Showing again the qualities that have made him the most successful rider in North West 200 history, Tyco BMW’s Alastair Seeley (4.48.458) produced another masterful display around the Triangle, to head today the Superstock Q1 time sheets.
The only rider to dip under the 4 minutes 50 seconds mark, he finished just over 2.6 seconds clear of nearest challenger in qualifying, Bathams SMT Racing’s Michael Rutter (4.51.197).
Photo by Rod Neill
Dan Kneen (4.52.354) got the better of his Tyco BMW superbike team mate Michael Dunlop (4.52.821) to finish third fastest, whilst Silicone Engineering Racing’s Dean Harrison (4.53.764) fifth quickest, was the leading non BMW Motorrad mounted competitor.
Sixth, seventh and eighth within the time sheets, Gulf BMW’s David Johnson (4.57.583), Quattro Plant/JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Hillier (4.58.133) and Honda Racing’s Lee Johnston (4.58.923) all showed tenacious, solid accomplished form in trying mixed wet, damp conditions on the Triangle course.
The same terms were also very much applicable to ninth and tenth quickest respectively, McAdoo Kawasaki’s James Cowton (5.02.586), RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki’s Gary Johnson (5.02.722).
Superstock Q1, full results are as follows:
1 Alastair Seeley 4.48.458
2 Michael Rutter 4.51.197
3 Dan Kneen 4.52.354
4 Michael Dunlop 4.52.821
5 Dean Harrison 4.53.764
6 David Johnson 4.57.583
7 James Hillier 4.58.133
8 Lee Johnston 4.58.923
9 James Cowton 5.02.586
10 Gary Johnson 5.02.722
11 Peter Hickman 5.04.129
12 Derek McGee 5.04.543
13 Sam West 5.04.736
14 Dan Cooper 5.07.178
15 Stefano Bonetti 5.07.431
16 Adam McLean 5.10.185
17 Forest Dunn 5.13.108
18 Michael Sweeney 5.15.113
19 William Dunlop 5.18.766
20 Darren Cooper 5.21.145
21 Davey Todd 5.23.474
22 Xavier Denis 5.23.609
23 Mark Goodings 5.24.861
24 Raul Torras Martinez 5.25.631
25 Adrian Clark 5.30.122
26 Jean Pierre Polet 5.30.325
27 Nadieh Schoots 5.30.695
28 Joey Den Besten 5.35.777
29 Marty Lennon 5.38.300
30 Martin Jessopp 5.42.131
31 Paul Williams 5.43.296
32 Donald MacFadyen 5.45.359
33 Bruce Birnie 5.50.248
34 Toni Rechberger 5.50.753
35 Conor Cummins 6.11.900
36 Stephen Degnan 7.07.772
37 Craig Neve 7.16.983
38 Dominic Herbertson 9.52.131
Words by Stevie Rial