By You could sense the excitement reaching fever pitch as Superbike first qualifying, dawned at the FonaCAB & Nicholl Oils North West 200.
Post the session’s mid-point stage, Hawk Racing’s Michael Dunlop had swooped to the top of the timing leader board, lapping at 4 minutes 25.869 seconds.
Top chasers at the time to Dunlop were Supersport Q1 pace setter Alastair Seeley and existing outright lap record holder Peter Hickman.
With just over six minutes of the session to run, Milwaukee BMW’s Seeley went fastest, posting a new PB lap time of 4:24.587 seconds.
As Q1 reached its’ climax, 21 times TT winner Dunlop was back into P1, going sub 4:23 seconds, pulling 1.929 clear of NW200 wins record holder Seeley.
Dunlop, Seeley would finish respectively first, second quickest.
Next up in P3 was fellow countryman, Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston (4:28.887).
FHO Racing’s Hickman, John McGuinness MBE looking in decent fettle, DAO Racing’s Dean Harrison would finalise the top six.
Positions seventh to tenth in SBK Q1 were accrued respectively by Davey Todd, Glenn Irwin who appeared not impressed at the session been reduced to thirty minutes, Manx ace Conor Cummins and top newcomer Michael Browne.
Superbike Q1 Result, reads as follows:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 4:22.658
2 – Alastair Seeley – 4:24.587
3 – Lee Johnston – 4:28.887
4 – Peter Hickman – 4:29.922
5 – John McGuinness MBE – 4:30.287
6 – Dean Harrison – 4:30.379
7 – Davey Todd – 4:30.740
8 – Glenn Irwin – 4:31.076
9 – Conor Cummins – 4:32.146
10 – Michael Browne – 4:33.796
11 – Nathan Harrison – 4:38.249
12 – Michael Sweeney – 4:38.267
13 – Adam McLean – 4:39.017
14 – Michael Rutter – 4:39.962
15 – Sam West – 4:41.512
16 – Craig Neve – 4:41.588
17 – James Hillier – 4:42.236
18 – Brian McCormack – 4:42.238
19 – Paul Jordan – 4:43.910
20 – Erno Kostamo – 4:43.989
21 – Gary McCoy – 4:44.269
22 – David Datzer – 4:44.605
23 – Emmet O’Grady – 4:44.787
24 – Julian Trummer – 4:45.987
25 – Michael Evans – 4:47.206
26 – Lukas Maurer – 4:48.388
27 – Leon Jeacock – 4:49.437
28 – Ryan Gibson – 4:50.237
29 – Eddy Ferre – 4:51.061
30 – James Chawke – 4:51.697
Photo credit: Tommy Vennard
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
