By We’d had intriguing opening Supersport, Superbike qualifying sessions, what would Super Twins NW200 first qualifying provide?
Despite the weather struggling to make its’ mind up, rain, sun, clouds, light rain, conditions remained decent for Twins pilots.
Following a delay to proceedings, action got underway just before 1:40 PM.
As we neared the session’s halfway-point, the top three was Jeremy McWilliams, KMR Kawasaki’s Richard Cooper and Superbike Q1 pace setter Michael Dunlop.
Triple NW200 winner McWilliams (4:52.452) remained at the helm, as the session’s closing stages beckoned.
2.53 seconds separated the former Moto GP exponent and 47 plate holder Cooper.
Could anyone stop McWilliams clinching Q1 victory?
The answer was yes as ex National Superstock 1000 Champion Cooper, vaulted to P1, lapping under the existing lap record (4 minutes 49.037 seconds).
Third quickest behind Cooper, Bayview Hotel Paton’s McWilliams was PreZ Racing’s Paul Jordan who was just 0.814 faster than JMcC Roofing Racing’s Adam McLean.
Michael Dunlop, Lee Johnston made it four Northern Irish racers in the top six, whilst the remainder of this afternoon’s ten quickest Super Twins runners was made up by:
Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments Michael Sweeney and Stefano Bonetti, R7 Yamaha mounted Peter Hickman despite an obvious huge power deficit to the opposition and race winner last year Joe Loughlin.
Super Twins Q1 Result, reads as follows:
1 – Richard Cooper – 4:49.037
2 – Jeremy McWilliams – 4:52.452
3 – Paul Jordan – 4:56.801
4 – Adam McLean – 4:57.615
5 – Michael Dunlop – 4:59.210
6 – Lee Johnston – 5:00.181
7 – Michael Sweeney – 5:00.615
8 – Stefano Bonetti – 5:01.072
9 – Peter Hickman – 5:01.357
10 – Joe Loughlin – 5:07.701
11 – Brian McCormack – 5:11.638
12 – Jamie Williams – 5:12.605
13 – Kris Duncan – 5:13.512
14 – Ryan Whitehall – 5:13.832
15 – Emmet O’Grady – 5:15.367
16 – Cory West – 5:19.386
17 – Martin Morris – 5:21.242
18 – Julian Trummer – 5:23.732
19 – Phil Stewart – 5:25.230
20 – Dave Madsen Mygdal – 5:25.431
21 – Adam Child – 5:26.227
22 – Raul Torras Martinez – 5:26.998
23 – Gareth Arnold – 5:27.741
24 – Liam Chawke – 5:27.803
25 – Andy Hornby – 5:28.064
26 – Dennis Booth – 5:29.164
27 – RJ Woolsey – 5:35.572
28 – Mark Johnson – 5:36.573
29 – Christian Elkin – 5:37.231
30 – Gary McCoy – 5:41.501
31 – Brian Fuidge – 5:41.974
32 – Garth Woods – 6:04.741
Photo credit: Tommy Vennard
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
