By A close fought opening Super Twins practice session at the 2017 Vauxhall International North West 200, saw Riders Motorcycles backed Martin Jessopp finish quickest by over 1.6 seconds.
Showing the sort of form, that took him elite results a plenty last year around the Triangle, the Yeovil based rider lapped at 4 minutes 56.494 seconds to head Super Twins practice.
Photo by Rod Neill
Ryan Farquhar’s KMR Kawasaki team, got off to a strong start as Michael Rutter and Lee Johnston recorded the second and fourth fastest lap times as reigning Lightweight TT winner Ivan Lintin on the Dafabet Devitt Racing ER6 Kawasaki, sandwiched the KMR duo in third.
Next up on the time sheets was Ulster GP Super Twins winner Dan Cooper, followed by McAdoo Kawasaki’s James Cowton and fellow rising roads force, Cookstown BE Racing’s Derek Sheils.
Paul Jordan, Optimark Road Racing’s Xavier Denis and Canadian Darren James, eighth, ninth and tenth quickest all enjoyed a solid and productive practice session.
Same applied to leading newcomers ECTA Racing’s Mark Purslow, Greenhous Vauxhall backed Barry Furber, Matt Sadowski, Lee Bass and Dunlop Racing’s Sam Johnson.
Vauxhall International North West 200 – Super Twins Practice Times:
1 Martin Jessopp 4.56.494
2 Michael Rutter 4.58.171
3 Ivan Lintin 4.59.330
4 Lee Johnston 4.59.671
5 Dan Cooper 5.02.880
6 James Cowton 5.03.161
7 Derek Sheils 5.03.936
8 Paul Jordan 5.11.551
9 Xavier Denis 5.17.912
10 Darren James 5.18.091
11 Mark Purslow 5.23.987
12 Barry Furber 5.27.165
13 Matt Sadowski 5.27.953
14 Paul Gartland 5.28.720
15 Dave Madsen Mygdal 5.36.550
16 Lee Bass 5.41.532
17 Sam Johnson 5.42.656
18 Mark Shields 5.44.672
19 Sandy Berwick 5.46.634
20 Antonio Maeso 5.52.282
Words by Stevie Rial
