By Illustrating again why he is so widely tipped to enhance this week his International Road Race wins tally, that presently stands at 14, Smiths Racing’s Peter Hickman proved the dominant force within the opening Superbike qualifying session of this year’s FonaCAB Ulster Grand Prix.
Lapping just over the 131 mph lap mark, Hickman registered prior to wet weather entering the horizon, a quickest lap time of 3 minutes 23.022 seconds.
4.763 seconds down on the five times TT winner’s lap time was Milenco by Padgetts Conor Cummins (3.27.785), who like Hickman set his best time before inclement weather set in around the Dundrod course.
Steadily improving his pace, Penz 13 BMW’s Davey Todd (3.28.631) impressed in finishing third quickest in front of established International roads luminaries Lee Johnston (3.29.145) and Dunlop Senior TT champion Dean Harrison (3.29.157).
Recently crowned Irish Road Race Superbike Champion Derek Sheils (3.29.680) placed sixth quickest, whilst seventh fastest Dafabet Devitt Racing’s Paul Jordan (3.30.108) also showed an accomplished turn of pace.
As at Armoy going through and some the pain barrier, Tyco BMW’s Michael Dunlop (3.30.340) latest UGP tenure began by finishing a creditable eighth fastest.
Concluding the ten quickest competitors from the opening timed Superbike qualifying session, which was red flagged with nine minutes to go of the session still run, due to increasing rain, were Honda Racing’s David Johnson (3.32.526) and PreZ Racing’s in form Jamie Coward (3.33.693).
Ulster GP Superbike Q1 result, is as follows:
1 Peter Hickman 3.23.022
2 Conor Cummins 3.27.785
3 Davey Todd 3.28.631
4 Lee Johnston 3.29.145
5 Dean Harrison 3.29.157
6 Derek Sheils 3.29.680
7 Paul Jordan 3.30.108
8 Michael Dunlop 3.30.340
9 David Johnson 3.32.526
10 Jamie Coward 3.33.693
11 Phil Crowe 3.33.767
12 Michael Sweeney 3.33.980
13 Sam West 3.34.300
14 Brian McCormack 3.34.304
15 David Jackson 3.34.446
16 Dominic Herbertson 3.36.000
17 Ryan Kneen 3.36.792
18 Shaun Anderson 3.38.527
19 Xavier Denis 3.39.867
20 Josh Daley 3.40.500
21 Forest Dunn 3.40.765
22 David McConnachy 3.42.206
23 Gareth Keys 3.43.074
24 Michael Booth 3.44.321
25 Neil Kernohan 3.44.569
26 Laurent Hoffmann 3.45.193
27 Tom Weeden 3.46.266
28 Mark Parrett 3.46.541
29 Stephen McKnight 3.46.634
30 Alan Connor 3.47.314
31 Kamil Holan 3.47.616
32 Patricia Fernandez 3.48.040
33 James Chawke 3.48.074
34 Donald MacFadyen 3.48.712
35 Darren Cooper 3.48.941
36 Davy Morgan 3.49.399
37 Kris Duncan 3.49.493
38 Paul Cranston 3.49.551
39 Raul Torras Martinez 3.50.807
40 Barry Furber 3.51.327
41 George Spence 3.52.109
42 Richard Charlton 3.54.338
43 Paul Gartland 3.55.766
44 Marty Lennon 3.58.085
45 Andy Sellars 4.05.487
Words by Stevie Rial
