By Cookstown BE Racing’s Derek Sheils continued his tumultuous start to the 2018 roads season, today at the Around A Pound Tandragee 100, as he banked in fine style pole position for tomorrow’s Open and Senior Open races.
GSX-R 1000 Suzuki mounted Sheils the only racer to crack the 3 minute barrier, lap time of 2 minutes 59.435 seconds, placed him almost 0.8 clear of nearest challenger in qualifying, Mullingar’s Derek McGee.
Tyco BMW’s Dan Kneen, got his 2018 season off to a solid start, finishing third quickest, as he steadily re-acclimatised himself with the fast flowing, tight and technical roads of Tandragee.
Whilst Banbridge’s Shaun Anderson fourth fastest, produced one of the undoubted performances of qualifying, heading on the time sheets respectively, Michael Sweeney, William Dunlop, and Duke Road Race Rankings championship leader, Adam McLean.
The top ten in qualifying was concluded by lead newcomer Davey Todd, Seamus Elliott and 2015 Irish road race Senior Support champion, Kevin Fitzpatrick.
Around A Pound Tandragee 100 – Open/Senior Open qualifying lap times, are as follows:
1 Derek Sheils 2.59.435
2 Derek McGee 3.00.222
3 Dan Kneen 3.01.915
4 Shaun Anderson 3.03.989
5 Michael Sweeney 3.04.620
6 William Dunlop 3.04.865
7 Adam McLean 3.06.772
8 Davey Todd 3.07.957
9 Seamus Elliott 3.09.602
10 Kevin Fitzpatrick 3.10.002
11 Stephen McKnight 3.11.279
12 Andy Farrell 3.12.195
13 Thomas Maxwell 3.12.580
14 Paul Williams 3.14.266
15 Steven Procter 3.14.422
16 Paul Cranston 3.14.729
17 Graham Kennedy 3.14.731
18 James Chawke 3.15.235
19 Darryl Tweed 3.15.803
20 Tom Robinson 3.16.208
Words by Stevie Rial
