By Non-inclement weather all-round was a pleasant sight for Super Twins speedsters who opened second qualifying proceedings at this year’s FonaCAB & Nicholl Oils North West 200.
Just over 15 minutes behind schedule, competition commenced with a vibrant mix of Kawasaki’s, Aprilia’s, Paton’s taking to the 8.97 miles long Triangle course.
Backing up the pace he showed during Q1, JMcC Roofing Kawasaki mounted Richard Cooper quickly went fastest by almost three seconds over Frenchman Pierre Yves Bian.
Cooper’s first flying lap, 4 minutes 53.175 seconds was just over 0.7 off the existing Twins lap record held by Martin Jessopp.
Manx GP winner, IRRC Supersport Champion Yves Bian then went P1 lapping at 4 minutes 52.995 seconds.
He maintained provisional pole position until 28 minutes into the session, former National Superstock 1000 Champion Cooper, registered unofficially a new Super Twins lap record, lapping at 4 minutes 51.951 seconds.
This placed him one second ahead of Yves Bian whilst P3 on the live-timing leader-board was Team ILR/Mark Coverdale’s Joe Loughlin.
Towards the session’s conclusion Paul Jordan, despite nursing a hand-injury from an incident at Cookstown, went third quickest lapping at 4 minutes 53.778 seconds.
Out front, Cooper, Yves Bian who’s pace wasn’t a surprise to those closely aligned to the roads scene remained first, second quickest.
Ulster GP podium finisher Loughlin finished fourth quickest, veteran Jeremy McWilliams was fifth fastest with P6 occupied by KTS Racing Powered by Steadplan’s Jamie Coward.
Seventh to tenth quickest were respectively Michael Dunlop, top Aprilia runner Lee Johnston, nine times Macau GP winner Michael Rutter and current Duke Road Race Rankings Champion Michael Sweeney.
North West 200 – Super Twins Q2 result, reads as follows:
Super Twins:
1 Richard Cooper – 4.51.951
2 Pierre Yves Bian – 4.52.995
3 Paul Jordan – 4.53.778
4 Joe Loughlin – 4.54.948
5 Jeremy McWilliams – 4.55.087
6 Jamie Coward – 4.56.251
7 Michael Dunlop – 4.56.403
8 Lee Johnston – 4.57.850
9 Michael Rutter – 4.59.174
10 Michael Sweeney – 4.59.836
11 Christian Elkin – 5.01.738
12 Dominic Herbertson – 5.03.067
13 Peter Hickman – 5.03.404
14 Matt Rees – 5.04.170
15 Gary McCoy – 5.05.241
16 Andrea Majola – 5.07.147
17 Stefano Bonetti – 5.07.583
18 Brian McCormack – 5.08.322
19 Craig Neve – 5.08.505
20 Darren James – 5.08.924
21 Marty Lennon – 5.10.376
22 Emmet O’Grady – 5.11.517
23 Barry Graham – 5.13.528
24 Kris Duncan – 5.17.317
25 Ryan Gibson – 5.18.905
26 Raul Torras Martinez – 5.19.463
27 Julian Trummer – 5.20.005
28 Xavier Denis – 5.21.814
29 Anthony Redmond – 5.25.350
30 Gareth Arnold – 5.26.676
31 Maria Costello MBE – 5.27.435
32 Ryan Whitehall – 5.28.232
33 Paul Cranston – 5.28.634
34 Phil Stewart – 5.32.424
35 Dave Madsen Mygdal – 5.34.139
36 Mark Johnson – 5.36.199
37 Jack Petrie – 5.36.994
38 RJ Woolsey – 5.39.391
39 Eric Wilson – 5.41.752
40 Brian Fuidge – 5.45.461
41 Adam McLean – 5.47.235
42 Ramon Basomba – 5.50.140
Photo credit: Tommy Vennard
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
