Vauxhall International North West 200
Triangle Circuit, Northern Ireland
May 9, 2017
Superbike First Qualifying Results:
1. Alastair Seeley (BMW S1000RR), Lap Time 4:25.100, Average Lap Speed 121.811 mph
2. Michael Rutter (BMW S1000RR), 4:26.670, 121.093 mph
3. Michael Dunlop (Suz GSX-R1000), 4:27.639, 120.655 mph
4. Ian Hutchinson (BMW S1000RR), 4:29.782, 119.697 mph
5. Glenn Irwin (Duc Panigale R), 4:30.030, 119.587 mph
6. Martin Jessopp (BMW S1000RR), 4:31.272, 119.039 mph
7. John McGuinness (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 4:32.280, 118.599 mph
8. Lee Johnston (Hon CBR1000RR), 4:32.477, 118.513 mph
9. Peter Hickman (BMW S1000RR), 4:33.815, 117.934 mph
10. Dean Harrison (Kaw ZX-10R), 4:34.657, 117.572 mph
Superstock (1000cc) First Qualifying Results:
1. Michael Rutter (BMW S1000RR), 4:24.634, 122.025 mph
2. Alastair Seeley (BMW S1000RR), 4:24.775, 121.960 mph
3. Lee Johnston (BMW S1000RR), 4:25.173, 121.777 mph
4. Ian Hutchinson (BMW S1000RR), 4:26.265, 121.278 mph
5. Dean Harrison (Kaw ZX-10R), 4:28.977, 120.055 mph
6. Martin Jessopp (BMW S1000RR), 4:30.355, 119.443 mph
7. Michael Dunlop (Suz GSX-R1000), 4:30.552, 119.356 mph
8. Peter Hickman (BMW S1000RR), 4:31.127, 119.103 mph
9. William Dunlop (Yam YZF-R1), 4:31.137, 119.098 mph
10. Horst Saiger (Kaw ZX-10R), 4:32.857, 118.348 mph
Supersport (600cc) First Qualifying Results:
1. Alastair Seeley (Kaw ZX-6R), 4:41.480, 114.722 mph
2. Dean Harrison (Kaw ZX-6R), 4:42.975, 114.116 mph
3. Lee Johnston (Hon CBR600RR), 4:43.968, 113.717 mph
4. Martin Jessopp (Tri Daytona 675R), 4:45.063, 113.280 mph
5. John McGuinness (Hon CBR600RR), 4:45.893, 112.951 mph
6. Michael Dunlop (Yam YZF-R6), 4:47.344, 112.381 mph
7. James Hillier (Kaw ZX-6R), 4:47.899, 112.164 mph
8. Bruce Anstey (Hon CBR600RR), 4:48.529, 111.919 mph
9. Michael Sweeney (Yam YZF-R6), 4:49.452, 111.563 mph
10. Horst Saiger (Kaw ZX-6R), 4:49.908, 111.387 mph
Supertwin First Qualifying Practice:
1. Martin Jessopp (Kaw 650), 4:56.494, 108.913 mph
2. Michael Rutter (Kaw 650), 4:58.171, 108.300 mph
3. Ivan Lintin (Kaw 650), 4:59.330, 107.881 mph
4. Lee Johnston (Kaw 650), 4:59.671, 107.758 mph
5. Daniel Cooper (Kaw 650), 5:02.880, 106.616 mph
6. James Cowton (Kaw 650), 5:03.161, 106.518 mph
7. Derek Sheils (Kaw 650), 5:03.936, 106.246 mph
8. Paul Jordan (Kaw 650), 5:11.551, 103.649 mph
9. Xavier Denis (Kaw 650), 5:17.912, 101.575 mph
10. Darren James (Kaw 650), 5:18.091, 101.518 mph
12. Matt Sadowski (Kaw 650), 5:27.953, 98.465 mph
More, from a press release issued by the North West 200 Press Office:
ALASTAIR SEELEY TOPS SUPERBIKE PRACTICE TIMES IN 2017 VAUXHALL INTERNATIONAL NORTH WEST 200 OPENING PRACTICE SESSION
Alastair Seeley underlined why he is the most successful Vauxhall International North West 200 rider of all-time by topping the time sheets in the opening Superbike and Supersport practice sessions for the 2017 event. The 17 times race winner steered his Tyco BMW to a lap of 4 mins 25.1 seconds in perfect conditions on the 8.9 mile Triangle circuit.
The Superbike session was cut short after a rider crashed at Black Hill in the opening 600cc session but Seeley lost no time in making his mark.
“The superbike felt good but I didn’t go mad out there today.” the Carrickfergus rider smiled.
“We had new brakes to bed in and new tyres but the BMW felt very fast.”
Seeley pulled into the pits to make a change to his gearing and returned to the track to go even faster.
“I got tucked in behind John McGuinness and Glenn Irwin on my last lap and passed both of them on track to set my fastest time.” he explained.
The two quickest laps of the day were actually posted during the later Superstock session. Both Seeley and veteran Michael Rutter went faster on their stocker spec BMWs than they had on the superbikes as they benefitted from better conditions and a cleaner track. Rutter was the second quickest superbike and topped the leaderboard on his superstock Bathams/SMT BMW.
“I am surprised to have been second on the big bike because it was handling so badly.” the 45 year old Englishman said.
“We will need to make some adjustments for Thursday’s session but I am delighted to have been fastest on the stocker. The track was very dusty early in the day and there was more rubber down later on.”
Local favourite Michael Dunlop was third quickest in his debut roads outing on the Bennett’s Suzuki superbike, a second behind Rutter.
“I did my best time on the last lap.” the 28 year old, who is the outright lap record holder for the NW200 circuit, explained.
“We made some changes half way through the session but they didn’t sort the problem we had.”
Having his first run between the hedges on the Suzuki GSXR, Dunlop admitted he was still struggling to find the optimum set up with his new superbike.
“I need as much time on the bike as I can get.” he said.
“But we aren’t a million miles away after today and there is still a lot more to come from me and the bike.”
Dunlop finished seventh fastest on his sMD Racing Suzuki in the Superstock session.
Ian Hutchinson complained of problems getting through the traffic as he posted the fourth fastest superbike time, 4.6 seconds behind his Tyco BMW teammate, Seeley.
“I am happy with the bike but it was difficult to get a clear run today.” the Yorkshireman said.
Glenn Irwin completed the top five in the superbike class in his first ever ride around the North West circuit on a superbike. The 27 year old had been second fastest for much of the session before posting a 4 min 30 second lap on the Be Wiser PBM Ducati.
“It was unreal being out there today.” the BSB rider smiled.
“I didn’t expect to be this far up the leaderboard this quickly. We don’t have any settings at all for the Ducati because it has never been raced here before.”
Irwin was allowed to ride to the later Superstock session and unofficially posted a time just over a second slower than Seeley’s.
Guy Martin made his return to the international roads aboard the new Honda Fireblade but the Lincolnshire man struggled, finishing way off the pace in 19th place in the Superbike session.
“It was steady away but we still have work to do.” the 35 year old admitted. Honda teammate John McGuinness was 7th fastest in the superbike session but opted not to ride in the Superstock practice.