Fresh from making a late decision to compete this weekend, BE Racing In Conjunction With Richardson Kelly Racing’s Derek Sheils proved formidable in Open, Grand Final class qualifying at Kells.
The only rider to lap under the 1 minute 16 second, 1 minute 15 second barrier, Sheils best lap time of 1 minute 14.899 seconds, gave him an advantage of just over 1.3 seconds over nearest challenger in qualifying, Martin Jones Racing’s Michael Sweeney (1.16.355).
Photo by Road Racing Daily
Behind Sheils, Sweeney, third quickest Paul Jordan (1.16.888) led the Supersport challenge aboard his own teams Yamaha, finishing nigh on 0.18 clear of fourth fastest, reigning Newcomers A Manx GP champion Thomas Maxwell (1.17.073).
Skerries Andy Farrell (1.19.554), multi Ultra Lightweight Manx GP winner Darryl Tweed (1.19.882) registered fifth, sixth quickest, whilst just 0.4 of a second covered seventh, eighth, ninth fastest respectively Alan Connor (1.20.116), Kevin Fitzpatrick (1.20.273) and Cornwall’s Forest Dunn (1.20.510).
Paul Gartland (1.20.621) finalised the ten quickest Open/Grand Final class exponents, whilst others to quietly impress included Graham Kennedy (1.21.322), new Team DHR signing Gareth Keys (1.22.061), Stephen Tobin (1.23.074) and Ryan Maher (1.23.495).
Kells: Open/Grand Final qualifying result is as follows:
1 Derek Sheils 1.14.899
2 Michael Sweeney 1.16.355
3 Paul Jordan 1.16.888
4 Thomas Maxwell 1.17.073
5 Andy Farrell 1.19.554
6 Darryl Tweed 1.19.882
7 Alan Connor 1.20.116
8 Kevin Fitzpatrick 1.20.273
9 Forest Dunn 1.20.510
10 Paul Gartland 1.20.621
11 Graham Kennedy 1.21.322
12 Michal Dokoupil 1.21.550
13 Gareth Keys 1.22.061
14 Stephen Tobin 1.23.074
15 Donald MacFadyen 1.23.262
16 Ryan Maher 1.23.495
17 Noel Carroll 1.23.738
18 Stephen Casey 1.24.781
19 Paul Fallon 1.25.102
Words by Stevie Rial