Vauxhall International North West 200
Triangle Circuit, Northern Ireland
May 14, 2015
Superbike Second Qualifying Results:
1. Alastair Seeley (BMW S1000RR), 4:25.664, 121.552 mph
2. Lee Johnston (BMW S1000RR), 4:28.143, 120.428 mph
3. John McGuinness (Hon CBR1000RR), 4:29.097, 120.001 mph
4. Bruce Anstey (Hon CBR1000RR), 4:29.825, 119.678 mph
5. William Dunlop (BMW S1000RR), 4:30.518, 119.371 mph
6. Michael Rutter (BMW S1000RR), 4:31.223, 119.061 mph
7. Michael Dunlop (Yam YZF-R1), 4:31.240, 119.053 mph
8. Dean Harrison (Yam YZF-R1), 4:31.297, 119.028 mph
9. Conor Cummins (Hon CBR1000RR), 4:31.456, 118.959 mph
10. Martin Jessopp (BMW S1000RR), 4:31.867, 118.779 mph
11. Ian Hutchinson (Kaw ZX-10R), 4:32.077, 118.687 mph
12. James Hillier (Kaw ZX-10R), 4:32.993, 118.289 mph
13. Ryan Farquhar (Kaw ZX-10R), 4:33.100, 118.242 mph
14. Guy Martin (BMW S1000RR), 4:33.819, 117.932 mph
15. Horst Saiger (Kaw ZX-10R), 4:34.094, 117.814 mph
16. Jamie Hamilton (Suz GSX-R1000), 4:36.020, 116.992 mph
17. Stephen Thompson (BMW S1000RR), 4:36.429, 116.818 mph
18. Keith Amor (BMW S1000RR), 4:36.802, 116.661 mph
19. Dan Kneen (Hon CBR1000RR), 4:39.052, 115.720 mph
20. David Johnson (BMW S1000RR), 4:40.369, 115.177 mph
42. Brandon Cretu (Bim BB3), 4:52.860, 110.264 mph
More, from a press release issued by Pacemaker Press International on behalf of series organizers:
ALASTAIR SEELEY ON POLE FOR SATURDAY’S SUPERBIKE RACES AT THE 2015 VAUXHALL INTERNATIONAL NORTH WEST 200
Alastair Seeley dominated practice once again at today’s 2015 Vauxhall International North West 200 today.
The Carrickfergus man topped all three classes he is competing in at the seaside event on Tuesday and he repeated the feat today, taking pole position for Saturday’s Superbike races on the Tyco BMW S1000RR. The 34 year old also topped the leaderboard in the Superstock and Supersport sessions.
“All of the bikes are working well and it just seemed that all the riders who start in front of me are coming back to me,” a delighted Seeley said afterwards. “We didn’t make any major changes to tehj bike from Tuesday because there is no point in fixing what isn’t broken. I made a tyre change on the Stocker that I wanted to try on the big bike but the session was cut short and I didn’t get the chance.”
Seeley must now feel super confident going into Saturday’s Superbike races after finishing a massive 2.479 seconds faster than second placed Lee Johnston on the ECC/Burdens BMW with a lap of 121.552mph.
“We have a little issue with the brakes and hopefully when we get that sorted we will go faster,” Johnston said after grabbing the second front row spot on Saturday’s superbike grid. “I only did two flying laps before I came in and those are the first two dry laps I have had on the bike.”
His fine superbike qualifying performance was consolation for the Fermanagh man after he failed to get in a lap during the Supersport session on the ECC/Burdens Triumph. The clutch broke on the opening lap and after Johnston returned to the pits and had it replaced he was forced to retire when the coil packed on the next lap.
Veteran John McGuinness, celebrating 25 years of racing this season, was third fastest on the factory Honda Fireblade.
“Don’t sound so surprised!” the 21 times TT winner joked. “I knew we had a strong package and that I would be competitive. The front row is where you need to be and it’s a bonus because all of the best road racers in the world are here. I am in amongst all the fast kids on the fast bikes in the fast teams!”
The TT lap record holder, Bruce Anstey, was fourth fastest on the Padgett’s Valvoline Honda. William Dunlop was fifth quickest on a second Tyco BMW in spite of injuring his left hip after he highsided at York on the CD Racing Yamaha during the Supersport session.
13 times North West winner Michael Rutter finished just behind Dunlop on another BMW, the Penz13.com S1000RR.
Last year’s feature race winner, Michael Dunlop was over 5.5 seconds slower on the Milwaukee Yamaha than Seeley’s fastest time with Dean Harrison another 5/100ths back on the MarTrain R1.
Dunlop fared better in the Superstock class where he was only 0.752 seconds slower than Seeley on the stock version of the Milwaukee R1 with Lee Johnston once again making the top three on the ECR/Burdens BMW.
Comeback hero and 2012 winner, Ryan Farquhar topped the listings in the Supertwins class on his SGS/KMR Kawasaki ahead of Martin Jessopp (VRS Kawasaki) and James Hillier (Quattro Plant Kawasaki). Grand Prix legend Jeremy McWilliams was fourth quickest on a second SGS/KMR Kawasaki
In the Supersport class Bruce Anstey was second fastest to Seeley, 0.695 seconds slower with William Dunlop taking third in spite of his crash at York, which saw the session being red flagged. But once again it was newcomer Glenn Irwin who caused a sensation, taking fourth spot on the Gear Link Kawasaki.
“I am disappointed not to be on pole.” the Carrickfergus youngster said.
Irwin’s father Alan, one of the North West’s leading competitors of the Eighties and Nineties, has been giving his young protégé some tips on riding the 8.9 mile Triangle course.
“My nerves are shattered!” Irwin senior admitted after the session.
“But Glenn is doing really well and it is a long time since someone did what he is doing. He has been getting quicker on every lap.”
James Cowton will not be in action during this evening’s racing after sustaining a suspected dislocated shoulder after crashing the Stewart Smith ER6 Kawasaki at Church corner during the Supertwins qualifying session.
Racing commences on the Triangle course at 6pm this evening with roads closing at 5.15pm.
There will three races including the EventServ Supersport Race over 6 laps, the Vauxhall Supertwin Race over 4 laps and the Spidi Superstock Race over 6 laps
Seeley, Irwin and the rest of the North West 200 pack will take to the circuit on Saturday at 10am with roads closing at 9.15am.
Saturday’s race programme is scheduled as
Betmclean.com Supersport Race (6 laps)
Monster Energy Superbike Race (7 laps)
The Anchor Portstewart Supertwin Race (4 laps)
CP Hire Superstock Race (6 laps)
Vauxhall NW200 Superbike Race (7 laps).
More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:
Front row start for John McGuinness at the North West 200
Today in sunny and dry conditions the second and final qualifying session for the 2015 North West 200 in Northern Ireland took place. Honda Racing’s John McGuinness and Conor Cummins will start Saturday’s Superbike bike races from third and ninth on the grid.
Due to a delay in the Supersport session qualifying for Superbike was reduced to 35-minutes, but a red flag 25-minutes in saw the session finish early due to a non-race related incident. Practice was also affected on Tuesday due to weather conditions on the 8.9-mile circuit.
The combined qualifying times put McGuinness on the front row of the grid in third place and Cummins will start on the third row in ninth onboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP, for Saturday’s two Superbike races.
The schedule for Saturday is below, with roads closing at 0930hrs BST.
Supersport (6 laps)
Superbike (7 laps)
Supertwin (4 laps)
Superstock (6 laps)
Superbike (7 laps)
For the latest news and information on the team follow @HondaRacingCBR
John McGuinness
We’ve got a really solid package with the Superbike and probably one of the best bikes out there. I’m really happy to be starting from the front row of the grid on Saturday. I’m feeling great this year; last year was tough with my wrist injury but all that’s behind me now and it’s not causing me any problems. We’re solid and I am really looking forward to seeing what we can do on race day.
Conor Cummins
The practice sessions have been eventful this week and we’ve not managed a clean run so far with the weather on Tuesday and the session unfortunately being red flagged and cut short today. I did have a good run on the Superbike today though and am feeling ready to race it now, and can’t wait until Saturday.
Neil Tuxworth
Today’s session finished a little bit early due to a house fire, but it’s the same for all teams. John ended up third overall, which sees him on the front row of the grid and Conor was ninth overall so he will start from the third row for Saturday’s races. It was a good session all-round for us and it was dry compared to Tuesday. Both riders are very happy with no problems to report and we’re looking forward to race day.