By Following yesterday’s tragic news, God-speed Queen Elizabeth II, the Mid Antrim 150 Organisers made the decision this morning to continue to run the Maine Surface Finishing, titled supported meeting.
Competitive action commenced just past 1:00 PM, as event newcomers took to the Clough circuit.
Four allcomers group practice stints would follow before timed qualifying sessions began.
Opening qualifying action saw Keelim Ryan, Barry Davidson, Nigel Moore and John Ella vault respectively to Lightweight Supersport, Supersport 300, Moto 3, 250 pole positions.
Lightweight Supersport class pace setter Ryan, who has already this year clinched two Irish Road Race Championship titles, powered to Senior Support pole, finishing 1.342 seconds ahead of Manxman Marcus Simpson.
Brian Mateer led the way in the Junior 250 Classics fraternity whilst Barry Davidson, aiming to crack this weekend the 100 Irish road race wins mark, headed the Junior 350 Classics group.
The following Supersport session saw the Michael’s Sweeney & Browne, jostling it out for P1 on the grid for tomorrow’s seven lap race.
Ultimately, current Duke Road Race Rankings Champion Sweeney proved fastest, lapping at 1 minute 57.615 seconds, finishing 0.123 quicker than BE Racing/RK Racing’s Browne.
Third to sixth quickest were Graham Kennedy, Darryl Tweed piloting his own 600 Honda after Wilson Craig Racing’s decision not to compete, York’s Joey Thompson and recent IRRC exponent Darryl Anderson.
Junior Support qualifying proved prodigious for above showcased Manxman Marcus Simpson, finishing fastest by 2.2 seconds plus over 97 plate holder Anthony O’Carroll.
John Leigh Pemberton edged out fellow yesteryear racing stalwart Wattie Brown, to top the Senior 500 Classics times sheet whilst Senior 1000 Classic honours went to impressive Mid Antrim debutant Andy Hornby.
Friday’s qualifying action concluded with aforementioned Irish Road Race Superbike Champion, Michael Sweeney, commandingly at the helm of the Super Twins field.
Sweeney’s best lap of 2.03.508 seconds, placed him almost four seconds to the good ahead of top chaser Kris Duncan.
Attentions now turn towards race day, with a nine-race schedule in prospect for event participants.
Photo credit: Derek Wilson
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
