Before timed qualifying sessions began, the first Walderstown Road Races of this decade, received an added timely boost as 21 times TT winner Michael Dunlop, arrived this morning with his MD Racing van.
After ‘Race of The South’ newcomers practice laps, the race for Open/Grand Final position beckoned.
Last minute entrant Dunlop, was Buildbase Suzuki mounted and was quickly showing typically high-calibre form.
He wasn’t to take pole though as Duke Road Race Rankings leader, the in-form Michael Sweeney lapping at 1 minute 08.167 seconds took P1, edging BE Racing/RK Racing’s Michael Browne (1.08.413) by just 0.246 of a second.
109 times Irish road race winner Dunlop (1.08.855) was just a further 0.442 in arrears behind Browne.
Thomas Maxwell (1.09.300) placed P4 whilst respective fifth, sixth quickest competitors Graham Kennedy, James Chawke were the only remaining racers to lap sub 1 minute 12 seconds.
Wrapping up this afternoon’s top ten quickest Open/Grand Final class exponents were Wilson Craig Racing’s Darryl Tweed, Richard McLoughlin, Liam Chawke and prospective IRRC newcomer this month at Circuit De Chimay, Darryl Anderson.
Photo credit: Derek Wilson
Words by Stevie Rial #dontlefearcontrolyou