By Derek Sheils continued his great form from the Around A Pound Tandragee 100 at the KDM Hire Cookstown 100 today, by topping the time sheets in a close Open/Grand Final qualifying session.
Lapping at 1 minute 25.159 seconds, the reigning Irish road race Superbike champion proved again this afternoon, why he is so hard to beat within the nationals scene on the Emerald Isle.
Photo by Baylon McCaughey
Nearest challenger to the Cookstown BE Racing rider, was namesake Derek McGee, who finished just under half a second adrift aboard his own teams Kawasaki.
William Dunlop, now backed by the Temple Golf Club, showed good form in finishing third fastest, whilst McAdoo Kawasaki’s James Cowton impressed in sealing the fourth quickest time in qualifying.
The top six spots on the grid for tomorrow’s Open/Grand Final races, where sealed by Michael Sweeney (Martin Jones Racing BMW) and TAG Racing IRL’s Brian McCormack.
Graham Kennedy underlined his status as one of pure road racing’s most improved riders, in recording the seventh fastest time in front of Davy Morgan and Honda Racing’s Guy Martin who looks more at ease around the Orritor Circuit, than he did last weekend at Tandragee and Oliver’s Mount.
Adam McLean wrapped up the top ten in qualifying, which saw 23 riders in total seal their place within the Open/Grand Final fields.
KDM Hire Cookstown 100 – Qualifying times – Open/Grand Final races, are as follows:
1 Derek Sheils 1.25.159
2 Derek McGee 1.25.650
3 William Dunlop 1.25.701
4 James Cowton 1.26.930
5 Michael Sweeney 1.27.079
6 Brian McCormack 1.28.642
7 Graham Kennedy 1.28.790
8 Davy Morgan 1.30.006
9 Guy Martin 1.30.040
10 Adam McLean 1.30.351
11 Kevin Fitzpatrick 1.30.370
12 Alistair Kirk 1.30.549
13 Paul Jordan 1.30.933
14 Andy Farrell 1.31.198
15 Thomas Maxwell 1.31.219
16 Neil Kernohan 1.31.637
17 Mike Norbury 1.31.865
18 Michael Weldon 1.31.866
19 Dean Campbell 1.31.885
20 Seamus Elliott 1.32.263
21 Matt Rees 1.32.286
22 Paul Cranston 1.32.348
23 Dominic Herbertson 1.32.422
Words by Stevie Rial
