By Living up to his nickname ‘The Ramsey Rocket’, Conor Cummins absolutely obliterated the Superbike qualifying lap record at the MCE Insurance Ulster Grand Prix, to clinch pole position for this afternoon’s opening big bike encounter.
Padgetts Cummins, runner up in the RST Superbike race of TT 2018, record setting lap time of 3 minutes 18.631 seconds, equated in lap speed terms to an astonishing 134.138 mph.
His historic lap speed, gave him an advantage at the helm of the combined qualifying time sheets, of just over 0.9 of a second, as Silicone Engineering Racing’s Dean Harrison (3.19.534) lead the challenge to the Manxman.
Third quickest was Smiths Racing’s Peter Hickman (3.20.745), who’s pace was a touch deceiving, given that early on during the session technical issues struck his S1000RR BMW, curtailing any further chance of improving upon his quickest lap speed of 132.725 mph.
Fourth fastest behind the unlucky Hickman, was Tyco BMW’s David Johnson (3.21.642), whilst fifth quickest Davey Todd (3.22.016) once again impressed aboard the Cookstown BE Racing GSX-R 1000 Suzuki.
Honda Racing’s Lee Johnston (3.23.689) banked sixth on the time sheets, whilst seventh and eighth quickest times were recorded respectively by next gen stars Paul Jordan (3.25.945) and Sam West (3.25.977).
Concluding the ten fastest combined Superbike qualifiers, were Derek McGee (3.26.146) and Martin Jones Racing’s Michael Sweeney (3.26.827).
Combined qualifying results, are as follows:
1 Conor Cummins 3.18.631
2 Dean Harrison 3.19.534
3 Peter Hickman 3.20.745
4 David Johnson 3.21.642
5 Davey Todd 3.22.016
6 Lee Johnston 3.23.689
7 Paul Jordan 3.25.945
8 Sam West 3.25.977
9 Derek McGee 3.26.146
10 Michael Sweeney 3.26.827
11 Adam McLean 3.28.845
12 Dan Cooper 3.28.985
13 Dominic Herbertson 3.29.608
14 Brian McCormack 3.29.840
15 Ryan Kneen 3.30.288
16 David Jackson 3.30.770
17 Shaun Anderson 3.30.829
18 Michael Booth 3.30.937
19 Darren Cooper 3.31.987
20 Mark Goodings 3.32.355
21 Forest Dunn 3.32.412
22 Seamus Elliott 3.33.815
23 Dave Hewson 3.35.991
24 Josh Daley 3.36.382
25 Mark Parrett 3.36.786
26 Graham Kennedy 3.36.993
27 Kris Duncan 3.37.191
28 Davy Morgan 3.37.467
29 Fabrice Miguet 3.38.075
30 George Spence 3.38.755
Words by Stevie Rial
