1.56.112
26 Paul Cranston 1.57.434
27 Dennis Booth 1.58.440
28 Richard McLoughlin 1.58.890
Words by Stevie Rial
