By Striking lap-times, striking lap-times, striking lap-times were the continuous story of IRRC Imatranajo, second Supersport qualifying.
At the mid-point of Q2, the top three order was Q1 topper Adam McLean, superb Jarno Saarinen Circuit Imatra newcomer Richard Cooper, HRT Racing’s Niko Tanskanen.
With just over six minutes of Q2 to go, Performance Racing Achterhoek’s McLean (1.54.765) setting unofficially the first ever sub 1.55 seconds lap-time on 600cc tackle, held provisional pole.
Seven times Northwest 200 winner Cooper (1.54.847), would soon join McLean in going under the 1.55 seconds barrier, getting to within 0.082 of the Tobermore rider, who upped the ante further on his eighth timed lap, moving into the low 1.54.7’s.
This proved Q2’s decisive moment as McLean carrying his favoured 56-plate, pocketed pole-position for this afternoon’s ten-lap IRRC Supersport race opener.
Open Supersport qualifying winner, second fastest Cooper, piloting the Boyce Precision Engineering by Russell Racing Yamaha, finished over 0.7 quicker than third swiftest, Laserscanning Europe by PSB Motorsport’s Petr Najman (1.55.561).
Marek Cerveny (1.56.859), prior spotlighted Niko Tanskanen (1.57.031) attained fourth, fifth best Q2 times whilst twice TT winner, Team Schleizer Dreieck’s Gary Johnson (1.57.765), chipped away with his turn of speed, on route to finishing sixth quickest.
Completing the session’s ten quickest competitors were Tandragee, Super Twins race winner Darryl Tweed (1.59.051), Matej Vit (1.59.536), Mauro Poncini (2.00.171) and JK36 Racing Ducati jockey, Juho Kantola (2.00.226).
IRRC Imatranajo – Supersport Second Qualifying Result:
1 – Adam McLean – 1.54.730
2 – Richard Cooper – 1.54.847
3 – Petr Najman – 1.55.561
4 – Marek Cerveny – 1.56.859
5 – Niko Tanskanen – 1.57.031
6 – Gary Johnson – 1.57.765
7 – Darryl Tweed – 1.59.051
8 – Matej Vit – 1.59.536
9 – Mauro Poncini – 2.00.171
10 – Juho Kantola – 2.00.226
11 – Rico Vetter – 2.00.487
12 – Mikko Uski – 2.01.050
13 – Sebastian Frotscher – 2.01.361
14 – Miika Viiperi – 2.01.981
15 – David Brook – 2.02.026
16 – Wesley Ankersmid – 2.02.793
17 – Ari Petteri Kuivalainen – 2.02.830
18 – Karel Brandtner – 2.02.854
19 – Mike Mace – 2.02.976
20 – Ilja Caljouw – 2.03.102
21 – Mathieu Rieder – 2.03.299
22 – Erno Kivimaki – 2.03.816
23 – Olli Konttinen – 2.04.208
24 – Osvaldas Lazdauskas – 2.04.656
25 – Jonas Stracke – 2.04.780
26 – Martin Baca – 2.04.894
27 – Thierry Vanhollebeke – 2.04.894
28 – Daniel Chovanec – 2.05.128
29 – Jonathan Lesceux – 2.06.567
30 – Brian Fuidge – 2.08.381
Photo credit: Thijs Van Der Horst
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
